Forgotten Soul

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Jaden Sinclair

FORGOTTEN SOUL GUARDIANS 2 Jaden Sinclair

EROTIC ROMANCE

Secret Cravings Publishing www.secretcravingspublishing.com

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Jaden Sinclair

A Secret Cravings Publishing Book Erotic Romance

FORGOTTEN SOUL (GUARDIANS 2) Copyright © 2011 by Jaden Sinclair E-book ISBN: 978-1-61885-005-8 First E-book Publication: August 2011 Cover design by Beth Walker Edited by Larriane Barnard Proofread by Belinda Barton All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Secret Cravings Publishing ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Secret Cravings Publishing www.secretcravingspublishing.com

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Glossary Bloodmate: a female born with a birthmark depicting a fang, somewhere on her body. Her system is designed to feed a vampire. Extra blood builds inside, she will experience intense pain and if not bled, she will drown and die. Guardian: one who protects the vampire race. They are the unwanted children of Noble families or of the poor. They are trained to kill. Nobles: high ranking vampires. They are old families with old money and old beliefs with a huge influence over the race. The Prophet: one male child born with the bloodmate mark and with the knowledge of an elder. He will bring balance to the race. Elder: oldest vampires. Breeds: humans turned into vampires for the sole purpose of killing anything they are told to kill. Transition: the metamorphous from child to the next stage of their development to full fledge vampire with drastic physical changes. Crossover: the change when a vampire becomes a Guardian, gaining extra strength and heightened senses by drinking blood of the ancients.

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Jaden Sinclair

FORGOTTEN SOUL GUARDIANS 2 Jaden Sinclair Copyright © 2011

Chapter One A lone figure stood on the sidewalk looking at the home of Lucian DeLuca and Julian Marino. At well past midnight, rain beat down hard on the hooded head. Lightning flashed brightly in the sky, and the sound of thunder vibrated through the ground, yet the figure did not move. He waited. Even when a sudden flash of red lightning lit the sky in the distance, an indication one of their kind had died not too long ago, the figure stood as still as a statue. Dimitri de Fiammetta stood as Guardian, one of three left. Renzo Ferrari went crazy and killed off every vampire he could find. He used breeds for the slaughter, creatures he created from a mixture of vampire, human, and bloodmate DNA. Though they knew he did it, they still didn’t know how and barely comprehended the insane why. Renzo had been whipped into a frenzy when Julian Marino took his daughter, Serina, and bonded with her. She was born a bloodmate and suffered greatly because of her father’s refusal to accept what she was and allow her to live the life that would save her. She was close to death when Julian found her. Dimitri didn’t know the whole story, but he did know Renzo had a major hand in her death and had taken one of her twin daughters at birth, one of the reasons Dimitri stood out in this hellish weather. Those inside were no longer safe, not with the Prophet as well

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as Julian with his other daughter living unprotected behind the walls. The Prophet, Lucan DeLuca, Lucian’s son, was the one who would lead them all and save the race—or so the ancient legends promised—if Renzo Ferrari didn’t succeed in killing them all first. As a full-blooded vampire in his prime, Dimitri stood at six-feet-two inches, with long black hair layered and feathered around his face giving him the look of an angel. His irises were dark chocolate. His features were chiseled, with a strong chin and a mouth with full lips, the latter gave all the women who saw him the desire to kiss him. At least that’s what he’d been told in the past. Dressed as a Guardian should be, he stood in tight leather pants, low cut on his hips, hugging his thick legs, and cinched with a thick belt. A black t-shirt stretched tight across his chest like a second skin. Over his clothes, he wore a long, leather trench coat with a hood, currently over his head to protect him from the rain. Leather shit kicker boots graced his feet, completing the protector’s uniform. Weapons of all kinds were strapped to his body in hidden spots, knifes stuck in his boots and a long sword hung at his back. The newest additions were two SR9 semi-auto 9mm in specially designed holsters on his hips and two small semi-auto machine guns on slings at his lower back. All were loaded with the latest ammo, designed by none other than Shadow, their weapons specialist. He was set to kill and ready at an instance’s notice. Dimitri had been told to meet the others at the house at midnight, and it was already twelve-thirty. Damn, he hated it when people were late. He looked around when he heard heavy footsteps as well as the tapping of a cane heading in his direction. A smile tugged on the corner of his lips as he recognized those steps. An old man with a cane in one hand and an umbrella in the other stopped in front of Dimitri. “Waiting long?” he asked, his slightly wrinkled face grinning with kindness. “Long enough, Ambrose.”

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Jaden Sinclair Ambrose D'Abigne smiled, raised his chin up, and glanced at the house. “She isn’t

here?” “Nope,” Dimitri said with sigh. Ambrose hung his head down and shook it. “Maybe this was too much for her.” Dimitri opened his mouth to agree, but stopped and raised his hands slowly when a gun pressed to the back of his head. He stiffened when he heard it cock, but let out his breath at a soft tsking sound in his ear. “I would have thought sneaking up on you to be impossible,” said a female voice, soft but with a detached quality. “And yet, I’ve done just that.” Dimitri turned fast, grabbed the hand with the gun, twisted, snatched the weapon from her hand, but froze when a blade touched under his chin. “You’re losing your touch, Dimitri,” she stated. “Look down,” he said. His gun pointed at her belly, cocked, and read to go off. “You’re late!” Ambrose snapped. “I had six breeds on my ass.” She sighed, took her gun from Dimitri, and slipped her knife back in the sheath at her waist. “It took me extra time to persuade them to move along.” Dimitri couldn’t stop the grin. “I bet it did.” The three of them walked up the drive. Dimitri looked up at the sky. “The rain will be stopping soon, which is good news. I hate trying to move a family in shitty weather.” “Do they know we are moving them?” she asked. Ambrose nodded. “I called Lucian a couple days ago. He said they would be packed and ready to go.” The girl cocked one of her guns, and Dimitri glanced over his shoulder at her. As always, his partner was collected and ready for a good fight. Her sunglasses were in place, hiding the brightness of her eyes from the world. Black leather pants hugged her legs and hips, her clothes identical to his with the one exception. She wore a zipped up

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tight leather vest, specially reinforced to block bullets. The hood of her trench coat covered her long black hair and the many weapons he knew were hiding all over her small frame. Hardly any of her face showed, thanks to the way she had the hood over her head. She was a shadow, hidden away from the world by her clothing, the sunglasses, and her status. Ahh, those sunglasses. She always wore them, because without the he could read her like a book, and without them one could always find her in the dark. “You going to be okay with this?” he asked her. She snapped her gun back into place. “I told you, I’m fine.” He nodded and turned his back on her. “Did you make sure Shadow didn’t fuck this one up?” she asked. “Shadow has transportation.” Dimitri stated. “How could he mess that up?” She snorted but said nothing more. The three of them stopped at the front door under the porch and shook the water from their coats. Ambrose knocked with his cane. A human, Corbin, opened the door. He was a child living off the streets when Lucian took him in. Ambrose knew the man. They shook hands before Corbin stepped back to let the three enter. Bags were on the living room floor, telling Dimitri the family took what Ambrose told them seriously. Dimitri watched his partner from the corner of his eye as she moved away from the group to stand at the other side of the front room. He worried about her. If they’d had a choice, she wouldn’t be assisting on this move because of her past with Julian. As it was, there were only three Guardians left and one Elder. They didn’t have any choice. “How have you been, Corbin?” Ambrose asked with his usual friendly smile. “It’s been hard,” Corbin answered. His eyes kept glancing at Dimitri. “Julian has been doing what he can, but the baby has been fussy, and a couple of those things have shown up here. I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad Julian and Lucian had the training they have.”

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Jaden Sinclair Dimitri shot his eyes at his partner quickly. Unspoken words went between them, but

he knew what she was thinking. Julian’s fate was still up in the air. Renzo had made it clear to all that he intended to see Julian dead just as Julian intended to see Renzo dead and his other daughter retrieved from the madman. “Don’t you worry about that now.” Ambrose patted Corbin on the shoulder. “Things will settle down once we have all of you in a safe place.” He extended his hand out toward Dimitri. “This is Dimitri de Fiammetta. He is one of the best. We only have three Guardians left. And over there…” Ambrose didn’t get to finish his introduction. “You!” Julian stood at the top of the stairs, a heated expression on his face directed right at her. Julian Marino stood, all six-feet-plus of him, glaring at Dimitri’s partner. He wore blue jeans ripped at the knees, boots, and a white t-shirt. His dark hair was a tangled mess, looking like he’d been running his hands through it. His brown bloodshot eyes told Dimitri the man was taking the death of his bloodmate very hard. He couldn’t blame him. If he’d had one for a short time and then lost her, Dimitri didn’t think he’d bounce back quickly either. Dimitri didn’t get the chance to say a thing before Julian charged, going at her, looking as though he wanted to kill. She shifted to the side, hooked her arm under Julian’s as he came in, swung around, picked him up, and body slammed him down on the floor. Her knee pressed in his throat, and a gun pressed to his forehead. The noise from the fall had Lucian and Tempest rushing up the stairs from the basement. “What the hell’s going on?” Lucian demanded. “First lesson, remember?” she said to Julian. “Never charge unless you intend to kill.” She cocked her head to one side, and Dimitri knew those bright eyes of hers were roaming up and down over Julian. “And since it appears you have no weapon…” she cocked the gun, “…you’re dead.” Ambrose cleared his throat and said, “Carissa.”

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She uncocked the gun and stood slowly, backing away from Julian. Her arm with the gun in her hand hung down by her side. “I don’t think I have to ask if you remember Carissa, Julian,” Ambrose said, sounding a bit uncomfortable. Julian got back up on his feet, and Dimitri held his breath. He’d known it was going to be tense when the two of them came face to face. He just didn’t think it was going to be this tense. “Carissa.” Julian glared at her. “Carissa Morrisroe?” He rubbed his chest and shook his head, but something in his manner suggested that much hadn’t surprised him. He spun to face Ambrose. “Bullshit. No way. You explain how to me. There has never been a woman vampire, let alone a woman Guardian.” “Her vampire heritage began developing when she entered puberty, Julian,” Ambrose told him. “From her father, even though her mother was human.” While Ambrose spoke, Carissa turned to Dimitri who only shrugged his shoulders. Pushing the hood off, she lowered her head to remove the sunglasses. When she straightened, her eyes met Julian’s. The color drained from the man’s face, stilling any comment he had to make. Her bright silver, vampire eyes fixed on Julian, the detachment Dimitri was very used to there for all in the room to see. “Hello, Julian,” she said in that soft voice of hers. “Son-of-a-bitch.” Lucian whispered from the corner. “And this is Dimitri de Fiammetta.” Ambrose went on. “As I was saying, they are the two of the last three Guardians. Renzo has killed the rest as well as the other Elders, leaving us four.” “We also have Shadow.” Dimitri added. Carissa snorted. He turned to her, one eyebrow going up. “He is one.” She gave him a smirk. “Not if he keeps fucking with my toys, he won’t be.”

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Jaden Sinclair “Shadow is more our tech guy.” Ambrose quickly told them. “He runs the computers

and designs our weapons.” Julian wasn’t finished. “So that’s where you’ve been all this time,” he snapped at Carissa, getting everyone’s attention back on him. “You left without a damn word, and now you stand here as a fucking Guardian!” He moved to charge at her again, but Dimitri quickly put himself between them. He learned over the years what kind of damage Carissa could inflict if she wanted to make a point. “All the time you’ve been following me! You couldn’t tell me who the fuck you are?” Julian shouted. Carissa turned to Ambrose. “Yeah, this is going real well.” “I hate to be the one to bust up this happy reunion.” Dimitri shoved Julian back, ignoring the glare Julian gave him. “But time isn’t on our side. We need to move you right now. Breeds are on our asses.” Headlights flashed into the front room window. “That should be Shadow,” Carissa said. “This should be interesting.” “Carissa.” Dimitri warned. She flashed him a quick smile, one not reaching her bright eyes. “Don’t worry so much. I haven’t killed him—yet.” She slipped her glasses back on and walked out the front door with a quick exchange of looks between her and Julian. Dimitri knew some of the past between the two of them. They were close at one time. For whatever reason, she left to become a Guardian and never looked back. Dimitri told her over and over again that she needed to go back and fix the mess he was pretty sure she created. One didn’t join the Guardians willingly without breaking a few hearts or stepping on toes, and from the heated expression coming from Julian, Dimitri guessed she’d done both. From outside, Carissa yelled “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

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“Excuse me.” Dimitri said through his teeth, leaving the house quickly. Carissa stood next to the motorhome Shadow drove up. Shadow, a third born son, was the only survivor of his family. In Australia, local villagers killed everyone because they believed demons were living among them. How Shadow had survived the villagers attack was a mystery to Dimitri. For all his computer skills and weapon genius, the man wasn’t much of a fighter. Like himself, Shadow was six-two and built like a brick. Shadow’s blue eyes sparkled with life and laughter all the time, and he kept his blond hair cut short. He also wore leather, but instead of the long trench coat, he wore a waist-length leather jacket. He spoke with a thick Australian accent and loved to tease Carissa every chance he got. “What?” Shadow remarked. “I was told to get a large car.” He extended his hands out the window. “This not big enough, love?” “This is not a car, you moron! It’s a god damn bus!” She hit the side of it with her fist. “How the fuck are we supposed to get away fast in this shit?” “Calm down,” Dimitri said. “Oh, I’m going to calm down, right after I beat the shit out of him.” She grabbed the handle and yanked the door open. Grabbing hold of Shadow by the lapels of his coat, she jerked him out. “Now, keep in mind the last time you did it, sweet thing.” He put his hands up like he was surrendering, letting his eyes roam over her body as he licked his lips. “I liked it a lot.” “I’m going to kill him this time.” She drew her gun, and Dimitri took her wrist before she could aim it. “Smell that?” Dimitri asked her. Carissa raised her head up in the air and sniffed. “Yeah. Fuck!”

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Jaden Sinclair “You can plan for next time, love.” Shadow gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and

jogged to the front door, calling out, “If all of you will please follow me, I’ll direct you to your transportation. Please pay no mind to the breeds overhead.” “He’s out of his damn mind,” Carissa said. Dimitri snorted. “Took you long enough to figure that out.” Backing away, Dimitri looking up and around. Carissa did the same, going in the opposite direction. In a well rehearsed move they pulled their guns from the holsters on their hips, cocked them, and waited. Dimitri saw the first one up on the roof of the house. He aimed and fired, hitting the breed right between the eyes. The breed fell into the yard behind Tempest as she ran from the house with Lucan in her arms. Tempest screamed, lost her balance, tripped, and fell, losing her hold of Lucan. Carissa got to them first, helped Tempest up, and gave her a shove towards the RV. “Carissa, get down!” Dimitri yelled. Grabbing Lucan, she knelt and quickly draped her coat around the boy to protect him. Bullets fired, hitting her back. Tempest screamed and started back for Lucan. Dimitri moved fast, grabbing her around the waist. “Shadow, get in!” Dimitri yelled, carrying Tempest kicking and screaming to the side door and shoved her in. “Calm down! He’s fine.” As he said the last word, Carissa’s coat opened, and she stood up with the boy hunched on the ground between her legs. She came up with her automatics in her hand, turning and firing, dropping breeds all over the place. Guns empty, she bent, picked up Lucan, and tossed him to Lucian who ran toward her. Along with Julian and his baby, they sprinted to the RV, the luggage they’d started out with scattered in front of the door. Dimitri provided cover fire, dropping breeds as fast as Carissa.

