Blood Hunger (An Adult Paranormal Romance) (Deathless Night Series #1) (22 page)

     When he didn’t answer right away, she started to get anxious. Chewing on her bottom lip, she tried to see something, anything, around her that would give her an indication of where she was. But there was nothing but blackness, and her imagination went into overdrive. What if there were rats down here? Oh God. She hated rats. Or spiders? Or worse, snakes??

     She could feel herself starting to go into a full-blown panic. “Aiden!”

     “I’m just going to get us some light. I would imagine you can’t see very well in here.”

     She heard him moving around a little distance away, and took a halting step towards him before remembering he’d told her to stay where she was.

     “Don’t fret Em, I’m just right here. Your heart sounds like a bloody freight train, luv. Calm down. We vampires only have so much control, mind you.”

     “Sorry.” She didn’t really think Aiden would actually hurt her, but took a long, calming breath just the same. She heard a rustling sound, and then a flashlight beam shone across a large cavern that opened up in front of her.

     “You had a flashlight this entire time?” she hissed. “Is there any particular reason you didn’t use it until now?”

     He shrugged. “I didn’t need it until now.” Shining the light around, he found what he was looking for - An old fashioned torch. “Wouldn’t want to waste the batteries,
”
he explained.

     Taking the torch down from its holder, he dipped it into some kind of noxious smelling liquid in a barrel along the wall, then took a lighter from his pocket and lit it. Placing it back in its holder, he turned off his flashlight.

     “There we go!” Materializing over at the other side of the cavernous room they were in, he found another torch and did the same.

     Emma looked around in awe as she slowly walked further inside. They had traveled down a narrow tunnel through the rock to a natural underground cavern. Smooth limestone walls, swirled with lighter and darker browns, led up to a soaring ceiling at least thirty feet above her head. Under her feet, dirt had been packed down to make an even floor. She could still hear water dripping off to her right, but didn’t see its source. 

     Her gaze came back to Aiden, who was putting his flashlight away, and she glowered at him.

     Nik silently entered the room just then. Observing Emma's pissed off expression and Aiden's seemingly oblivious one, he raised an eyebrow. “Did I miss something?”

     Rolling her eyes, Emma walked into the middle of the room where a circle of stones surrounded a fire pit. “Just Aiden…being Aiden.” Plopping herself down on one of the large, flat-topped rocks surrounding it for seating, she threw down her backpack and pulled out a bottled water and a protein bar.

     Taking a closer look around, it became even more obvious that the place had been set up just for occasions like this. “So I take it you guys have been here before?” she ventured.

     Aiden puffed out his chest. “I found this place years ago. Quite the thing, isn’t it? We use it as our meet up area whenever we feel the need to come up here and check on our sweet Leeha.”

     Emma was confused. “So you’ve known all along she’s in this area?” They both nodded. “Then why not come up here until now? If you knew all this time where your brother,
and my sister
, were…why were they not rescued seven years ago??”

     “We did come here,” Aiden hastened to reassure her. “But the place was deserted. Not a sign of anyone to be found. We have scouts come up occasionally to keep an eye out for her, and we just recently found out that she was back.” He held up his index finger. “The question is, why did she come back now? She has to know we’d be watching for her.”

     Shrugging, he headed to the back of the room where some wood was already cut and stacked up against the wall, calling over his shoulder, “That cheeky female must be up to something. Or possibly she just missed me.”

     Nik sat down on the rock next to her, and gestured to the water bottle she held stuck halfway to her mouth while she blinked, speechless, at Aiden. “Go easy on that stuff, sweetheart.” He took a peek into her bag to see how much was in there. “Just in case.”

     Turning her attention back to Nik, she asked, “How long do you expect us to be here?” She’d been under the impression it wouldn’t be more than a day or two at most.

     “Not long, hopefully, but it’s always good to be prepared. I can’t have you starving to death on me.” He smirked at her, looking a bit like the carefree Nik she’d first met, but she wasn’t in the mood.

     “No, we can’t have that, can we? Because if I die, so do you.” His smile faded as quickly as it’d appeared, and he glared over at his best friend, who was suddenly very busy counting the pieces of wood stacked up in the far corner of the cavern.

     “What the fuck, Aiden? I told you to keep your fucking mouth shut about all that shit.” 

     Aiden’s face was the picture of innocence as he pushed off his hood and scratched his head. “You did? Are you quite certain? I don’t exactly recall…”

     Nik shot up off of the rock he was sitting on. “You’re a son of a bitch, you know that?”