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She turned and threw a knife at another breed about to attack Ambrose as he dashed for the RV, hitting the ugly fucker in the head. Corbin was the last one racing by her to the waiting vehicle, past Dimitri, and through open door. Dimitri, his guns empty, jumped in, but leaning out the open door. “Carissa!’ he yelled. “Come on!” She ran to him as Shadow pulled out. Dimitri held his hand out to her. Carissa made a leap of faith. As their hands connected, a breed leaped on the back of the RV, climbing to the top. “Give me a boost,” she said. With all his might, Dimitri pushed her up with one hand. She crawled to the top, and he pulled the door shut. “We have one on top,” he told Shadow. “I hate it when she’s right,” Shadow grumbled. “Shit! She’s not going to let this one go for a very long time.” “What’s wrong?” Julian asked. They heard a loud bang and thump, and Carissa slid down the windshield of the RV backwards with a trail of blood following her. She stopped on the hood with her head hanging over. Lifting her head, she yelled, “You just had to get a bus!” “Did you really think a damn sports car was going to fit everyone?” Shadow yelled back. She got up in slow motion and knelt down with her face right in front of his. “When we get home your ass is mine!” “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, get that pretty ass of yours back up there and get him off the roof!” She stood up, reached up over her head, and a breed flew over the hood. He landed on the road, and Shadow ran over him.

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Jaden Sinclair “Happy?” Carissa yelled. “Oh, I’m not going to live this one down,” Shadow mumbled. “This is what you guys call a controlled extraction?” Julian shouted. “You guys are

fucked up.” “Julian, please sit down,” Ambrose came up behind him, pulling Julian away by his shoulder. “Where is she?” Tempest screamed as a large knife came through the roof. “Someone might want to get up there and help her,” Shadow stated, looking in the side mirror. “She’s hanging from the side now. I’ve got this strange nagging feeling more breeds have jumped aboard.” “Fuck,” Dimitri mumbled. He turned to go but stopped in shock. Julian was already climbing up through the roof hatch. “Where the hell is he going?” **** Carissa hung on tight to the side of the RV, dodging strikes from a very sharp blade. She’d slipped on her own damn blood, and the fucking breed took full advantage. Couldn’t blame it, she’d have done the same damn thing. “Hey!” Carissa and the breed trying to knock her off the roof turned at the sound. Julian winked, took aim, and shot it in the head. Julian was definitely the last person she’d expected to come out there to lend a hand. Julian knelt down to extend his hand to her. Taking it, she discovered he was stronger than she would have given him credit for when he pulled her up. She opened her mouth to say thanks, but instead pushed him down on his back and covered him with her body as something whizzed by their heads. “Hate those things,” she stated. “You’re welcome.”

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She made a harrumph sound, pushed up on her hands, and kicked out behind her. Her foot hit the last breed in the face, knocking him off into the road. When Julian frowned, she smiled. “We’re even.” Pushing up off of Julian, she pulled out one of Shadow’s homemade bombs. At the same time she shoved Julian back through the hatch, bit the end off the bomb, tossed it at the car following close behind them, and followed Julian. He landed on his back. She landed straddling him. “Hold on!” she yelled to everyone. The car behind them exploded. The RV shook and rocked. Once it was steady, she moved away from Julian to the front of the bus where Dimitri sat next to Shadow. Dimitri smiled at her. “Have fun?” She rolled her eyes at him and leaned over Shadow. “We only had one tail that I could see. Use the back road so we don’t pick up anymore of them.” “Got it, love,” Shadow nodded. “You’re bleeding,” Dimitri stated. Before she could say anything, he grabbed her arm, turned her, and prodded at her shoulder at the edge of the vest. “This is a deep one. You’ve lost a lot of blood too. You need to replace it before you drop.” He extended his arm to her, but she shook her head. “I’m all right.” But she wasn’t. She was losing too much blood and feeling lightheaded. “When was the last time you fed?” Dimitri asked. She shrugged. “Couple days ago maybe.” “We lost them.” Ambrose said. “How the hell did they know where to find us?” Lucian asked, standing up. Carissa turned away from Dimitri and headed to the back. She swayed a bit and hoped no one noticed. “Ask Julian. He’s the one who pissed Renzo off,” she taunted, even though Lucian’s home was only one more of the vampire homes attacked by Renzo. No one knew how he found any of them.

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Jaden Sinclair She went into the tiny bathroom and closed the door before Julian could respond to

her remark. Locking the door, she sat down on the toilet. Her hands shook, gums ached, and her incisors lengthened. She was hungry, but lately she refused to feed. Because she was hurt, she was going to have to and that sucked. Already, she could feel her strength fading and hoped like hell it held out until they got to the doc. Knock—knock. “You okay?” Dimitri asked. She licked her lips, wiped her nose, and took a couple deep breaths. “Fine. Be out in a few.” Forcing herself to stand, she turned the water on and washed the blood and dirt from her hands. Her shoulder throbbed, and when she looked at it, fresh blood oozed out. The bullet in there was going to hurt like hell coming out. She took a few more deep breaths before leaving the bathroom. Glasses back on, she looked around at everyone. Dimitri stood up front with Shadow, Tempest had Lucan in her lap, holding him tightly, Julian held his baby daughter, and Ambrose talked with Lucian. Corbin sat alone, his face white. She managed to get herself to a seat so she could sit down, but her peace was short lived. No sooner did she close her eyes than a tiny hand gripped hers, startling her to open them again. “He missed you,” Lucan whispered. “That’s why he’s so angry.” She stared at him. His dark brown eyes held so much knowledge it should’ve frightened her. Instead, his steady gaze calmed her. “But everything is going to be fine now. You’ll see.” Lucan smiled then turned and went back to his mother. The rest of the ride was in complete silence. Energy slipped out of her with each mile, every bump in the road. She felt the wound, warm and sticky, but she refused to let it get the best of her. I’m stronger than this. A bullet isn’t going to weaken me.

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When the RV came to a stop, she couldn’t have been more grateful. Pushing herself up, she left before anyone else, sighing because she felt a sense of dread at the same time. Ambrose’s old Victorian home was the one and only home Carissa had known for eight years of her life. She was five when she came here, thirteen when she left, or as much as Julian knew. “You okay?” Dimitri asked. She nodded. “Well, it looks like everything worked out,” Shadow stated in a cheerful voice. Carissa walked up to him. With her last bit of strength, she decked him with a closed fist. Both of them went down to the ground. For the life of her she couldn’t get up or move off of him. “Sucker punch, huh? Not fair, love.” She could hear the smile in Shadow’s voice at the same time Dimitri hands closed around her arms. “Carissa? Damnit,” Dimitri growled at her. She thought she was getting up on her own, until she looked at him. Her arm was slung over his shoulder, and his arm was around her waist. “I’m okay.” “Yeah, I bet. Let’s get you fixed up.” “I can walk.” She looked down at her legs, bent and refusing to hold her weight. “Okay, maybe I can’t. Shit!” He helped her to the house, up the steps, and through the door. In front of the wooden stairs, she shrugged Dimitri off. “I’m fine.” She took a deep breath and tried to take a step, but ended up swaying backwards. His hands went around her body, but as for the rest, it went black. ****

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Jaden Sinclair “She okay?” Julian came up to Dimitri just as Carissa passed out and Dimitri caught

her. The smell of her blood was thick in Dimitri’s nostrils, and he felt the stickiness of it on her clothes. He just hoped that bullet hadn’t nicked anything vital. Taking a deep breath, he scooped her up in his arms, giving Julian a dirty look. “Yeah, she’ll be okay. Just another one of her dumb ass mistakes.” He went around the stairs to the dark hall on the left. Julian stayed right behind him. At the moment, he didn’t give a shit. “It seems since you’ve been back that’s all she does anymore.” Halfway down the corridor, he stopped and pressed against the wall. A hidden doorway slid into view. Dimitri walked down the stone steps with her in his arms. Under the house, stretching over three miles was a complete living complex. At one time it was filled with Guardians ready to do battle or practicing their skills. They trained down here, lived, invented, and anything else that might need to be done. It currently appeared as barren as the house above. For the past few months, while they searched for any others who might have survived, Ambrose sent bloodmates here to safety, putting out an SOS to doctors, nurses, and lab techs. They were trying to regroup, and they were having some luck with it. They had a medical staff and five bloodmates, which helped. Dimitri hadn’t met them yet. He’d been too busy trying to find Carissa and keep Ambrose safe at the same time. “I never knew this existed down here,” Julian said. “No one does outside the order,” Dimitri remarked back. “Ambrose wanted to keep it hidden in case there was ever a need for it.” He stopped in front of a set of double swinging doors. “Now we need it.” He pushed through using his shoulder. The hallway they came from was dark and damp, but the room they walked into was completely opposite. Bright white, it looked like an emergency room you’d find in any modern hospital with beds lined up against the walls.

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“Julian!” Dimitri stopped in the middle of the clinic. A calmness and hunger rushed over him at the sound of that sweet voice. Dimitri turned his head, and his eyes locked on the female who had spoken, a vision perfect body, perfect smile. She seemed to light up as she rushed toward Julian. Soft, midnight black hair reached her shoulders, highlighting gray eyes, sensual lips, and curves in all the right places. She ran straight into Julian’s arms, hugging him tightly. Dimitri’s fangs quickly lengthened. He definitely didn’t like seeing that woman in Julian’s arms. “Claudia!” Julian smiled, arms wrapped around her. “What’re you doing here?” She held onto him, even after the hugging stopped. “I’ve been here for a couple of months now. Ambrose found me. He brought me and a few others here. I’ve been helping out in the clinic. What about you?” “Dimitri? What’d Carissa do this time?” asked a woman approaching them. Julian turned at the sound of the voice. “Doctor Ivy?” he questioned. Dimitri sighed, wishing he was anywhere but where it appeared Julian knew everyone. “Hello, Julian, you’re the last person I thought to see. Where’s your bloodmate? Last time I saw her she was expecting.” Julian’s face lost some color, and as much as he hated to admit it, Dimitri felt sorry for the bastard. Dimitri cleared his throat, to get the doctor’s full attention. “She’s been shot this time,” he said, answering her first question. “From what I know, she hasn’t fed for a few days either.” Ivy shook her head, motioning for him to follow her over to a bed. “Why does she keep doing this? Claudia, bring me the surgical kit. I’ll do this right here.” Dimitri put Carissa down on the bed and helped the doctor turn her over onto her stomach. He pulled her coat off or more like peeled it away. The damn leather was stuck to her vest thanks to the dried blood. Carissa’s entire back was covered. Leaving the

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doctor to tend to her, Dimitri went back over to Julian. He tried like hell not to stare down at—what was her name? Claudia? “Hi, I’m Claudia Wyborn.” She extended her hand out to him. Dimitri was powerless to deny her the simple action of shaking her hand, taking it carefully, engulfing it with his own. “Dimitri.” “I like that. Sounds mysterious.” Her big, bright smile almost buckled his knees. Dimitri cleared his throat and made himself let her hand go before turning to Julian, but he watched her from the corner of his eye as she worked with the doctor on Carissa. “Ambrose said you and your daughter, along with the rest of the family can stay up in the rooms of the house.” Dimitri said. “Can you find your way, or do you need me to show you the way back?” “I think I can figure it out.” Dimitri nodded. “Then excuse me. I need to clean up before we all meet again.” He glanced once more at Claudia before walking away.

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Chapter Two Dimitri was clean and dressed in fresh leather pants with a snug black t-shirt and polished boots. His hair, still wet from the shower, stuck to his neck, but he’d brushed it back out of his eyes. He pushed on the wall and the hidden door slid open. He got a bit of a surprise when he saw the house was getting a major cleaning. Bloodmates were walking around with brooms and dusters in hand, talking as they cleaned. He’d only been down there for an hour, maybe two tops, and already the place was taking on a more homelike appearance. Lights were on, windows opened letting in the bight moonlight, and everything was getting a major makeover. Corbin seemed to be the one in charge. Watching what was going on, Dimitri turned to head to the back of the house. He went on the defensive as someone rushed toward him. Recognizing that it wasn’t an attack, he moved fast in reflex when she ran into him, dropped to one knee, and caught the box about to hit to the floor. When he looked up, his breath caught in his chest. Claudia! “God, I’m so sorry,” she gushed out. “I didn’t see you there. Dimitri stayed down, just staring at her. God, she was lovely. She felt like a fresh breeze in the springtime coming through the open doors. Or in his case, the breeze bursting the door open. “No harm done,” he managed to say. Her face turned an attracted rosy hue with him staring up at her from his kneeling position. Very slowly he stood up, still holding the box, still staring.

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Jaden Sinclair She smiled, a very shy smile, one that had him smiling too. “Wow! You’re big,” she

said, then rolled her eyes, “What I mean is…” As she waved her hand back and forth, he kept smiling, with his head tilted to the side waiting for her to finish. “…you’re tall. Very tall.” Her mouth opened, and she coughed a little to clear her throat. “Now I’m sounding like an idiot.” “No, you’re fine.” She took the box from him, her shy smile still in place. “Well, see you around.” Dimitri followed her with his eyes as she went around him, walking away toward the other side of the house. “Hope so,” he murmured with a sigh. Shaking off the school boy feeling, he headed for the office. They’d brought everything they could think of that they might need for the clinic down in the tunnels. Once the clinic was complete, they went to work on setting up Ambrose’s office and Shadow’s workshop and computer center. He knocked once before opening the door. Dark furniture with leather upholstery, the smell of a pipe, and dome lights filled the room. The people in the room, he hadn’t expected to see, Julian and Lucian, as well as Shadow. All of them seemed to be waiting for him. “How is she?” Ambrose asked from behind his desk. Dimitri closed the door and took a deep breath. “Bullet in the shoulder. Hasn’t fed in a few days, so she should be sleeping at the moment.” Ambrose nodded. “I’ll have a talk with her again. She has to take better care of herself, or I’m taking her out of the field.” Shadow snorted. “Good luck with that. Didn’t you try that last time?” Dimitri glanced at Shadow before turning his attention to Julian and Lucian, asking, “Why are they here?” Ambrose cleared his throat, which meant Dimitri wasn’t going to like whatever he was about hear. “Julian wants to join the Guardians.”

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Dimitri frowned, looking at Ambrose. “Excuse me? “You heard me,” Ambrose said. “He’s not strong enough, and he’s too old for the training.” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “How can he expect to keep up with us? Lucian refused when you asked him, and so should Julian.” “That’s what I told him, mate,” Shadow added. “Boy’s too old.” “Shouldn’t I have a say in this?” Julian asked. “I mean my daughter is out there with a nut!” “This is our job, Julian,” Dimitri shook his head. Going over to one of the chairs, he sighed as he sat down. “You’re not strong enough to keep pace with us for one thing. Besides, you have a daughter here who needs to be cared for.” Ambrose cleared his throat. “I hate to remind you both, but we need men at the moment, and Julian is willing.” “He has ties.” Dimitri tried again to make them see reason. “Ties that will jeopardize his judgment.” “Hello, I’m standing right here,” Julian remarked. Dimitri stared Julian in the eye. “Lucian talk some sense into him.” “I’ve tried,” Lucian stated. “It’s like talking to a wall.” Dimitri stood back up and went right up to Julian. He stood close, his brows drawn down in a scowl. “You think you’re strong like she is? You’re weak. Your grief for your bloodmate holds you back, preventing you from taking the next step.” He sniffed at Julian. “I can smell your grief. Think about your daughters and what will happen to them when you get yourself killed.” “I’m doing this for them.” Julian spoke low, but didn’t back down. “I want my other little girl. This is the only way I can do that.”

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Jaden Sinclair The strength of his attitude impressed Dimitri, but didn’t change his mind. Dimitri

shook his head. “You’re not strong enough.” He backed up before turning his back on Julian and took his seat again. “It’s a mistake. Let us do this our way, Ambrose.” “Then make me stronger!” Julian snapped. “Stop fucking preaching and do something about it.” Dimitri closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Damn he was tired. Tired of this war, the fighting and killing, and damn tired of being alone. Where the hell did that last thought come from? “Julian, Lucian, if you will excuse us,” Ambrose said. “Don’t deny me,” Julian said as he stormed out, Lucian behind him. “Ambrose, this isn’t a good idea.” Dimitri looked at his elder. “And it’s the wrong time to be having this conversation.” “I have to agree,” Shadow added. “He’s a civy for Christ’s sakes, not to mention the other thing.” Ambrose held his hands open. “Enough! Both of you ask yourselves what else can we do? We need men, and we need them desperately. If things don’t pick up soon then I’m going to be forced to declare the Manorial Rights. I really don’t want to go there again.” The Manorial Rights was an ancient custom involving the taking of sons born after the first, those usually cast off by the Noble families. Any illegitimate son would be taken first without question or debate. Depending on their abilities, the sons could either end up as a servant or as a trainee to be a Guardian. One never knew what the child would become until the elders looked them over, picking the strongest to do the Crossover. Ironically, even though Nobles denied them a home, they would rather see them die trying to survive alone in the world than have them become Guardians. Simple reason—a bastard or rejected child could still come back as an adult and demand rights as a Noble

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or to seek revenge. With the power and strength of a Guardian, the Noble would be easy prey. As a second son, Dimitri remembered the law very well. The law was enforced whenever the Guardian numbers were down. His father objected when they came for Dimitri, others may have thought for reasons of love but it was because his father didn’t want to see Dimitri become powerful and strong. Even at the tender age of ten, Dimitri knew differently. He was more than aware of his father’s hatred for him and that as soon as he reached transition he would be cast out of their home. After that day, he never saw his family again. Even after the recent killings, he hadn’t gone back to see if they had survived the breed massacres. “If you enforce the Manorial Rights, you’ll start another war within our own people,” Dimitri said softly. “The times have changed.” “Which is why I’m not going to unless I have no choice in the matter.” Ambrose stood up. “If I have a willing man who wants to join and learn, I’m going to take him.” “He went through transition too long ago.” “He’s still young enough for the Crossover.” He walked around the desk while he spoke, came up behind Dimitri to place his hands on his shoulders, effectively stopping any further arguments from him. “I know your concerns, but we must put them aside and do what is best for our people.” He gave Dimitri’s shoulders a squeeze. “Now, Shadow, if you would please excuse us, I need to have a moment alone with Dimitri.” The second the door closed behind Shadow, Dimitri stood and faced Ambrose. “You know what will happen if you let Julian do this. His father will come down on all our heads. He’s already looking for a reason to disband us.” “Julian has free choice. If this is the path he wants to take, who are we to tell him no?”

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for more than blood. “And what do we do when Gavino Marino finds out you’re training his son to be Guardian? He’s a fucking first born son for Christ’s sakes!” “Julian turned his back on that life long before this war broke out.” Ambrose went back around the desk to his chair, waving his hand in the air as he sat down with a weary sigh. “But it doesn’t change his birth, any more than mine changes now.” Dimitri couldn’t keep the desperation from his voice. “Julian is his heir. It doesn’t matter if he turned his back on Gavino or not. The man will come down on us all once he finds out what his son is doing. You can’t let him join us.” “Dimitri, we have to put some of this past behind us in order to go forward. Besides, he might be able to handle the training and not even need the Crossover. So let’s not jump the gun. Let us worry about the here and now. Teach him a few things, see if he can handle it or not. He might decide for himself to go no further.” Ambrose cleared his throat, pulling over a piece of paper. “Now on to the other things I need to talk with you about. We have bloodmates in our house and unbonded vampires. Not a good combination. In case you didn’t notice, I’ve given the running of the house over to Corbin. He seems willing and able to keep up with the household needs. But here…” He picked up a paper while Dimitri waited. “…is what I need to discuss with you at the moment. It’s important. I need you and Shadow to do the test to see if one of the women here might be your bloodmate.” “What?” He couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice. Ambrose lowered the paper. “Times have changed, as you’ve stated. The old rules no longer apply in my opinion. I think you and Shadow should be bonded. Take some happiness if you can find it in this gloomy world we’re dealing with.” He tossed the paper to the side, opened a side drawer, and brought out six small tubes of blood. He put each one on the desk in front of Dimitri.

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“And just what are we supposed to do if one of them ends up being our bloodmate?” Ambrose shrugged. “If I need to tell you what the next step is we have a real problem.” He chuckled. Getting serious again he nodded to the tubes. “Please do it.” “Guardians don’t bond.” “I say they do now.” Dimitri rolled his eyes. “How the hell are we to bond and deal with a bloodmate and fight. It’s impossible.” “Nothing is impossible.” “Didn’t I just preach to Julian about ties?” Ambrose held his hand up and shook his head. “I don’t want an argument over this one either. I’ve made up my mind.” Again he nodded to the tubes. “Take the test.” “Ambrose, you are turning out to be a big pain in my ass,” Dimitri grumbled. He’d take the test to appease the old man. That didn’t mean he’d bond if by some quirk of faith one did turn out to be a matching bloodmate. “I’m an old man.” Ambrose smiled, but as quickly as that smile appeared it faded. “I’m also alone, and I don’t want to see you two end up the same way. Find someone and be happy if just for a little time. Now drink and tell me which one.” Dimitri’s hand shook as he reached for the first tube of blood. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and drank down the small amount of blood, shook his head, and reached for the next. “This is a major waste of time,” he stated before drinking the second. **** The fact was confirmed before Dimitri left the office; he had a bloodmate. Ambrose refused to tell him who she was. He decided at the last moment to let Dimitri figure it out for himself. He had her blood in his system to help him identify her. Hell, if he was being honest with himself, he wasn’t able to get over the fact one of the girls in the house

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matched him in the first place. Talk about a shock. He gave up on the idea of ever having a bloodmate when he became a Guardian and focused all his energy on the war. He had bloodmate! Who? As if there wasn’t enough going on already, he just learned a boy would soon be joining the household. A young boy, about the age of Lucan, who by the luck of the draw, had been given over by his father who didn’t want a second born son. Every time he heard about something like that it made his stomach roll. No child should ever be unwanted. Ever! Dimitri headed back down to the clinic. He needed to find out when Carissa was going to be back up on her feet. With the new boy coming, they were going to need to start his training and Lucan’s. Lucan had a lot of work ahead of him, work that would be very physically draining. Carissa would be the one to take over that area. Training the young boys was her area of expertise, and she liked being around the young. Then there was him. Dimitri wasn’t going to let Julian being back in her life or a bullet in the shoulder keep her from doing her job. They were too short-handed to begin with, and he’d be damned if Julian would become a big distraction. Period! “Hey, mate.” Shadow stopped him from going into the clinic. “Did you take the test?” “Yeah, I took it. Why?” “Any luck?” Dimitri crossed his arms over his wide chest and narrowed his eyes. “Why?” Shadow shrugged. “Thought you might have better luck than me.” “Shadow, if by chance I did discover her, I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you.” He slapped him on the back with a smile. “Now get your ass back to work.” “You’re all heart, Dimitri, you know that.” Shadow snickered, leaving him at the doors.

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He pushed through the doors and headed right to Carissa. She was awake, sitting on the side of the bed with her back to him. “Don’t say it,” she said. “Wasn’t going to this time.” He sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “It’s pointless anymore. Don’t like to waste my breath.” “Okay, you’re ready to go.” Ivy couldn’t seem to resist mentioning Carissa’s poor judgment. “If you had fed properly, your wound would have healed. There would have been no need for you to be seen by me for the bullet you took today.” Carissa stood up, grabbed her coat from the foot of the bed and quickly walked away, brushing past Dimitri. He took a deep breath, turned, and went after her. “So, how long is this going to go on?” “What?” she snapped. “This chip on your shoulder.” “I don’t have a chip.” He quickly closed the distance between them, grabbed her arm once they were out of the clinic, and shoved her up against the wall. Leaning in, he planted one hand on the wall above her head, the other on his hip. “Stop trying to bullshit me, Carissa. Remember, I do know you better than you would like to remember,” he hissed. “I can see it. Just like I saw it the day you came here. Let it go or it’ll consume you again.” Her bright eyes looked up at him. The knowledge in them along with her pain and loneliness tore at him most of the time. Not this time. He hardened himself against feeling sorry for her. “I told you I’ll be fine with this,” she said. “And I see it differently.” She snorted and made to move away, but he pushed her up against the wall again. “Don’t push me, Dimitri,” she said through her teeth. “This doesn’t concern you at all.”

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Jaden Sinclair “The hell it doesn’t. I’m just as involved in this shit as I was eight fucking years ago.

You can’t hide from it any longer. He’s here to stay, and it’s a big distraction for you.” “What about you?” She pushed at his chest, and Dimitri took a step back. “You don’t think I can smell it?” He turned his head away from her, but she took hold of his face, making him look back. “Whose blood lingers on you? Did Ambrose test you to see if one of the bloodmates is yours?” He wasn’t at all surprised she could sense another’s blood in him. Years ago, they were each others’ comfort, in more ways than just feeding from each other. They had a special connection, one which made working together easy, since they had been lovers for a short period of time. A couple of years ago it all stopped, even the feeding from each other, once Carissa got wind of the fact that Julian was close to finding her. Surprisingly, Dimitri didn’t miss the physical comfort they had shared. They were still close, but it was now strictly on a professional level. “Ambrose made Shadow and me drink from the bloodmates who were brought in,” he admitted, looking her in the eye. “And yes, one is a match.” He half-expected her to smile, but Carissa rarely ever smiled. Her eyes did light up, and she lounged up against the wall with her hands behind her back. “So the Dimitri de Fiammetta has a bloodmate. Congratulations.” “Really?” She shrugged, glancing down at the floor. “Why not.” He opened his mouth to say more, but she cut him off. “Look I’m going to take a swim to try and get this stiffness worked out of my shoulder. I’ll talk to you later.” “We need to work out soon.” She ducked under his arm and walked away. She waved her hand in acknowledgement she’d heard and agreed. ****

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Exploring the underground rooms, Julian was amazed to find a large pool there, hidden under a house he had spent so many summers in. But then, he was learning a lot about things from the past he’d never known. Ambrose was not only an Elder, but was also in charge of the Guardians. The mystery to him was how all of this could have been right here under his nose all the time and he never suspected anything. The poolroom was very impressive. Enter on the second level, which had an iron balcony wrapped around the entire room. At opposite ends of the room, spiral staircases led down to the pool. Even though underground, the room wasn’t dark or gloomy. The walls were covered in white marble, and lights in the floor all around the pool inside and out, made the room very bright and cheerful. Lounge chairs with separate footrests lined the walls, and in the far corner, they even had a hot tub. The pool was as long as a football field and just as wide, perfect for doing laps. He was ready to leave when he heard the soft sound of water moving, followed by a splash. Someone was taking a swim. Julian turned back and started a slow, lazy walk to the middle of the balcony for a perfect view of the pool. A towel lay in a crumpled mess on the floor. He didn’t have long to wait before whoever it was to come into view. The blur of a naked body under the water’s surface glided down the center. Carissa. Julian kept his eyes on her, amazed at how long she could hold her breath. The ripples of the water moved, making a long tattoo shaped like a crack going from under her neck all the way down the back to her ass. The ripples of water made the crack look like it was breaking over and over again. She stopped in the middle and came up to the surface, her back to him and her long hair fanning out around her. “How long are you going to stand there watching?” Julian smiled, pushed away from the railing, and walked down the stairs. “How’d you know I was here?”

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to, her eyes shining brightly. “You have my blood. I know where you are all the time. It’s the curse of sharing.” “Ouch.” She went back under and swam towards the stairs coming to the surface once again. His gut dropped when she slowly walked up the stairs and out of the pool. Carissa was magnificent. It hit him with both guilt and desire at seeing her naked. It hadn’t been that long since Serina’s death, which to him meant he had no business looking at another woman. But damn if Carissa wasn’t a sight to look upon. Her long black hair touched the top curve of her ass. Her legs were long and strong, her waist had a nice curve to it, and he would bet her breasts would fit perfectly in his hands. Knock that shit off, Julian! He cleared his throat, chastising himself for thinking the way he was. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “Tell you what?” she asked him, picking up her towel and wrapping it around her from the waist down only. Julian swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on her. Carissa parted her hair, twisted the water out and laid two thick strands over her shoulders. When she turned to face him those strands covered her breasts. Julian gave a silent thank you. “That you’re a vampire. That you were leaving to become a Guardian.” He managed to answer, forcing his eyes up to her face. “You could’ve told me.” Carissa headed towards him, her strides even, confident, and her eyes bright. She stopped in front of him, her head tilted to one side. “Your life went one way and mine another. That’s how it was always supposed to be. You were born to a life that didn’t include me.” Julian shoved his hands into his pockets, mostly to help prevent him from reaching out and touching her or even worse, pulling her into his arms. Just standing there, that

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close, had him wondering when the last time was that someone held her. Hell, where were those feelings coming from? He should be yearning for Serina, not thinking about holding his distant past. “You took my choice from me,” he stated. She sighed. “I helped give you a life.” He frowned at her, “You think I had one. For eight years my life consisted of looking for you.” His tone was sharp, and his temper rose. “I needed to know what happened to my best friend.” He saw a small flicker of pain cross her cold eyes, but it was quickly replaced. “I’m still wondering what the hell happened to her.” Julian didn’t hold back the bitterness from his voice. He raised his hands towards her and huffed. “Who the hell are you? What happened to that girl I knew?” She crossed her arms under her breasts and leaned on one foot. “Finished yet?” Julian shook his head before running both hands in his hair. “Damn!” he rushed out. Where to begin asking and demanding answers he knew for a fact she wouldn’t give. “No! I’m not done yet. You don’t get to walk away and come back acting like nothing changed. Look at you.” He waved his hand up and down in front of her. “Okay.” The statement had him stalling. “You get one.” “One?” His hands went to his hips. “One what?” “One answer to one question.” Julian licked his lips and thought about which one he wanted the answer to the most and knew only one wasn’t going to be good enough. He shook his head. “No. I get to know more than just one answer.” She shook her head and made to walk away. Julian grabbed hold of her arms, stopping her. “Not this time. You don’t get to walk away again without giving me some damn answers. I’m entitled to know the truth.” “Fine.” She jerked out of his hold and took a step back. “You want to know why I left? You! You were the reason I left. Are you happy now?” Julian frowned. “No, I’m not. What the fuck did I do to make you run away?”

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closer to the stairs. “You’re a damn Noble, Julian.” “What the hell does that have to do with anything?” “You still don’t get it, not after all these years.” She took a step forward, her chin going up. “Your father wanted you to take Ambrose’s place to use you to disband the Guardians. Nobles hate the order. We’re a disgrace.” She took a deep breath, let it out and rubbed her face. “I’m a disgrace, a half breed-freak.” She sighed, taking a step away from him. He let her go, the words ringing in his head. I’m a disgrace. Closing his eyes, shaking his head, he looked when the door slammed. He still didn’t have the answers he needed, but at least he had something. Being a Noble ran her off, but something told him there was way more to the story. **** Dimitri stood pressed to a dark corner. Hiding in the darkness, he watched a conversation between Carissa and Julian. Carissa stalked off, ending it. Being extra quiet, he waited as Julian took the stairs two at a time and left also. Something was still between those two. He saw it, but the question was would she? And would that something affect her ability to function and still protect? He pushed off the wall, opened the door to take another route to her quarters where he assumed, from her lack of clothes, was where she was headed. He ran into someone. Preoccupied and at the speeds he moved in, it was enough to knock him off his feet. He went down hard, holding to what he’d ran into, dragging that someone right on top of him. “Oh, God, I’m sorry!” Dimitri closed his eyes briefly. Claudia again. “Seems we are destined to bump into each other,” he said, trying to smile but couldn’t seem to muster one up.