     Dropping his hand, Aiden pulled his hood back up over his short, dark hair and calmly met Nik look for look. “What the bloody hell did you expect me to do, mate? Let you kill yourself over your misguided belief that you can never be happy because of what you think happened with Eliana?” He flashed over to stand in front of his friend, eyeball to eyeball, “You’re my best friend. More importantly, I’m your Guardian. As such, I am required to do everything in my power to keep you healthy and alive. It’s bad enough I already let you get away with drinking that fucking bagged blood. I cannot…I WILL NOT…let you commit suicide because of an unfortunate accident that happened in the past.”

     “It’s not your choice, Aide
n.
”

     “Sod off, Nikulas. It IS my choice. I refuse to stand idly by and let you do this.” Grabbing Emma by the arm, he hauled her up to stand next to him, ignoring Nik’s immediate warning growl at the sight of his hands on her. “This is a good woman right here. This is a strong woman. She would be a brilliant mate.
I like her
. And she cares about you, you bloody arse.”

     Emma glowered at him and his manhandling, and yanked her arm from his grasp. “Look, if you don’t want to be with me…” she said, turning to Nik, feeling the ever-present blush stealing across her face. She cleared her throat before continuing, “For whatever the reason, that’s ok.”

     Nik dropped his head back, looking heavenward. Not finding any help there, he thrust both hands into his hair in exasperation. “Emma…”

     “We can figure something else out, Nik.” She grabbed his hands as she looked up at him imploringly, “You don’t have to die! I can just donate into a bag or something.”

     Turning his hands over, he carefully gripped her small fingers in his. “You don’t get it. I would rather die, than hurt you.”

     “You’re not listening! I could
donate
, like blood donors. That would work, right?”

     Neither of them noticed Aiden quietly slip away and leave the cave.

     “You drink out of those gross bags anyway. It could work!” Why was he still arguing with her?

     “No, sweetheart, it wouldn’t. Your blood weakens once it’s left your body. It would be nearly the same as drinking the stuff I do now, only lacking what I need to survive. You wouldn’t be able to give enough. It would barely prolong the inevitable, and in the end would have the same result as not drinking it.”

     Squeezing her hands slightly, he gave her an imploring look.

     “Please, just let it be,” he begged.

     But Emma wasn’t done yet. “Well, so, what if you did the same thing then? Would that help? We can swap blood without ever having to be anywhere near each other. I can, I don’t know, put it in a smoothie or something.” She grimaced at the thought, but if it would keep him alive…

     “No, Emma.”

     “Yes! I’d be able to give more.”

     Sadly, insistently, he shook his head. “No.”

     “Would you
please
stop being so damn stubborn, and…”

     “Emma, I said
no
,” he maintained impatiently.

     “Why the hell not, Nikulas!” Yanking her hands out of his, she stomped a few feet away from him, swiping at the angry tears rolling down her cheeks.

    
The cave rumbled, and Nik glanced around with a frown. Now was not the time for a natural disaster. But this was no earthquake. Large rocks and hunks of wood were vibrating throughout the cavern. Some were even hovering a few inches above the floor.

     His little witch was losing her temper, and probably about to bash him in the head with it all. Her magic filled the room. He could feel it crawling across his skin like a live thing.

     Now would probably be a good time to try to calm her down. “Em…sweetheart…”

     “No! No, Nik!” She gave one more angry swipe at the moisture on her face before she turned around. “How can you ask me to just walk away from this? Do you think
I
would be able to live with myself, knowing that I was the cause of your death? You’re being…an obstinate ass!”

     She threw her arms up in the air, and a rock the size of a soccer ball flew towards the opposite wall. “There! I said it. You’re being an ass, Nikulas! I actually agree with Aiden on this one point.”

     The airborne rock hit the wall with a crash, making her jump, her head whipping around to stare at the smashed pieces in shock.

     His voice was gravelly with emotion. “Emma, listen to me. Please.”

     Turning back to him, she opened her mouth to yell at him some more, the objects of her rage hovering higher off the ground now. They buzzed with so much power; it was like a large swarm of bees had invaded the cave.

     Staying as calm as possible, he fought through her magic, reaching out to her with his ravaged emotions. She must have felt him somehow, for the cavern became quiet again as her temper, and her weapons, settled down.

     “Fine,” she snipped at him. “Talk.”

     Now that he had her undivided attention, he found himself at a loss for words. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he looked around for some help from Aiden. Where the hell was that loud-mouthed Brit when he needed him?

     “Well?” Emma’s voice brought him back to her.

     Inhaling deeply, he braced himself. It scared the hell out of him to open himself up to her, but he thought she had the right to know. “It won’t work, because…because I’m crazy about you Emma. I was crazy about you from the first moment I saw you, puttering around your house in that hideous, blue robe.”