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“I guess I should warn you that I’m a klutz.” She giggled. “I swear, at times, I trip over my own two feet.” She pushed off his chest to her feet and held her hand out to him. Dimitri waved her off and went to his feet without her help. Scattered around them were clothes from the laundry basket she dropped. “Where were you heading?” he asked, crouching to gather and toss the clothes back into the basket. “I was trying to find the door back up to the house,” she answered, picking up the rest. “This place is so confusing.” They reached for the basket at the same time, faces mere inches from touching. The urge to lean in and kiss her was strong and got stronger by the second. Hell, the taste of her seemed to fill his mouth, almost as if he had fed from her vein. That made things even more complicated. He wanted her. He could feel her pain at night. Nighttime, it was the strongest, but she somehow managed to do her bleeding and suffer through the pain. He could feel her need to find the vampire who would help take it all away. “Dimitri?” Dimitri snapped out of the vision that, for whatever reason, popped into his brain. Looking up, Claudia stood with the basket in her hands. “Sorry.” He cleared his throat, standing up straight. “Everything all right?” “Yeah, fine.” Again he cleared his throat. “I’ll, um, I’ll take you to the door you’re looking for.” Trying to stay away from her was going to be harder than he anticipated. Naw, it was going to be torture if they kept banging into each other. Love to really bang into her. Where the hell did that thought come from? Maybe it’s time for me to get laid. They reached the door. He opened it, and stood to the side for her to go before him, being polite, but he didn’t feel like a gentleman. He watched her ass all the way up the

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stairs. His damn hand itched to touch her, to run his fingers through her hair to test if the softness he imagined was real. His cock pressed against the buttons of his leather pants as it rose to the need. Even his fangs started to lengthen, and his senses heightened. She needed to bleed. He could smell it. At the top of the steps, she stopped and smiled down at him. “Thanks. I don’t think I would’ve found it without your help. I think I’m going to need a map to get around.” Out in the hallway, he stood next to her. He felt the corner of his lips tug, like he was about to smile. “Once you get your bearings, it’ll be easier,” he told her. Not able to control himself he leaned closer for only her to hear. “You should bleed yourself early before it becomes too painful tonight.” He walked around her and headed for the office, leaving her where she stood. Now if he could only get his damn cock to go down and let him focus on work, he’d have it made.

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Chapter Three Claudia dropped down on her bed in her small room, tired and in pain. The pain wasn’t from working in the house or helping out in the clinic. Nor was the pain the usual. The ‘I need to bleed pain’ was there, but somehow different. She rolled over, stared up at the ceiling, and thought about the day. Not only had she seen Julian again, but she also met someone who interested her very much. Dimitri. Something about the man intrigued her. He seemed just about everything any woman would ever want in a man, except he was a Guardian. That facet would have bothered her father if he was still alive, though strangely, it didn’t bother her at all, no more than it had as a child. Her father had been in favor of supporting the Nobles in their efforts to disband the Guardians, until people started to go missing. Some were fortunate to be brought back by a Guardian, others not. A Guardian brought her brother home, only for both to be killed when her home was raided by breeds, killing everyone but her. She couldn’t think about that. The memories were too hard to bear. She needed to concentrate on the here and now, take a shower, and bleed herself. Sitting up, Claudia reached for the knife on the nightstand but hesitated. For some strange reason, she just couldn’t bring herself to do it immediately. She needed to feel the pain for a bit, just to feel she was alive. Tucking the knife in the pocket of her robe instead, Claudia left her room for the showers. She entered the hall when Carissa, Shadow, and Dimitri rounded the corner at the far end, three abreast and moving fast. Claudia pressed herself up against the wall, as did a few other bloodmates who were still up.

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Jaden Sinclair “Okay, mates, here are the new toys.” Shadow held out items in both hands. “Use

them well.” The group halted. “Improvements.” Carissa said with a smile that gave Claudia the chills. “Nice.” “Made that one special for you, love,” Shadow added. “What’s going on?” Claudia whispered to one of the other girls. “I don’t know,” she replied, shaking her head and shrugging. Claudia watched in fascination as the woman pressed a button and the thing in her hand unfolded into a bow. Dmitri took hold of something that looked like a stick. With a sharp flick of his wrist, it extended, but it wasn’t a stick. It was a sword. “I’m impressed.” Dimitri stated. “And the last of my special goodies,” Shadow smiled, taking something out of his pocket too small for Claudia to see. “Now we can talk as you play.” “He’s getting good.” Carissa took whatever it was in his hand and put it in her ear. Dimitri did the same. Ahh! Earpieces. “Don’t want to lose my special love now.” Shadow smiled before kissing Carissa on the cheek. “Stop fucking around,” she retorted, swinging a backhand at him. “Let’s go.” Dimitri turned, and his gaze locked right on Claudia. Her breath caught in her throat. Time seemed to stand still for her as he froze and stood there looking at her. As fast as it happened, it ended. His eyes moved away, and he took off at a run, away from her, down the hall that would lead them outside. Claudia caught Shadow by the arm. “What’s going on?” she asked softly again, not able to tear her eyes from the spot where Dimitri had disappeared. “Breeds,” Shadow stated. “Got word on where we might find some.”

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“How close?” She could barely get the question out. Memories of what the breeds had done to her family overcame her, and she thought she might faint. Shadow put his arm around her, steadying her. “Ah, don’t you worry none, love,” he told her, his accent thick. “They’re not that close, but we ain’t going to let them get closer.” “It’s nearly dawn.” “Don’t you worry none.” He gave her a smile along with a pat on her shoulder and pulled away from her. “We’ll make it back in one piece.” Claudia nodded and forced herself to turn away. She went to the showers, placed her robe on one of the many hooks, and turned the water on. As she stood under the hot sprays, she made a deep cut into her wrist. Pressure instantly released. With each drop, each rush of blood that slipped out of the cut, the pain lessened and was pushed back for yet another day. With the pouring of her blood down the drain, Claudia felt a sense of loss. Something was missing in her life, the vampire that would be her bonded mate, the one her body produced that excess blood to feed. Closing the cut, she finished showering and wrapped a towel around her body. Slipping her robe back on, she returned to her own little space in the safe house. Even though she’d bled, she still felt the pressure of needing more. There wasn’t more for her to have, not until she bonded. She had no recourse, no alternative cure. She had to deal with what she had, a knife and a cold bed. Claudia finished drying off, changed, and sat on the bed to brush her hair out. As she worked on the tangles she thought about where the Guardians were headed. With only a couple of hours before the dawn, they rushed out to fight. Would they come back? Would they be okay? She hoped so.

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Jaden Sinclair Her mind brought up the past again. Images of her family filled her head. She saw

her mother and father’s looks of horror when their home was invaded by the breeds. Claudia closed her eyes, pressed her hands to her head, and tried with all her might to block out the remembered screams of agony from her mother. The memories were interrupted by a welcome buzzing. Claudia lowered her hands, turned her head, and looked at the small beeper given to her by the doctor. For a few seconds she only stared at it, frowning. When she glanced at the clock, she saw that it was past daybreak and stood up. She’d been sitting on the bed thinking about her past for over three hours. She turned off the beeper, hurried to change her clothes, and dashed from the room to the clinic, knowing if she was being beeped in the morning, it was an emergency. “I’m fine!” Dimitri’s voice boomed in the hallway and was even louder when she went through the double doors. All three of the Guardians were in the clinic, and all three were hurt. “I told you not to blow that shit up!” Dimitri yelled. He leaned against the wall, his entire side touching the surface, and blood oozed down his back and leg. His face was as white as one of the sheets. “Why the hell didn’t you stay put like I told you to?” “I didn’t know that shithole was going to explode,” Shadow snapped back. He yelped when the doctor pressed on his side. “I wasn’t about to let you two have all the fun. Besides, Ambrose told me to go check on you two. Dawn was coming, so bite me!” “I think a few ribs are cracked,” Ivy said as she pressed her fingers into Shadow’s side again. Her eyes found Claudia, and she smiled “Good, you’re still awake. Dimitri needs some stitches. Check his leg and more than likely his back as well.” “I’m fine, I said,” Dimitri growled. “Bullshit!” Ivy yelled back. “Get your ass on that bed now and let Claudia see to your wounds, or I’m going to knock you out.”

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Carissa lay on one of the other beds with ice packs covering her face. Another bloodmate was checking her out, and she seemed to be the one in the best shape. Taking a deep breath, Claudia picked up one of the large surgical packs and went over to Dimitri. He sat down with a heavy sigh on the side of the nearest bed. Putting on her best professional face, she knelt down at his feet. Without thinking or looking up at him, she started to pull off the boot at the end of his injured leg. “What are you doing?” he asked. “I need to look at the cut on your leg,” she answered, not looking up. “So I’m going to need to get your pants off.” She heard the sharp intake of air from him, but ignored it. He helped her some, first by wiggling his foot out of the boot she held and taking off the second boot himself. When he stood up, she could swear his height hadn’t diminished in the slightest without the thick soles of his boots. When his hands went to his belt, she swallowed a gulp, stopped him, and made him sit back down. Taking a very hard second swallow, she made herself look up at him. Dimitri’s dark eyes were intense and somewhat frightening. His nostrils flared, even though he seemed to relax. In fact, he slumped back on his side, one arm folded under his head. Time felt like it was standing still while the two of them just stared at each other. Claudia broke the eye contact and went back to the task of undressing him. She pulled at his belt to release it, opened the buttons quickly, and had his pants loose in the blink of an eye. When she tugged, he raised his hips enough to let her slip the leather down his legs. Her mouth went dry. Dimitri’s legs were like tree trunks, thick, strong, and so very long. No way would she have been able to get her hands around his thighs. When she glanced up she wanted to smile a bit. The boxer-briefs he had on were also black, very tight, and molded revealingly around a thick cock, which seemed to get thicker by the second. One small

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glimpse between his legs, and the sight quickly caused her to salivate. He pulled a sheet over, covering that part of him up, and she gave a silent thank you. Clearing her throat, she put on some gloves and started to inspect the long gash circling from the inside of his thigh around to the outside top of his leg. The sheet he covered himself with was in her way, which meant the shroud over his manhood needed to go. She steeled herself to not gawk at his dick. Great! Nothing like a little pressure when I have to stitch up a handsome, mega-sexy man. “This is definitely going to need a lot of stitches.” She turned to get the pack and opened it, making sure to keep her eyes and mind on her work, not the body spread out before her. Man, I would love to crawl up on his lap and just let him hold me. Mistake one—he looked up at him. Mistake two—he looked right at his dick again. His eyes watched everything she did, looking where she looked. Hooded, shielded, coco colored eyes, but not shielded enough that she couldn’t see a bit of desire. She gave him a quick smile, picked up the syringe to give him a local in a couple of different places around the wound to help with any pain. He didn’t even flinch when she stuck him. He didn’t hold onto the sheet when she moved it away either. Surprisingly, the shot she gave him did nothing to bring down the size of his dick. Shit, he’s huge! “I guess with all you’ve had going on this evening, a stick with a needle isn’t anything.” She chuckled, laying disposable towels around his leg. Working hard to make it appear natural and not on purpose, she made sure one of the towels was big enough to cover his crotch. “Why are you so nervous around me?” “Am I?” She began to stitch, keeping her eyes and mind on the work at hand. “Yes.” She stopped to look up at him. She couldn’t read him as clearly as she’d like to, but she did feel something stir inside her.

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Ambrose stormed into the clinic. He was pissed; his face red with his anger in a way Claudia had never seen him before. “What happened?” Ambrose demanded. Shadow yelped, Carissa sat up, and Claudia went back to stitching up Dimitri’s leg. With Ambrose’s appearance in the room, his voice seemed to do what the drug she gave Dimitri couldn’t; his cock slowly went back down. “Shadow is benched,” Doc Ivy stated, busy wrapping an elastic bandage around his chest. “One broken rib and three cracked.” “They took the worst of it,” Carissa stated. She still held an ice pack up to the right side of her face. “They had rigged the building to blow. I’m pretty sure with the intent of taking all of us with it.” “Yeah,” Dimitri growled, “and pretty boy over there, tossed a bomb at it. He made the fucking thing go up even worse.” Dimitri started up, but Claudia quickly put her hand on his leg, holding him. He looked down at her and immediately eased back in place. “How bad is he?” Ambrose asked Claudia. “I’m working on his leg now; haven’t seen his back yet.” She stood up, putting the stitching on hold for a second. She walked around the bed, took hold of his shirt and cut the ripped shirt from his back trying not to reopen the wound or cause more bleeding. One long gash went from his left shoulder, across the middle of his back to his right hip. It wasn’t nearly as bad as it looked. Only one small section was deep enough to require a few stitches. “Not as bad as the leg,” she told Ambrose. He gave her a nod as she went back to stitching up the leg wound. “If you wanted me without any clothes, all you had to do was ask,” Dimitri said softly, pulling the remnants of his shirt off his arms.

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Jaden Sinclair She jerked her face up to his quickly, holding her breath. Dimitri smiled a little, his

eyes sparkling. He was joking with her! He chuckled softly. “Sorry. Trying to ease the tension. You don’t have to be scared of me. I don’t bite unless asked to.” Claudia let out the air she held and smiled back. “So, if someone asked you to drink from them you would?” She went back to work, trying to make the stitches as small as she could. “Well, I guess that would depend on who was doing the asking.” She didn’t look up at him or make any further comments, forcing herself to keep on working. Once she was finished with his leg, she cleaned it up, and wrapped a bandage securely around it. Pulling off the gloves, she stood up, reached for another set, and stopped when she saw him watching each move she made. With a quick smile, she put a new set of gloves on and moved to his back. He sucked in air into his lungs quickly when she first touched the wound to clean it and held himself stiff until she finished. Fortunately for him, only the spot in the middle of his back needed stitches and just a few. “Very nice work, Claudia,” Doctor Ivy came up behind her, inspecting his back as she finished. “Dimitri, you shouldn’t have much scarring on your back if any at all. Claudia is my best when it comes to stitching someone up.” He turned his head, looking over his shoulder at Claudia, making eye contact. Claudia got a chill that went right down her spine. Trying to act as if everything was normal, she cleaned up the mess then walked away as if nothing was wrong with her when she was anything but calm. Something unusual was happening, something she couldn’t shake off. She was slightly attracted, if not more so, to the Guardian, a dead end attraction. Guardians didn’t bond. ****

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Dimitri watched her go, not giving a damn if the doctor noticed his interest or not. There was something about Claudia he couldn’t put his finger on. Well, something other than the desire she raised in him. That was something he recognized easy enough when he got that hard on from no more than her touching him. “She’s quiet,” he finally said when he noticed the doctor closely watching him. “Had a hard time,” Ivy helped him to lie back on his side. “One of the many who watched the breeds kill her family. She stayed hidden in the house for weeks before Julian found her.” “And?” “And it took me months to get her out of the shock,” Ivy went on. “She’s a great girl. Shy, keeps to herself, but I’ve begun to notice this spark she has.” With some dread, he watched her pick up a syringe, fill it from a vial, and rub alcohol on his arm before sticking him. His first instinct had been to refuse it, but as much as he hated drugs, they were sometimes needed. “This will help you sleep.” He nodded, feeling the effect of the drug quickly. Dimitri didn’t fight it. He closed his eyes, sighed, and let the sleep take him away. “Daddy!” She ran to a fallen man on the ground. He was covered in blood, eyes closed, and more blood pooled around him. “Daddy, no!’ she screamed, dropping to the ground, draping her body over him. Outside she could hear gunfire and screams. Inside she was surrounded by death. Raising her head, she looked around for her brother. “Tom!” she called out, looking around. What she saw had her crying out again. Not too far away from her father her brother lay dead, his eyes open, staring at nothing, and laying in his own blood. She crawled to him, and right next to his body was the Guardian who brought him home. Both gone.

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Jaden Sinclair She sat on her knees, her hands and face covered with the blood of her family. Off in

the distance, she could hear footsteps of someone else coming, and when she turned her head to see, a breed smiled at her. His face was a yellow color. Saliva ran down the side of his mouth, and the red of his eyes seemed to light up when they saw her. He took a step toward her. BAM! Blood and whatever else that might have been inside its head hit her in the face, covering her with gore and more blood. The arm of her father dropped to the ground forever. “Hide,” he told her, his voice faint. His last breath sighed out of his body, and he took it saving her life, leaving her alone without a family. Dimitri jolted awake and gasped for breath. He sat up in the narrow bed, wiping his face, feeling for the blood or brain matter. Nothing was there but his own sweat. The sheet covering him was drenched with sweat, not the blood he woke thinking it was. His first rational thought was he’d had a nightmare, but after he calmed down he knew better. He experienced what she did, through her eyes. Flinging the sheet off, he swung his legs over the side, sat up, and leaned forward to cover his face with his hands. His leg and back throbbed, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. After all, he’d been in worse shape before too many times. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Dimitri swore he could feel her or, more accurately, taste her in his mouth. That small amount of blood he’d drunk for the test Ambrose ordered seemed to be enough to start the link between them. He hungered to taste it again. But thinking about it brought up the cold hard fact, if he drank her blood again, then he would more than likely be tempted to bond with whoever it was out of the six. That was something he wasn’t about to do despite Ambrose’s orders. He wouldn’t do that to any woman. But I can feel her. Her blood runs in my veins. The clinic was quiet and pretty much empty. Shadow lay quietly in a bed far away from him, and Carissa had been allowed to leave.

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“Can’t sleep, mate?” Shadow’s low voice came across the room to him. Dimitri shook his head. “You?” “Hurt too fucking much.” Shadow groaned and sat up slowly. “Doc said it’s going to take me a week to heal.” Dimitri had to laugh. When it came to them being hurt, the only thing that mattered was how long it would take to heal. The worse the injury, the longer the healing process. With their accelerated metabolism a week for anything broken, couple days when stitches were required and so on. “Yeah, well, you had the pretty one working on you,” Shadow added. The statement had Dimitri sitting up straighter. “Wouldn’t mind having some time with her. She’s sweet.” “Hands off, Shadow,” Dimitri growled low. “Too young for you.” And too innocent. “And since when did you get all honorable on me, mate?” Yeah, when? “Has nothing to do with being honorable.” Dimitri sighed, rubbing his face. “She’s been through a lot and doesn’t need some dipshit with a sexy accent trying to charm her out of her pants.” “Sexy accent? Didn’t think you cared, love.” Dimitri flipped him off and stood up. Shadow laughed. “You’re not going to leave me here alone? Here I was hoping we could snuggle later on.” “Shadow, you need to get laid.” He winced when he took a step. Damn if his leg didn’t hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. “Ain’t that the truth, but me thinks so do you, mate. You’ve been a bit grumpy.” “I’m not grumpy.” The snap to his voice made Shadow laugh, grimace, and hold his chest. “Yeah, and I’m a fucking virgin again. You are one big ass grumpy bastard.” “Finished yet?” “Maybe Carissa can—”

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Shadow instantly backed off, hands up in the air. “Chill man. Only messing with you.” He had to get out of there. Which was just what he was going to do. Limping as he walked, Dimitri left the clinic as fast as his body would move him. He left wearing nothing more than his boxer-briefs. He didn’t know what time it was, but the way he felt, he figured it was a few hours before night. He made it to his room and sighed with relief when he closed the door. A large bed made up in black silk sheets was pushed over to the right side of the room, up against the wall. Shelves on the wall held many of his favorite books and nothing much personal. A plump black leather chair was opposite the bed with a lamp on an end table. Like all the quarters for the Guardians, he had a private bathroom, the door on the far side of the room. He went straight there, stripped, and took a nice hot shower, closing his eyes in bliss when the water beat over his head. He felt the knife slice deep into his wrist, blood slowly spilling out into the sink of running water. The lights were turned off, everyone was sleeping but her. She was worried about him, but at the same time shocked at how fast the pain built. She had to repeat what she’d done a few hours ago, which meant she was going to have to find her vampire. Her blood was building to a degree that bleedings weren’t going to be enough. The knife dropped, clattering against the sink. Tears fell. The drops mixed with the blood, the pain reaching an even higher pitch. One sob slipped free of the lips pressed so tightly together. Dimitri suffered the pressure also. He looked down and frowned. He clenched his own wrist, squeezing it in the same manner of the girl whose eyes he saw from. A bloodmate was suffering—his bloodmate. Maybe I can heal her.

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Dimitri shook his head, turned the water off, and reached for the towel. He dried off, wrapped it around his waist, and went to the sink and mirror. He stared at himself, seeing the same man as usual, but he also saw a stranger looking back at him. How long can I keep doing this? How long can I keep being alone? He didn’t have an answer and figured he’d never have one. Shaking his head, he turned from the sink, dropped the towel, and pulled on a pair of loose fitting shorts. When he heard a sound that shouldn’t be in his room, Dimitri stiffened. With caution, he turned off the light in the bathroom and slowly opened the door a crack. “Claudia,” he gasped. Claudia jumped at the sound, turned around, and quickly hugged herself. “Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.” “I’m sorry,” she rushed out. “What are you doing in here?” “Oh, I—um, thought—um, that I’d bring you the clothes you left in the clinic.” Her face heated up, and she kept her arms wrapped around herself. Dimitri had a nearly uncontrollable urge to run his hands through the silk of her hair. He wanted to feel her body pressed against his own, to sink his teeth into her throat at the same time he sank his cock into her body. But he was able to hold it all back, at least until her eyes traveled over him from his eyes to his toes. Up and down they went as if she was inspecting him. Her pupils expanded in interest when her gaze stopped below his waist, and he knew without a doubt she stared at his crotch. The damn thing was waking up and getting bigger. He cleared his throat, and her eyes snapped back up to his face, and she tried to smile. “Thanks.” “You know, you really shouldn’t get the stitches too wet.” She went up to him and stepped behind him. He stiffened when she touched him. “Too much dampness and they might bust open or get infected.”

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Jaden Sinclair “I’ll keep that in mind.” He couldn’t stop himself from closing his eyes and taking

her soft scent into his lungs. Being so close to her, he also picked up something else. “Did you bleed yourself before coming here?” “No—yes, I mean.” She shuddered quickly. “Sorry. I can’t seem to talk when I’m around you,” she whispered low. He wasn’t sure if he heard her right and said, “Excuse me?” “I should go. This isn’t really proper.” Claudia turned, started for the door, but before reaching it, she doubled over, grabbed her stomach, and moaned. Dimitri rushed to her side, catching hold of her arms before she fell over. “You’re swollen,” he stated, turning her to the bed and helping her to sit down on the edge. He knelt down at her feet, holding onto her, ignoring the pain in his leg from stretching the stitches. “You shouldn’t be this swollen if you just bled yourself.” He could tell that the pain seemed to keep its hold on her and in turn she held her breath. “Claudia, you need to breathe through it.” Another wave hit, and she did double over, falling into his arms, resting her forehead on his bare shoulder. She panted and whimpered loudly, and Dimitri held her through it. “I’m okay,” she told him softly, pushing away from his shoulder. “It’s going away. It does this sometimes. I guess I didn’t do the bleeding long enough.” Dimitri looked at her face closely. He could see she wasn’t sleeping from the bags and dark circles under her eyes. The way her body was still swollen after a bleeding told him the pain was present more than she was telling. She was at the point where if she didn’t get a vampire to feed from her soon, she was really going to start suffering. But why should she tell him anything. They barely knew each other. He picked up her arm, holding her wrist between his finger and thumb. He brushed his thumb across the vein beating hard and steady.

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“I think you’re at the point when the bleedings aren’t going to do you much good,” he stated. God, her skin is like silk, and she smells so damn good. “I’m okay now.” She pulled her wrist from his hand. “You should rest and come back tomorrow night for the stitches to come out.” She stood up, and he went up to his feet. “Will you be the one taking them out?” Her hand was on the knob when she looked back at him. “If you wish.” He smiled, one of the first real smiles he had given anyone in a very long time. “Sure. Sort of enjoyed dropping my pants for you.” Claudia laughed, quickly covered her mouth with her hand, and blushed. “See you around,” he said. She nodded and left him. Dimitri lay down with a groan. He was hard, hungry, and had really given big consideration to sinking his teeth into her wrist. Thank God she had the sense to walk away from him. Not good my man—not good by a long shot!

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Chapter Four

“You are out of your mind!” Carissa yelled. She stood in the middle of Ambrose’s office, and her anger was directed at Ambrose, not Dimitri. A baseball size bruise from the debris when the building blew up was on the side of her face. Shadow was in the room also, sitting in a chair holding his side to protect his ribs. Dimitri hung back by the door, only half-listening to what was going on. His mind drifting off to Claudia and the innocent manner in which she tried to take care of him. Having someone who wanted to take care of him or make sure he was all right was strange to him. Not even his mother had done that. His mother! Now that was a blast from the past. “Calm down.” Ambrose sighed. Dimitri gave his full attention to what was going on again. “You act like it’s the end of the world.” “He has no business training with us,” Carissa snapped. “Why not?” Julian walked in looking calm. Dimitri and Carissa both spun around. “I have a right to fight with you as much as anyone.” “Wrong,” Carissa crossed her arms over her chest as she faced him. “We’ve discussed this before. He’s made a general request,” Ambrose stated in a non-negotiable tone. “He needs training to be fit enough for the hunt of his daughter, and I’ve granted it.” “This is a mistake,” Carissa shook head. Dimitri took a deep breath. “I agree.”

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“Excuse me?” Julian said. “What gives any of you the right to deny me the satisfaction of finding my child and destroying Renzo?” “We’re not doing that,” Dimitri looked him in the eye, “just denying your right to our training. I understand your desire to find her, but when it comes to getting her back, I think we are more qualified than you.” “In other words, our training is none of your damn business,” Carissa added. “You know your problem with me has nothing to do with this.” Julian charged her or tried to. Dimitri quickly stepped between them before Julian could reach her. “I really don’t know what the hell is your problem. You’re the one who left!” he yelled, pointing at her over Dimitri’s shoulder. “I’ve changed my mind.” Dimitri felt her stiffen behind him and rolled his eyes at it. Just what he wanted, to be a babysitter between these two when he had other things on his mind. “Let him train just so I can kick his ass!” “Enough!” Ambrose bellowed, slamming his hand down on the desk. “I’m fully aware of Julian’s Noble status, but this organization is built on more than our personal opinions. He has made a request for the strength to get his daughter back. You two,” he pointed at Dimitri and Carissa, “need to put your personal feelings aside. We have a job to do.” He took a deep breath. “Now I want to hear the report, and Julian will stay as I hear it.” Dimitri gave Julian a shove back before facing Ambrose. “I’m trying to track Renzo’s paper trail, but not having any luck as yet,” Shadow said. “He hasn’t ordered any medical equipment, and no others have been attacked or are missing. It’s like he just disappeared.” Dimitri frowned. “No one just disappears.” Ambrose nodded. “He’ll make a mistake. He has the child, one I’m going to take a guess at and say looks like her mother. He’s not going to want to draw any attention to himself.” He looked at Carissa and asked of the new boy, “How’s Raze getting along?”

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Jaden Sinclair “Withdrawing.” she answered. “Always hard when they are so young,” Ambrose shook his head. And when they’ve been tossed away like garbage. Dimitri hadn’t been wanted. His

mother wasn’t supposed to have any more children. But low and behold, here comes number three, and it’s a second son. Once they had discovered his mother expected again, they wanted another daughter, but got him instead. Double disappointment. Ambrose’s voice broke through the bitter memories of his past. “I hoped spending time with Lucan would pull Raze out of his depression. It always helps to have someone you can relate with to discuss things.” “Even though they’re near the same age, with Lucan the way he is, they don’t have much in common, Ambrose,” Dimitri pointed out. “And they’re here for entirely different reasons.” Ambrose nodded. “Being the only one makes it harder also. Do all you can to help him adjust.” He turned his eyes to Julian. “You’ll start the training after they all have healed. Carissa and Dimitri will train you.” She made a sound, and he held up his hand. “We’ll see how that goes before we take the next step.” Julian gave him a nod and left the office. Dimitri decided then to ask the question they all avoided while Julian was there. “Does he Crossover?” He felt all their eyes on him. “I don’t think we need to jump into that possibility yet,” Ambrose answered. “And Lucan?” Dimitri crossed his arms over his chest. “A patronus must be chosen for him.” “And will be when the time is right.” “Don’t wait too long, Ambrose.” Dimitri sighed. “If either does it without the necessary precautions, someone could be killed in the process.” Ambrose nodded. “I’m aware of that, but I don’t think it’s time. We don’t need to rush into that yet.”

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Dimitri’s leg itched. Time for the stitches to come out. Another meeting with Claudia, and he hoped like hell he was going to be able to see her alone. Where the hell did that come from? When he left the office and headed back down to the underground tunnels, he went right for the clinic. His mind went over the available patronus. A patronus was a dedicated protector. They swore to die for whomever they were chosen to protect, and they took the oath with blood. If by chance one was young when it was done, it could push them into their transition, maybe even start a Crossover—if it was done with a Guardian. All of the Guardians had some ancient blood in them. They held a part of an elder and the knowledge and power from when they went through the Crossover. Dimitri stopped a few feet inside the door of the clinic. It was quiet, eerily quiet in fact. He looked around, but all he saw was the back bathroom door slightly open. At nearly the same instant, he picked up a faint scent of fresh blood and followed his nose, going right up to the bathroom. Not giving it much thought, he yanked the door open and before his eyes stood Claudia in front of the sink, her wrist held under the stream of scalding water. Blood poured from cut, one he thought was much too deep. “Didn’t you do this last night?” She jumped at the sound of his voice. The knife in her hand fell to the floor as she turned. Shock went across her face, to join with the tears and the pain visible in her eyes. “You’re still in pain,” he stated. “It won’t stop hurting.” She panted and sniffed. “I can’t get it to stop.” He grabbed hold of her wrist, turned her back around, and held her close against his chest. Their gazes met in the mirror and very slowly, feeling like he was in a dream, Dimitri lifted her cut wrist to his mouth. He licked the cut, sucked it closed, holding back a moan of pleasure at the feel of her in his arms and the sweet taste of her blood.

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Jaden Sinclair Pain! Oh fuck! He could feel the raw pain, hitting him in the gut like a fist would.

She suffered so much and refused to ask for help. Dimitri boxed her in between himself and the sink, pressing up against her backside. An unbonded vampire could at least give her relief. “Where’s your mark?” His breathe quickened, his words sounding breathy and rushed. Just being so close to her drove him nuts with need. The desire to know where her mark was hid drove him. He wanted to see it, watch it as he drank from her. Hell, he wanted to touch it. “I…I…I…” She shook her head, eyes opened wide, staring back at him in the mirror. Dimitri pushed her hair over to the other side. He closed his hands around the back of her neck and shoulders gently rubbing the tense muscles. He massaged until they began to relax under his fingers, glancing down at the back of her neck, then pushing her shirt down to look on her shoulder. “Where is it?” He couldn’t stop himself from moving his hand down the middle of her back to the curve of her rear. Claudia shivered but didn’t move. Back up to her waist, around to her stomach and up to the underside of a breast where he stopped. His cock throbbed in pain, pressing against his leather pants, demanding to be set free. Damn she felt good in his arms, felt right pressed up against him. His fangs extended, his heart beat pounded, matching the beat of hers. He wanted to drink from her, to feel her life slide down the back of his throat, and be nurtured by her and her alone. He bent and sank his fangs into the junction between her shoulder and neck, locking his gaze to hers in the mirror. Claudia gasped and pressed back against him. She gripped the side of the sink so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her ass rubbed against his cock sending shards of pleasure mixed with pain down his spine to pool in his balls. Her sweet blood flowed into his mouth, and he drank deeply. He gulped it as if it was going to be his last meal, and he wanted every taste he could get. Every last drop.