     Her forehead scrunched up and she rubbed at her temples. “Then what’s the problem? I don’t understand…”

     “I can’t do that to you, Em. I can’t ask you to rearrange your life for me. I won’t do it. I won’t use you like that.”

     Running both hands through his shaggy hair, he paced back and forth, trying to think of something that would convince her to see things his way. In the end, he decided to just continue to be straight up with her.

     He became utterly still, strong in his resolve. “To me, you are the most utterly perfect female I’ve ever seen…or talked to…or touched…the things you’ve been through, your bravery, your attitude in spite of it all…they leave me in awe of you. I’m not worthy of one such as you.”

     He paced away and back again. “I’ve seen things…done things… that weren’t exactly honorable. I’m not a good male.”

     He felt the lingering anger in her dissipate as he spoke. She dropped her eyes, hiding them from him as she wrapped her arms around herself. “I think you’re exaggerating. I’m not anything special.” Peeking back up at him, she added firmly, “And I have to disagree with that last statement.”

     Her humble behavior only endeared her to him more. He repeated, “I’m not worthy, sweetheart. I’m not.” His eyes burned into hers. “And when I tasted you…” His voice broke at the memory.  “I tasted you, and it was all over for me.”

     Standing before her, tall and strong, his heart and soul completely raw and exposed to her, he reiterated again, “I would never be able to have any kind of ‘arrangement’ with you, even if it were possible. I would never be able to watch you go through your life from the sidelines. Watch you have other lovers.” His lips pulled back in a snarl at the thought, and his fangs slid down in aggression. “Watch you laugh, and cry, and not be there with you. Not be able to hold you, to comfort you. You’re MINE, Emma. But I can’t have you either…I don’t trust myself not to hurt you. Or worse.”

     “Nik…” she faltered.

     His heart pounding like it was about to jump out of his chest, he confessed, “In a way, I’m afraid of you, Em.” Shaking his head, he denied the obvious reason why before it could be spoken. “Not because I’m dependent on your blood now. Not because I’m afraid to die. I’ve lived more than my share of lifetimes.”

     She scoffed playfully at him, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m like, half your size, and human. What is there to be afraid of?
”

     “Exactly. You’re too fragile. I couldn’t be there all the time to protect you. What if something happened? What if it happened because of
me
? What if I…” He stopped, unable to finish the sentence. “I wouldn’t be able to take it, Emma. I feel more for you, in these few days I’ve known you, than I’ve ever felt for any other female. Or anyone, for that matter.”

     “I’m afraid, Em,” he continued, and then shook his head again.  “No, not afraid. I’m
terrified
of the pain of losing you. I would rather bring an end to myself and leave you to live a long, healthy, natural life than make you into my own personal feeding bag. I’ve lived a long time, had more than my share of lives. It is enough.”

     “You don’t have to lose me, Nik.” Emma’s eyes glinted with frustration.

     “It would happen someday. You’re too fragile. Too…human.” His voice broke with the emotions rolling through him. “And then what would I do Em? What would I do without you? Without your smile to light up my nights? Without being able to hold you? To talk to you?”

     Defeated, he whispered, “Death wouldn’t come for me soon enough.”

     Closing the distance between them, Emma wrapped her arms around his lean waist and hugged him hard. Burying her face in his hard chest, she made her own confession. “Nikulas, I feel the same way about you, as impossible as it should be.”

     He looked down at the top of her bright head. Allowing himself this moment to enjoy, he wrapped his arms around her and lovingly returning her embrace. “That’s impossible. You barely know me.” His smile was as fragile as his emotions as he teased her.

     She smiled back at him. “I’m a sucker for pretty boys with cocky attitudes.”

     A look of hope briefly lit up his blue eyes, but it fluttered out again almost immediately. “You’d have to give up your life to be with me.”

     “I’m good with that,” she promised.

     “What about your sister?”

     “She’s a big girl. She can take care of herself.”

     He shook his head. “I can’t ask you to do that. Besides, it’s not up for discussion.” He set her away from him. “I can’t take the chance Em. Don’t worry; you’ll be ok though. This whole mating thing, it doesn’t affect you the way it does me. You can go on to live a long, happy, and normal life.”

     “How do you expect me to do that without you? And why is this only
your
choice? Don’t I get a say in any of this?” Fighting his hold that was keeping her away from him, she informed him, “I choose
you,
Nikulas. You’re just going to have to deal with it.”

     “Emma.” His head whipped around towards the entrance and he cocked his head, listening. Pulling Emma behind him, he placed himself between her and the tunnel, his body suddenly tense.