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Moving both of his hands up her chest, he cupped her breasts, squeezing the mounds, teasing the hard nipples with his thumbs. She gasped, her ass grinding back against his erection. Her hands left the sink and reached back, nails digging into his legs through the leather. Dimitri couldn’t stop himself from moving his hips, from grinding into her ass, pressing harder, trying to get just a tiny bit of relief from the pressure building up. Doc Ivy’s voice rang out like ice water over his head. “Yes, Shadow, I know you want the bandage off, but that cracked rib still hasn’t healed.” Dimitri stilled. He licked the wounds he’d made, closing them up, and released her breasts fast. The lust of the feed overcame him, but not his sense of what was right. What he’d just done wasn’t right! Claudia looked over her shoulder at him then back into the mirror. Her face was flushed, her breaths coming quickly. He licked his lips, meeting her stare, but not able to move yet. He just couldn’t bring himself to let her go. She felt like heaven in his arms, pressed up against his body. “Why’d you do that?” She asked the question softly, her hand going up to her neck where his mouth had been just seconds ago. “Because you needed it,” he answered simply. She opened her mouth, and he was pretty sure she was going protest in some way. He cut her off before she could say a thing. “And I wanted to. If you need it again, come find me.” For some strange ass reason, he kissed her on the neck right where he’d bitten her before turning and leaving the bathroom. He was grateful Shadow and the doc were out of sight when he slipped from the bathroom and out of the clinic. It sure as hell would be embarrassing to have to adjust his dick in front of either of them. Fuck him if the damn thing wasn’t stone pounding to be free. It amazed him that he didn’t bust some of the seams holding the damn thing in. ****

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their departure from home and their arrival, there hadn’t been any free time. He and Tempest had been working at settling Lucan into their new home. He found Carissa sitting on the roof of the house, flipping her butterfly knife back and forth. Once Lucian made his presence known, she paused and gave him a quick glance over her shoulder, but she didn’t move away. She immediately went back to staring out at the night and playing with her knife while he worked at not sliding down the roof to sit next to her. “Nice view,” he said. She only nodded. “Don’t talk much anymore, huh?” “At the end of every summer, I would sit up here to watch him leave.” Some time passed before she said more. “Each time I would be so pissed because I hadn’t told him how I felt about him.” She glanced at him with a frown. “You knew. I saw it in your eyes the one summer you came with him. You knew, but you didn’t say anything. Why?” He shrugged. “It wasn’t my place.” “The last time I watched him go, I said my final good-bye.” She turned back out to the night. “Now, I’m being forced to face my past.” She turned fully to Lucian, her gaze locked with his. “He’ll never forgive me for not saving her, Lucian, just like he’ll never forgive me for walking away without a word. Everything I’ve ever done has been to protect him and give Julian a life he could never have had if he’d tried to stay with me.” She took a deep breath, obviously difficult for her to talk. “Our past makes us strong, just like the grief, but it can also destroy us. Don’t let his consume him. Remind him, he has something to live for.” She cocked her head to the side. “Times two.” “Sometimes it isn’t enough when you have so many unanswered questions.” She nodded and looked back out. “He never stopped looking for you, not for eight years, until Ambrose demanded he go on the hunt for Renzo.” She sighed. “And he found his bloodmate there.” “It’s never been set in stone, Carissa, that we have only one.”

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Taking some time to think about what he said, she took a deep breath and spoke again. “You know I’m a half-breed, right?” He nodded. “I’m considered worse than a Guardian to the Nobles.” She drew her knees up to her chest, rested her chin on the arm lying across them. “Gavino Marino didn’t approve of even a friendship. He sure as fuck wouldn’t accept anything more, especially with a half-bred guardian. Shit, if he learns what Julian plans, he will burn us down to get his son back.” He knew she was right, but he suspected there were some things about the family she didn’t know. “Julian turned his back on the Noble’s life eight years ago. When you left.” She snorted and turned her head back. “I think he figured his father out.” “Gavino Marino is the top and most powerful Noble. Julian is his heir. You figure the rest out.” **** Dimitri didn’t go up for dinner. He stayed in his room, pacing the floor, beating himself up for what he’d done. He shouldn’t have fed from her. That was his first mistake. To add to it all, he’d offered to do it again. She’s the one you dipshit! He knew it. Without a doubt, Claudia was his bloodmate. He just didn’t know what the hell he was going to do about it. He was a Guardian, a protector for the race. Each time he went out to fight, he added to the blood already on his hands, on his soul. How could he put that on her shoulders? She’d seen death when her family was killed, looked it in the eyes, when it came in the form of the breeds. Surely, she’d see death upon him each time he came back from a hunt. That was his life with no guarantees that when he went out on a hunt he would ever return. Period! How could he bond with her knowing that at any given moment, he could leave and never come back? Hadn’t she been through enough without his adding more pain and worry to it?

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Jaden Sinclair A faint knock on the door stopped him. Frowning, he didn’t have a clue as to who it

might be. Carissa was more than likely working out or messing with the boys, getting them ready. That left Shadow. He rushed to the door, planning to tell Shadow to piss off. But when he yanked the door open, he was shocked to see Claudia standing in the doorway, a tray in her hands. God, she was something to look at. He could have stood there looking at her for hours. “Is this a bad time?” she asked, her face coloring up. Dimitri cleared his throat and smiled. “No. Guess I’m just shocked. How’d—how’d you know I’d be in here?” “Shadow.” She walked inside. He closed the door slowly. “I told him I wanted to bring you something to eat and remove those stitches. There’s no need for you to come to the clinic when I can do it for you in the comfort of your own quarters.” She flashed him a quick smile before putting the tray down on the small table. “I wanted to say thank you too, for earlier.” She turned to him, face still flushed, hands going into the pockets of her jeans. Her hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck, and she wore a simple pink top with tiny buttons tucked neatly inside her waistband. While he looked her over, he thought what she needed was to be draped in silks, spread out on his bed, waiting for him to sink into her. Where the fuck did that thought come from! “You don’t have to thank me,” he said. “You needed the relief.” She nodded. “I did. It’s strange. It just started a week ago. I was having to bleed myself twice a day, but when you found me in the bathroom, I don’t know.” Her cheeks got redder. “Guess I didn’t do it long enough.” She lowered her head, took a deep breath, and when she raised that chin of hers, he saw she was trying to appear all serious.

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“Anyway, I thought I’d come and take your stitches out. Since having them removed was why you went to the clinic in the first place.” “Sounds like a good plan.” He reached down to his leg, scratching it over the leather. “They’re driving me nuts.” She giggled. The innocent sound warmed him. He headed towards her and heard the faint sound of her breath catch in her lungs. He stepped closer, leaned down, and picked up one of the fried chicken legs on the plate. “Just give me a second to change.” He popped the meat into his mouth, went to the bathroom, and closed the door. He ate the food quickly, tossed the bone in the trash, and stripped down. Dimitri always left a pair of shorts in the bathroom. He slipped them on, hoped like hell his damn dick would stay down and left the bathroom. His dick didn’t cooperate. When she saw him come out in only those tight shorts, he caught a glimpse of her eyes lighting up and a flush going around her neck, but she said nothing. “Where do you want me?” “In bed,” she blurted out. One eyebrow went up as her face turned ten different shades of red and she rolled her eyes. “I mean on the edge. I’ll do your back first.” He sat down and twisted, one foot on the floor, the other leg bent up on the bed. She came up right behind him. She brushed his hair over to the side, with her hand lightly touching his back. He hung his head down, enjoying the contact, closing his eyes in pleasure when her hand stroked from his shoulder down to his hip, following the line of the cut. “There’s no scarring,” she stated, her voice low. She sounded like she was breathing hard. “That’s good.” Dimitri didn’t flinch when she cut the stitches from his back. Her touch was all he focused on, feather light fingers he wanted touching his body everywhere. What she was doing, only served to remind him it was possible to gain comfort from a simple contact.

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Jaden Sinclair The few stitches on his back didn’t take her long. She cleaned the spot with

hydrogen peroxide on a piece of gauze. When she was finished, she moved from the bed and had him turn so he was sitting up straight on the side, giving her better access to his leg wound. She went to the floor, on her knees. Once again her touch was light, as her fingers traced the path of his stitches. He didn’t even bother to try covering up the hardness at his crotch from her eyes. He didn’t feel ashamed of his reaction at all. He wanted her to see what she did to him, wanted her to see how much he desired her. “Doesn’t look like you’re going to have one here either.” She looked up at him. Dimitri looked back, seeing shyness in her gray eyes. When she lowered her eyes and began to remove the stitches, he felt a strange sense of calmness. He enjoyed the way she looked at him. The fear he’d seen the first time she saw him, wasn’t there. Instead, he thought he saw fascination. Removing the stitches was over way too fast, the contact gone. With his head still down, Claudia stood up and backed away from him. Dimitri acted like he was looking over her work, when in fact he was trying to get himself under some kind of control. The need to simply pounce on her, to sink his teeth back into her throat, strip her clothes, press his naked body against her, and pound into her was powerful. He was on fire. Hunger, not for food or blood, raced in him. He wanted her back on her knees, kissing his body, touching him. He wanted to feel her skin against his own and hear the sounds of pleasure rip from her lips as he surged into her body. The true reality was all his urges were a fantasy he could never fulfill. He couldn’t shame her no matter how much he desired her. Along with the reasons a Guardian shouldn’t bond was the fact that bonding one would be shameful for her. “Thanks,” he choked out. “You do great work, just like the doc said you would.”

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When he did finally look up, she was blushing again. “Thanks. Well, I’ll, um, leave you to do whatever it was you were going to do. I just wanted to make sure those were out and that you were healed, and say thanks again. You really didn’t have to do it.” Dimitri stood up slowly and gave her another smile. When the hell did I start smiling so fucking much? “It was my pleasure.” He watched her leave and lingered cherishing the memory before he changed into a tight pair of biker shorts and sneakers. His intention to head to the gym and start one hell of an intense work-out was the only thing he could think of doing to rid himself of the sexual frustration caused by being in close proximity to Claudia. Man, this was fucking him up big time. As much as he hated to have to admit it, Shadow was right. He did need to get laid. Instead, he worked his body into a sweaty mess. His mind went over and over all the things he wanted to do with Claudia and to her. She was everything he ever imagined wanting and nothing like he’d ever had. Dimitri beat and kicked on the punching bag for a good hour, trying to knock out all the overwhelming thoughts and feelings. He still wanted to go to her, to take her, to conquer her. He lifted weights, jumped rope, and ran laps around the gym until he exhausted himself. Finally, he set up a bench to work on his sit-ups and push-ups. During push-ups, with his toes up on the bench, Carissa strolled in. She was also dressed in shorts, wearing a sports bra with her hair pulled back. She was ready to either spar or work out. Dimitri didn’t pay attention to her at all. He focused on how many pushups he could do and what else he could do in order to break this damn tension in his body. Instead of it going down, it kept rising. From the corner of his eye, he did watch Carissa walk up and waited for her to say something. He wasn’t expecting nor was he ready for her to stomp on his back, forcing him to drop to the ground with the breath leaving his lungs. She stood on his back, holding his tired body down.

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starting to become a real dick.” Dimitri gave her his worst glare, pushed up to his feet, and snatched the towel he left on the bench. He rubbed his face and sweaty chest. “Who pissed in your cheerios?” “I've seen the way you were looking at her,” Carissa said. “Is she the one?” “Is Julian?” he tossed back. She acted like he hadn’t said anything. “You know you should approach her. I mean, she might be the one to take that chip off your shoulder.” “Yeah and the way you’re acting since Julian came back into your life has been fucking magical,” he smarted off, tossing his sweaty towel back on the bench. “Save the advice until you’re ready to take it.” She moved so fast Dimitri never got the chance to step back or block her. Carissa swung hard, hit him in the jaw, and knocked him back down to the ground. She landed a blow to his stomach, knocking the air out of his lungs. Damn if he didn’t hate it when she sucker punched him like that. “Now.” She breathed out, standing over him with her hands on her hips. “Do I have your full fucking attention, you stupid prick?” Dimitri coughed, held his stomach, and rubbed his jaw. “What the fuck did I do to you?” “You’re lying to me and to yourself.” She kicked him again, catching him before he could react. Dimitri knew this wasn’t going to be a simple conversation, not if she could land so many blows on him at one time. “You aren’t telling me everything about the test Ambrose had you and Shadow take.”

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She kicked again, but he grabbed her foot before it made contact with his gut. He pushed her foot away before rolling, putting distance between them to leap to his feet. “First, I haven’t really had time to talk to you about anything Ambrose has tossed at us, thanks to Shadow trying to blow us the fuck up. Second, I only neglected to not tell you more about the test.” She made like she was going to jump him, but Dimitri jumped back faster, holding up one finger. “I don’t have to tell you shit. We cut that tie a long time ago.” She glared at him. The manner in which her eyes narrowed made Dimitri uncomfortable. “You’re scared,” she accused. He snorted. “You’re full of shit.” “Oh, really?” She smiled back, shifting to lean on one leg, arms crossed over her chest. He took a deep breath, letting it out in an aggravated rush. “Are we working out or not?” **** Claudia snuck into the training room’s top level. Looking down, she saw Dimitri and Carissa sparring off. The sounds of their fists made thudding noises, which echoed off the walls. The two of them grunted as they fought, and the exhibition fascinated her. Oh, who was she kidding; he fascinated her. She couldn’t get over how gentle he was with her or how brutally he fought Carissa down there. “You’re dropping your shoulder,” Dimitri told Carissa. She made a huffing sound back at him and swung her arm like she was going to hit him. Instead, she kicked. They went back and forth at each other. When she struck at his side, Dimitri caught her arm and backhanded Carissa hard, turned, and flipped her over

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his shoulder, slamming her down on the ground. Claudia flinched for Carissa. Watching, Claudia had to wonder what he could do to her if he really wanted to. So why didn’t he take things further. He could have. She’d felt his hard on pressing up against her rear and saw it in his room. While Carissa was still down, she swung her legs up, wrapped them around his neck, turned to the left, and brought him down. They rolled around, trading punches and struggling to be on top. Carissa came out the winner, pinning him down. Claudia had a strange feeling he was letting her win for some reason known only to him. “You know I just don’t understand why, but I get the impression your heart isn’t in this,” Carissa said. “Get off.” Dimitri twisted his body, pushed, and stood. He walked over to his towel and wiped his face. Carissa sat on the floor, her legs pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them. “Are we done?” He tossed the towel aside and turned back on her. “Yeah, we’re done.” His voice sounded hard, and his face looked like he was pissed. “Have you even talked to Julian yet?” “Not talking about me.” “Well, we sure as hell ain’t going to be talking about me.” “What are you so pissed about?” She frowned, going to her feet. She got close to him, and Claudia feared she was going to witness a kiss. “You fed from her, didn’t you?” Claudia’s mouth went dry. She held her breath, waiting for him to tell her he hadn’t, when her throat still throbbed from his bite, and her clit still had a tingling sensation of something unfulfilled. “Stay out of this, Carissa.” He had a warning in his tone. “My personal life doesn’t concern you anymore. Remember?”

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Claudia stood up slowly and left as quietly as she came in. She went back to the clinic, mainly because she knew she could lose herself in work and training. It was all she had in his world. **** Carissa stood with her head lowered, alone in the dark hallway. She was sore, which wasn’t a bad thing. She’d had a good workout with Dimitri, but she still felt as though he had some unresolved issues about his current situation with Claudia. When he left the gym, she followed. He went straight to his room, no doubt for the rest of the night. Seeing his door close was the first time she’d paid any attention to how much he isolated himself from all of them. What was happening with Dimitri was a sure sign of a vampire needing his bloodmate. She feared Dimitri might be at the point of suicide. He needed to have something to live for. I’m not alone. She raised her head and turned. Lucan stood in the middle of the hall. He raised his finger up to his lips, telling her to be quiet before he extended his other hand out to her. Carissa pushed away from the wall, walked up to him, and took his hand. He led her down another hall, which was normally hidden by a wall that slid to the side. No one outside the order was supposed to know about it, a secret kept for the transitions. Lucan had it opened, the torches on the wall were lit, and on the stone bed was a knife. “Lucan, what are you doing in here?” she asked, staring at the set up. “I choose you as my patronus,” he said, picking up the knife. “Lucan—” “I choose you!” His young voice emphasized his demand. She swallowed hard. Lucan was still young, had several more years before he would normally go into the transition from child to a full-fledged vampire. At that time he would grow into his teen

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body and acquire his vampire powers. Already Lucan’s intelligence was way beyond anything anyone ever expected it would be. He knew the way of the Guardians. If they did what he proposed, he could trigger a premature transition, growing even faster in mind and body. He would leave this room a young man, no longer a child, years before it should happen. Because of his status as Prophet, one more powerful than even an elder, she could not refuse his demand. Carissa swallowed hard, went over to him, and knelt down at his feet, head down. “I give you my blood as your patronus. I give you my life.” She gave him her wrist. Carissa didn’t even flinch when Lucan cut her flesh. She closed her eyes; his lips closed over the cut, and he drank.

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Chapter Five Dimitri was sleeping deeply when something jolted him awake. He waited a few seconds, listening, half-expecting someone to barge into the room. When nothing happened he turned over with the intention of going back to sleep, until he was hit with a sharp pain in his wrist. New fangs punctured the vein of her wrist. More blood was pulled out, sucked into the mouth, and when she opened her eyes to see she watched his transformation for herself. He was no longer the boy, but growing into a young man before her eyes. “Carissa!” Dimitri hissed, rolling from the bed. He looked around for something to put on fast. He was out of his room quickly, barely dressed. Dimitri ran for the life of him down the dark halls towards the secret room. The door was closed but slid open with a push. He walked in, stopped, and stared open-mouthed at the scene before him. A boy, or more like a teenager, hunched over Carissa’s wrist, drinking like it was his last meal. He was naked. The clothes of a child, ripped from his body were scattered around him on the ground. Muscles formed in his body, his arms, and legs becoming thicker. Long, black hair hung over his head, onto her arm, hiding his face, but Dimitri knew who it was. Lucan. The boy was in his transition, and it was happening fast! “Lucan, stop!” Dimitri yelled. “You’ll drain her dry!” Dimitri grabbed hold of the boy by his shoulders and pulled him back. Lucan let go, reared back, and yelled. Blood dripped down the sides of his mouth, his fangs were red, and his eyes a bright metallic silver. Carissa fell back, or more likely passed out, and Lucan lunged for her.

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transitions were done with more than one in the room. The one going through it was chained down to keep them under control. “Dimitri!” Ambrose rushed in, going right to Carissa. “What the hell is going on?” “Lucan chose his patronus.” Dimitri grunted, struggling to hold Lucan back. “I told you this would happen!” “Here, mate.” Shadow came in, went over to Dimitri, and stuck a needle into Lucan’s arm. Instantly, the boy started to relax. “What the hell is going on?” Lucian along with Tempest and Julian joined the group. “Where’s Lucan?” “There he goes,” Shadow stated. “Nightie-night.” Lucan slumped in Dimitri’s arms. “Lucan chose his patronus, and the process threw him into transition,” Dimitri told Lucian. He cast Ambrose a dirty look. “With only Carissa with him. This is your son now.” He looked over at Carissa. Julian picked up her bleeding arm, licked the wounds closed and scooped her up in his arms. He walked out with her. Dimitri didn’t take his eyes off her until he spotted Claudia standing in the doorway. She was still dressed making him think she’d been working in the clinic instead of resting like she should be. Their eyes locked for a second before she lowered her head and followed Julian out. God, he wanted to go to her. “Why the hell would he do this?” Lucian said, taking Lucan from Dimitri’s arms. “Ask him when he wakes up.” “That drug will keep him out for a good twenty-four hours,” Shadow said, “but we should get him to the clinic, mate,” Tempest reached out and touched Lucan’s face. “He’s changed so much,” she whispered.

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“And since he’s had Carissa’s blood, he’s going to change even more.” Dimitri stood up as Lucian slung his son up over his shoulder. “From the look of him, her blood was enough to push him into Crossover.” “Think about it later,” Shadow told Lucian. “Get him down to doc. He might need more blood still.” Dimitri stood alone in the chamber, but it wasn’t for long. Ambrose came back, worry on his face. “The boy took a lot from her.” Ambrose sighed. “Carissa is going to need to stay in the clinic for awhile and have what he took replaced.” “And him?” “He’ll need transfusions as well.” Ambrose shook his head, “I don’t understand why the boy would’ve done this alone.” “Patronus.” Dimitri sighed. “He’s chosen her to be the one. I told you it was going to happen before any of us were ready.” “This changes our time table.” “It changes a lot of things.” Dimitri’s groaned in frustration. He rubbed the back of his head, frowning. “Lucan is going to know everything she does without any training. He’s going to be very powerful.” Ambrose hung his head for a few seconds. “What’s wrong?” Dimitri asked. “Shadow found something finally, but now with this we’re going to have to wait.” “What did he find?” Ambrose lowered his eyes again. The action gave him the appearance of being older than what he was. “Renzo’s son, Denver, Shadow found a way to contact him. He wants to see Julian.” “When?”

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we’re going to have to wait until she’s back on her feet. Doc looked at Shadow again and said he is going to need more time. The cracked rib hasn’t healed yet.” Dimitri nodded. “I’m going to check on Carissa.” “Good. I’ll talk to Lucian and Tempest. Let them know what’s going on.” They left, sliding the door back into place, hiding the chamber. Carissa sat in a chair, instead of laying out cold on a bed. An IV in her arm ran blood into her vein. Lucan was out of it though. The drug Shadow gave him doing the trick. Ivy had his arm hooked up with blood pumping into his system also. Claudia tended to Carissa. Dimitri watched her move around, checking the line, making sure everything was working the way it should, then checking Carissa’s pulse. It calmed him to see her in action. She carried herself with assurance. “How is she?” he asked. The question made Claudia jump. “I didn’t hear you come up.” Her face reddened as she turned away from him. “She’ll be fine after she’s had her blood replaced. Doc wants to keep her here for a bit, and Corbin is bringing her something to eat.” “I don’t need to eat anything.” Carissa sighed, closing her eyes and resting her head back on the chair. Claudia gave him a quick smile and moved away to check on Lucan. Dimitri couldn’t stop himself from watching her walk away. “Why don’t you bond with her and get it over with?” Carissa asked. The question snapped his full attention to his partner. “I see it in your eyes that you want to. Until you do, you’re just going to be distracted as hell.” Dimitri avoided the subject. “What the hell were you thinking doing this with Lucan alone?” He crossed his arms over his chest, scowling at her. He was angry and did not want to have the other conversation. “He could’ve killed you. Drained you dry.” “I didn’t have a choice.”

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“The hell you didn’t!” he snapped, raising his voice. He didn’t give a shit if the others heard him. She opened her eyes, the brightness of her silver irises shining up at him. “You knew just as well as I did that when a request of patronus was made by Lucan, neither one of us would be able to refuse him. I didn’t have a choice.” They had a stare off, tension between them thick. Dimitri broke the silence. “I never saw it until now. Do you even feel a thing anymore? Or are you so caught up in your fucking self-pity shit you can’t see straight.” He growled, ran a hand in his hair and looked over his shoulder. Julian stood off to the side, watching them. He looked back at her. “Get your shit together, Carissa, or I’m no longer going to be your partner.” Walking for the door, he cast one more look in the direction of Claudia. She was watching, her eyes showing him things that he was pretty sure she didn’t want him to see. She was worried about him. He saw it, and it bothered him. No one had ever worried about him, at least not in the way she was. When he got to the door, Julian stopped him with a few simple words. “Hurt her, and I’ll kill you.” Dimitri stared the man right in the eye. “Ditto.” He brushed past Julian, out of the clinic, and went back to his room. **** Forty-eight hours was all she needed, and Carissa was back on her feet, itching for a fight. Shadow found out from Denver that Renzo was building up a new lab for his breed creations. As if that wasn’t enough, Shadow also discovered Renzo had found humans willing to help him in his war against the vampires. The man was lying low, rebuilding, but they had no clue where that might be or what plans were cooking in his twisted little brain. Not even Denver could discover where they were, and he’d spent the past five months trying. Renzo either kept him blindfolded or

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closed in a van every time they moved. Denver wanted to get Serina and Julian’s daughter back as much as the rest of them, but it seemed the crazy bastard didn’t trust his own blood. Not that any of them could blame him. Dimitri pushed the ammo clip into his gun, holstered it, turning to see Claudia watching him. She looked so innocent, so pure. He didn’t want to tarnish her. He wanted her to stay like that always. He had too much blood on his hands, too many stains on his soul, too many deaths caused by him. How could he come out of that darkness into her light? Why did I drink from her? She didn’t blink in fear, like he expected when she looked at him loaded down with weapons of violence and death. He was dressed for battle, loaded and ready in more ways than one. Instead of showing fear, Claudia moved closer, saying nothing. Her hands shook as she reached up to straighten his coat collar. Having her stand so close was all it took to have his senses in overdrive. He could even taste her still in his mouth. “You okay?” he whispered, his breathing coming faster as she moved her hands inside the coat, touching the ends of the weapons that she could see. She nodded, eyes going down. “Yes.” When she looked up at him his gut dropped. The innocence was back in her gray eyes, along with the worry. She tugged at his coat, bringing him down to her level. How short she was compared to him hadn’t registered before, not that it mattered. No, the only thing he could think about at the moment was her mouth. Damn if it wasn’t inviting and damn him if he wasn’t going to take what she offered. “Be safe,” she whispered, brushing her lips across his. I’m so fucked! Dimitri couldn’t walk away with only a brush of her lips to his. He wrapped his arm around her waist, brought her close, and pressed his lips to hers. He kissed her and kissed her deep. His other hand cupped the back of her head, holding her still as he moved even

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deeper on her lips. He pushed his tongue against her lips, made her open for him, and thrust in. He moaned, moved his lips over hers, sucked at her tongue. His cock pressed hard against his leathers. The need to sink into her, not only her throat, but her body, was so powerful it threatened to buckle his knees. Their first kiss and to him it felt like his first kiss ever. It was sweet, innocent, demanding, and hot all wrapped up together. Why she kissed him, he had no fucking clue and didn’t give a shit. It felt good, and worse, it felt right. “No, I’ve got it in here.” Shadow’s voice broke the spell woven around them. Dimitri stopped kissing her, but didn’t let her go like he knew he should. He rested his forehead on hers, eyes closed. Breathing was a hard thing to do at the moment. “Sorry, mate,” Shadow said. Dimitri opened his eyes, and looked at Shadow who quickly walked away. “Wait for me, please,” Dimitri whispered to her, his breathing accelerated from the kiss. “In my room. I’ll feed from you again. Okay?” She looked up at him and nodded. He kissed her again, lingering longer than he should have. Pulling back, he picked up the extra clips he left on the table and made himself walk away. **** Julian studied the markings on the walls, reading the names carved into the stone. He had never known the room was there until he ran in with the others to find Lucan in transition. “Hey, mate, what are you doing in here?” Shadow asked from where he stood in the door. “Trying to understand what other secrets are being kept from me.”

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everyone’s secrets.” Julian narrowed his eyes, glaring at the man. “How about telling me what the hell is going on?” He couldn’t stop his voice from rising. “Why is my father’s name on this wall and scratched out?” Shadow looked behind him. “Come on then. Someone has to fill in a few blanks for you.” Julian followed him out. The door closed and blended in perfectly with the wall. They went to the computer room, and Shadow took a seat with a sigh, holding his side. Julian stood. “Welcome to my workroom.” Shadow sighed again. “Okay, you need to understand something, mate. We don’t tell anyone shit around here. Not our way. Everything is a need to know, and you are in a tight position of really not needing to know.” “Cut the shit and just tell me,” Julian said. Julian glanced around the room. A large metal table stood in the middle with equipment that Julian could only imagine the use of. Weapons in different stages of production were lined up with tools of all kinds. In the back right corner, Shadow had his computers. And the man had many. It looked like six, maybe even ten were set up and all running different programs. It was a hell of a set up for one person. “First off, mate, you need to stop poking at Dimitri and Carissa.” Julian focused his attention back to Shadow. “They’ll kill you without blinking.” “I didn’t come down here to get advice about them,” he snapped. “I want to know what the hell this Crossover shit really is and why you keep it such a tight secret.” What Lucian and Corbin found in a book didn’t tell him enough. Shadow licked his lips and frowned. “You really don’t have any idea what goes on here.” “Shadow.” Julian growled the name.

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“Okay.” Shadow nodded. “A Crossover is when someone like you, turns into us. It changes who you are, mostly from the inside.” Julian didn’t understand, and it must’ve shown because Shadow rolled his eyes. “We change, okay?” “Change?” Julian didn’t understand, but before he could ask more, he was hit once again with a memory that wasn’t his. “Once you take this step, there isn’t any going back.” Ambrose walked up to her with a tiny cup in his hand. He was dressed in a long black robe, and many others were also lined up, all dressed the same. They had hoods on, and not one face was visible. Carissa reached out and took the cup. She was young, maybe sixteen at the most. She took a deep breath, looking down at the cup. “I know.” “What the hell do you drink?” he asked Shadow through his teeth. Shadow’s mouth dropped open. “How’d you know we drink anything?” “What is it?” Julian yelled. Ambrose answered, standing in the doorway. “It’s the blood of the ancients, our Elixir of Life.” Julian turned around. “And your father has been trying to get his hands on it since before you were born.” Ambrose turned and left. Julian followed him. Shadow hurried to keep up with them. “The more I’m around all of you, the less I understand anything,” Julian stated, jogging to catch up to him. Once he had, he grabbed Ambrose’s arm, stopping him in the hallway. “Damn it, Ambrose, just give me a straight answer here. What the hell is going on?” Ambrose looked at Shadow who just shrugged and said, “Tell him.” “Let’s go to my office.” Ambrose said, walking away once more. Back in the office, Julian waited. Ambrose sat down behind his desk with a tired sigh, and Shadow took the other chair. “It’s no secret that your father wants to disband the Guardians, but I don’t think you ever know why you father hates the Guardians so much.”

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secrets. No one knows what happened to his brother, only that Gavino Marino’s name was taken off the list, and he was sent home.” Julian shook his head and held his hand up. “Wait one damn minute here. I have or had an uncle, and my father was sent here to train?” Ambrose nodded. “No, no way.” He shook his head. “And what does it have to do with what’s going on around here? And how the hell would he know?” He pointed at Shadow. “We all learn the past when we Crossover, mate,” Shadow added. “All of the past is revealed.” Ambrose got Julian’s attention once more. “The Elixir of Life holds unspeakable power, power too many of our kind would kill to have. Your father wants it.” Julian stood up slowly, and Ambrose kept talking. “Our strength, our senses, everything which makes us the perfect Guardian is in it. We’re faster, stronger—” “Colder.” Julian stated. “I see it in her eyes, Ambrose. She isn’t the girl I knew.” “And you’re no longer the boy I remember.” Ambrose sat forward, elbows on the desk. “She’s the best, because she turned her sorrow to her advantage. They all do. The training I had you take years ago has helped to create the man you are today. Time changes each of us, even you.” “This place turns out monsters,” Julian said softly. “Are you judging us with your eyes or your heart?” Julian shook his head and shrugged. “I don’t know her anymore. Don’t know you or what the hell I’m doing here.” He paced the room. “Ziva’s out there, and I can’t do a damn thing to find her. I can’t sense Renzo until I get in close proximity, and I don’t know where to start.”