     “It’s Aiden.” He informed her as he relaxed his pose. With one last, longing look at her, he went over to get the wood Aiden had abandoned from the corner and set about making a small fire.

    
Dammit, Aiden
. The guy had perfect fucking timing.

     Whistling loudly and making more noise than Emma had earlier, Aiden came around the corner into the cavern. “Hey you two! Get things worked out, did we?” No one answered him as Nik broke logs over his knee and Emma crossed her arms in front of her with a huff. “No? Still? Pity, that.”

     Looking back and forth between the two of them, he astutely deemed Emma to be the safer choice, and wandered over her way, with Nik watching his every move. “No luck, huh?”

     Sliding down the wall behind her, she sat cross-legged on the dirt packed floor. “Nope.”

     Joining her, Aiden asked hopefully, “Not even just a little?”

     “
Your
friend, Aiden, is a bloody Estonian bastard.”

     “Yes, yes, he is,” he commiserated with her.

     Nik glared at the two of them sitting there conspiring together. “I can hear you! I’m right fucking here!”

     They stared back at him in stony silence. When the hell had they gotten so chummy?

     “Un-fucking believable.” Throwing the last log into the circle, he squatted down to start the fire.

     Aiden got up and came over to help, adding more kindling under the logs.

     “So where did you go anyway?” Nik asked after a moment.

     “Oh! Yes, that. Well, I went outside to give you two some privacy. But then I thought as long as I was out there, I may as well look around a bit.” He paused to blow on the small flames. “Someone else is in the area.”

     Sitting up on one of the rock seats, Nik left the fire to Aiden, who was much better at it than he was. “Who? Dante?”

     Aiden didn’t answer until the fire was licking merrily at the logs. “No, I don’t think so.” Sitting next to Nik, he told him, “If it is, he’s gathered more fighters. I found their tracks just a little ways north of here. Then they suddenly disappear after about two miles.”

     Nik thought a moment. “Wolves?”

     Aiden shrugged.

     “Alright, I’ll go check it out. See what I can find.” Nik grabbed his backpack.

     Aiden carefully fanned the flames. “Nope. Can’t let you do that. I’ll go back out there and scope it out. I just wanted to check in with you before I was gone for too long. You stay here with Emma.”

   
 
Taking out a couple of wicked-looking blades, Nik strapped them around his thighs. “I’m going. I need the air.
You
stay here.” Grabbing a blood bag, he tore it open and chugged it down, then took a water bottle out to bring with him. With a sideways glance at Emma, he sauntered toward the tunnel, waving away Aiden’s protests.

     “I don’t know why Luukas ever appointed me to you,” Aiden told his back.  “You completely ignore all of my endeavors to keep you safe.”

   
 
Nik flipped him off.

     Letting out a frustrated puff of air, Aiden gave it up. “Be careful. Don’t get too close.” Adding as an afterthought, “Although that
would
be the easiest way to find Luukas…” He shook his head. “No, Leeha would love that. She’d have both brothers to torture, along with our warriors, if that’s where they are.” He became thoughtful, rubbing his chin. “Although, I could follow to see where she took you, but I’m not sure how I would get you all out of there.” He waved his hand around dismissively. “Eh, I’ll figure something out.”

   
 
Nik paused at the tunnel entrance, shooting an exasperated look at his friend. But he was already back on his radio, trying again to get a hold of the others.

     Emma stood up from her spot on the floor. “I want to come with you, Nik.”

   
 
Nik barely glanced at her. “No. It’s too dangerous, and you’ll just slow me down.”
And I need some space from you.

     Emma let out a frustrated sigh. “It’s my sister that’s possibly in there too, Nik.” She started to follow him as he turned to leave. “You’re not going to just leave me here in this cave with this…this…unstable
,
womanizing, oversensitive,
” yet oddly appealing,
“psychopath. No offense, Aiden.”

   
 
Aiden grinned charmingly at her, “None taken, luv.” Looking pointedly at his friend, he said, “See, Nik? Emma
understands
me.”

   
 
Nik looked back over his shoulder and found the two of them watching him expectantly. “What? No. Absolutely not. Emma is too fragile. Too human.” He ignored her sound of protest at that statement. “And too much of a distraction.”

   
 
“Not disagreeing with you there, mate, she is quite the distraction,” Aiden agreed. “Clear off and leave her here with me, I’m sure I can find her something to do.” Winking at Emma, he grinned naughtily as he heard the simmering growl rising from Nik’s chest.

     That goddamn Brit was doing this on purpose. Nik knew it, but couldn’t keep himself from getting sucked in anyway. In the space of a breath he appeared instantly next to Emma, grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him, baring his fangs at Aiden.