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“I can’t even fathom what you’re going through, but I can promise you that we will find your daughter and bring her home to you.” Shadow added, “Dimitri and Carissa won’t stop until she’s home with you.” Julian shook his head and changed subjects. “What happens if my father gets his hands on the Elixir?” He hung his head, waiting for the answer, fearing it. “If that happens, Julian, then the peace you have known all your life will be over. Your father doesn’t know how to handle it, and there will be chaos without Guardians left to protect our race. None will be safe, not even the Nobles.” **** “This place hasn’t been in use for months.” Dimitri kicked a can, out of his way, over to the side, as he walked around the inside of a building, which not only looked but smelled like it had seen better days. Carissa looked around also. The building they searched for evidence that Renzo or the breeds had been there appeared to have been abandoned for quite awhile. It might have been empty for months. Trash was piled everywhere. Dried blood was splattered along the cracked walls and floor, and the smell of death lingered in the air. Ashes on a nearby table proved that another vampire had been killed there. “Hey!” Carissa called out. Dimitri tore his eyes from the ashes and went to her. The room she found hadn’t been as trashed, but was still a mess. What caught Carissa’s attention was the crib on the other side of the room. “So Renzo was here recently,” he stated. Both became aware of someone else at the same time and moved with practiced ease. One was pressed against each side of the doorway, weapons drawn and ready, when the man they sensed walked through.

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The man turned to face him. “Who the hell are you?” “Denver.” Carissa answered. “What the hell are you doing here?” Seeing him for the first time, Dimitri sized him up quickly. Denver Ferrari wore Tshirts and jeans. Thick blonde hair hung to his shoulders, and his sharp blue eyes took in everything around him. The man didn’t dress or look anything like his father. The last time Dimitri got a good look Renzo, his impression was of a military man, complete with the buzz cut hair. Despite the difference, Denver had a certain strength about him. He stood tall, had well developed muscles, and didn’t appear to be afraid of them. He was different from the average human. Hell, even Corbin exhibited a small amount of fear every time he came face to face with either Dimitri or Carissa, but not Denver. However, Denver did hesitate a bit when he took a step towards them, and Dimitri couldn’t blame him. He bet they looked scary all leathered out and covered with weapons. Denver handed over a piece of paper, which Carissa snatched from his hand and read quickly. She handed it to Dimitri and frowned. It just had an address on it. “What’s this?” Dimitri asked. “That’s where my father is heading,” Denver said. “With the baby. He doesn’t know that I know.” “And when is he supposed to be there?” Carissa asked. “Month or two,” Denver answered. “He’s moving around with my cousin Rage. I wanted Julian to know about Rage.” “What about him?” Dimitri asked. Denver was distracted, exclaiming, “I can’t believe you guys are real. My mother used to tell us stories about the Guardians, and I just thought you were a myth.” “What about Rage?” Dimitri asked again with more emphasis.

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“Oh,” Denver cleared his throat. “He’s planning something. I’m not sure who it involves, but I do know it has something to do with you guys. I heard him say he was going to get someone who marked him, the first one to ever leave a mark on him.” Dimitri glanced at Carissa. Unspoken words passed between them, one more thing to deal with concerning Renzo and his family, and it wasn’t good. There were only three of them, with only one child trainee and no others coming aboard. The odds were against them. “Anything else?” Dimitri asked. He shook his head. “No, but will you please tell Julian I’m keeping an eye on Ziva as much as I can. My father doesn’t let her out of his sight. No one is allowed anywhere near her unless he’s present, not even me. You guys need to come and get her when he settles. He’s acting funny.” “That’s because he’s a fucking nut case,” Carissa stated. Dimitri snorted loudly. “He is!” Denver smiled. “I won’t argue with you. He really started to lose it when Serina was born with that mark. He saw how my aunt’s life changed and didn’t want it to happen to her. It really escalated when Julian took Serina. When she died…” His voice choked off, and he shook his head. “I’ll give Julian the message,” Dimitri said. Carissa handed Denver a piece of paper “You call this number once he’s moved.” Denver nodded. “If your cousin is the one I’m thinking took her, then I owe that fucker a lot more than one small scar and can’t wait to give him more.” Dimitri was afraid to ask for details on what she referred to. Not knowing what she had been up to during the months she was keeping an eye on Julian bothered him. He didn’t have a clue about her confrontations with the breeds and Renzo. She hadn’t returned his calls or checked in for her scheduled reports and was touchy as hell if he questioned her on it.

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depressing with the lingering stench of death. They left the same way they came and then walked back to the car parked about a mile away. It was quiet, almost too quiet. Dimitri had this nagging feeling they were being watched. He stopped, put his head down, and listened. “Feel that?” he asked. “Since the moment we got here,” she stated. “We’re not alone.” “And he’s not making himself known.” Dimitri took a deep breath, sniffing the air for the unusual scent. “Human, with a bit of—” “Us,” she finished. He met her eye. “It’s strange.” “Another half-breed, maybe?” She shook her head. “Not likely. I’ve never heard of any other than me.” With a look of disgust she added, “More than likely it’s that fuck Rage” He took another deep breath. “Gone.” He looked closely at her. “You know the scent.” Carissa nodded. “It belongs to the one who took Serina and left Julian to die. Rage.” She let out his name with an angry sigh. “Don’t make it personal, Carissa,” he warned. “Too late. It already is.” They drove in silence. In his head, he recalled how Claudia tasted. How her warm, smooth blood went down his throat, and the sounds she made as he drank. “So what are you going to do about Claudia?” Carissa asked. He tightened his hands over the steering wheel and kept his eyes straight ahead. “You’re going to bond with her, right?” “I don’t want to talk, not about this,” he grumbled. “I’m sorry, okay,” she snapped.

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He slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop in the middle of the dark road. They both snapped forward, and Dimitri clenched even harder on the steering wheel. “I can’t do this with you again.” “I know.” He turned his head, looking Carissa in the eye. “How do you do it? How can you be so detached from it all?” “I’m not detached, Dimitri.” She frowned at him. “I just have to put my feelings away and focus on the job I’ve chosen to take. I care about others. If I didn’t, then you wouldn’t have gotten as close as you did.” “But what was I really?” He moved again, sitting forward in the seat. “A fling to get him out of your head.” “What do you want me to say?” She turned back around, sitting up straight in her seat. “No, I didn’t use you back then. As for Julian, yes, I feel when he’s around, but there’s no point in me taking any steps toward him. His heart belonged, and still does, to Serina. I’ve accepted it and moved on.” She turned again, pointing her finger in his face. “I didn’t feed from him.” He growled at her statement. She had him there. They had once given each other the comfort they needed, but a long time ago. He no longer fed from her, just as she’d stopped feeding from him. “I want her, Carissa.” His voice was low. “And I’ve never wanted anyone like I do her.” She touched his arm. Dimitri looked down at her hand. It was a contact, a gesture Carissa hadn’t made towards him in two years. He looked up at her, and she smiled. He didn’t need to see her eyes right then to know she cared about the friendship they still had between them.

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it back to the house an hour before dawn. He was tired, irritable, moody, and what pissed him off the most, horny. Dimitri knew without a doubt in his soul that he was on the edge of a sexual hunger that was about to rid him of his sanity. He’d known it the second he kissed Claudia. Something about her triggered the need he’d pushed down and kept hidden for so long. And it wasn’t just the need to have sex with her or protect her. The way she looked at him made him feel normal. He wasn’t stupid either. He knew if he fed from her again, he was going to have sex with her. Once that happened, there would be a good fucking chance he would take it even further and seal a bond with his blood. It didn’t take much to seal it. When someone was on the edge of control as he was, he was pretty damn certain there would be no holding back. But could he do that to her? Dimitri couldn’t answer the question. He didn’t know. Yes, he was very attracted to her, but he didn’t know her. She didn’t know him. What if they bonded, then she woke up one day and didn’t want to be bonded to a Guardian any longer? The uncertainty of the future held him back. Just thinking about Claudia gave him the chills, and he didn’t have the answer when they reached the house. “I’ll check in with Ambrose,” Carissa said, as she walked off in a different direction. He kept walking, going straight for his room instead of Shadow’s to unload the weapons. Walking into his quarters, Dimitri was hit with a shock. Claudia was in his room, or better yet, in his bed. She was sleeping on top of the covers, curled up in a silky robe that ended at her knees, open just enough for him to make out the top of her gown under it. Pure white, with tiny pink flowers sewn into the thin material, hugged her breasts to perfection. He wouldn’t mind seeing more of her and

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her baby doll gown. On his lamp table sat another tray of food that held very little interest for him. Swallowing hard, he closed the door silently, slipped out of his coat, and with his eyes still fixed, he bent over to remove his boots. Unloading his weapons and undressing, he put everything on the chair and walked into the bathroom. He stepped into a shower of cool water and hoped like hell the need surfacing too damn fast could be held back a little bit longer. He really had to talk to her before things got out of hand. “Oh, brother, I’ve got a problem,” he groaned in his hands, the water beating on his head. “One big ass problem.”

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Chapter Six Rage walked quietly down the dark stairs to the basement of the old farmhouse he’d taken over. Renzo killed the vampires who had lived there some time ago, but Rage kept the young daughter for himself. In other words, he saved her from Renzo. Renzo, of course, would never know the real reason. Rage had need of her in more ways than one. The house looked deserted from the outside, and he kept it that way. Everything he needed was below as it was in all vampire homes for them to be able to move around during the daylight hours—a bedroom, kitchen, bath, and one special room he turned into his personal playground. He had a couple of breeds who worked for him; men stuck in transition between being human and vampire, not quite a breed yet. Rage managed to keep the breed part of their transition at bay and turned them into his slaves instead. They did what he said, when he said it, without question. He pushed open the door at the bottom of the stairs and stepped into his living quarters. The bloodmate kept it neat and very tidy for him. He spotted her right away, fixing something in the kitchen. Rage didn’t acknowledge her. He walked through the living space back to his desk. Sitting down, he rubbed his leg like he always did—since her! Rage took the camera out of his pocket, flipped it open, and took out the memory chip. He pushed the chip into the side of his computer and brought up the photos he’d taken, quickly flipping through them until he got to the last one. Sitting back in his chair, he stared at the woman covered from head to toes in black leather. She was the only one to ever put a mark on him. The little bloodmate came up to him, head lowered, eyes to the floor. She offered her wrist to drink from. Rage wasn’t in the mood to feed, at least, not from her any longer.

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He touched the point of his fangs with his tongue, thinking of another woman. Those fangs—who would have ever believed the vampire genes his mother carried would have been enough to make him a fucking half-breed. He needed the whole thing, the other half from a male vampire in order to be full blood. Unfortunately, his true father wasn’t a vampire, but a human. By the time his transition came, he had the fangs and understood clearly what kind of freak he was. After all the years, thinking of himself as a freak, he finally came to terms with it once he met her. Coming face to face with another, he understood the role he needed to play and understood the game and new rules. Even with the demands Renzo constantly put on him, his sole desire was the woman on the screen and those bright silver eyes. Rage had a strong desire to be with her and no one else. He wanted her blood and knew she was the only one who could still his hunger. He would have her and somehow come to terms with the demons inside while he struggled to keep them hidden from Renzo. Rage learned who he was just before his mother died. The man he knew as his father had treated him viciously like dirt for as long as he could remember. He never understood why, until he listened to a death bed confession from his mother. The simple words passing his mother’s lips changed his life. His father wasn’t his father. He wasn’t one of the few born of a vampire bloodmate who wasn’t a vampire. No, he was even a worse freak. His Uncle Renzo, his mother’s sister’s husband, was his father. Once Rage understood, how he’d been treated by his supposed father, all his life made sense, even why he didn’t have all the vampire genes. He was unique, as unique as the woman he wanted. If Renzo had been a vampire, then Rage would be also, one hundred percent. He was born Ranieri Greco. After the death of his mother, he dropped the name and became just Rage. He learned a month, after his mother’s funeral that Renzo had killed the man everyone believed to be his father. No loss as far as Rage was concerned, but

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Renzo thought his secret was safe then. Rage had his own. Renzo believed Rage had no idea he was his father or that his conception had been the result of rape. Rage had the vampire’s thirst and incisors. He kept the fangs hidden when needed by using fake teeth over his own. Those fangs were a constant reminder of what and who he was. He could remain satisfied for up to a week after he fed, sometimes longer. He had no difficulties going out in the daylight as a purebred vampire would, but he had their strength and was strong as hell. Because of his fangs, he was forced to keep his false teeth in whenever he was around Renzo or be careful not to smile. He wasn’t stupid. If Renzo found out he had any of the traits of a vampire in him, Rage would be dead man. A glass of red liquid was placed in front of him; the bloodmate serving him her blood in a glass when he hadn’t take her wrist. Rage moved his eyes from the screen to stare at it a moment before he shifted his gaze to her. She shook in fear. Rage grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her closer. She gasped, but didn’t struggle. She’d cut herself, draining her blood into that glass probably with the hope he wouldn’t come for her later. Rage lived up to his name when he took her, took her because it could never be called making love. He sighed and told her, “Maybe it’s time for us to part ways.” “The room’s ready,” a voice said. Rage looked up at the man, if it could be called that. He stood in a deliberate slow pace, let go of the girl, and walked to the center of the next room. Stopping there, he inspected the chains. They were strong. They would hold the strongest vampire, keeping his guest standing in the middle of the room or chained to the ceiling and floor if he so desired. He fingered a small bottle of clear liquid in his pocket. The container held a formula he’d been working on for a long time; one Renzo would love to get his hands on. “How many?” Rage asked. “We have ten so far, with twenty more brewing.”

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“Perfect,” he whispered, a grin tugging at his lips. “Just perfect. Now call Renzo, tell him I want two humans here—no make that three. One can be our tester. Set the girl free too. I’m done with her.” He looked around the room again. “Get a bed in here. We want our guest to be comfortable after all.” **** Claudia woke up slowly, looked around, and groaned when she looked at the clock. She’d been asleep for maybe an hour. She rolled off the bed, preparing to leave, when she thought she heard something and stopped to listen. Someone was taking a shower. Biting her lower lip, she walked to the bathroom door and peeked inside. Her mouth dropped opened, and her pupils widened to take in the sight before her. Dimitri stood in a shower stall with no door or curtain. She had a perfect view of his body. It scared the hell out of her while exciting her at the same time. She was instantly wet with need and knew what it was even though she had never experienced it before. She desired him. She wanted him to feed off her and more. He was a brick, one, large, solid muscular brick. His thick legs reminded her of a picture she’d once seen of a Viking. They were huge. He had a narrow waist and a well rounded rear. She had a quick vision of grabbing him there and squeezing. Washboard abs, wide chest, strong shoulders and arms, and what a handsome man he was. The mere sight of him had her trembling. His head was tipped back, water beating down on his face. The long wet locks of his hair stuck to his shoulders and neck. His Adam’s apple strained, and his mouth was open, a mouth she would never forget even though they had only shared one memorable kiss. Dimitri’s profile appeared dark, but to her he was kind. He had a wide forehead, a straight nose, full lips, dark, sexy eyes, and narrow cheekbones. If calling a man beautiful was acceptable, Claudia would do it. He was perfect in every way. On the flipside, he scared the crap out of her.

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sight of that had her mouth go dry. Being inexperienced was really a major drag. Claudia had always dreamed of the first time being with her vampire. He would come in and sweep her off her feet. Make sweet love to her all night, bond with her, and just cherish everything they had together. The fairy tale quickly crashed into a wall as she stared at the size of Dimitri’s thing. Man, he was big, and he wasn’t even hard. How bad would it hurt, having something like that push into her? Just the thought of it had her shivering. It had to be almost seven inches long just hanging down between his legs. So did it mean maybe nine hard? And how much bigger around? If she was guessing right, how would he fit where he was supposed to go? Claudia really wished she had more knowledge about what happened between men and women. She didn’t hear the water turn off. Didn’t even realize he watched her watching him until he turned full around. He gave her a perfect view of his front side, with his cock getting thicker and longer, and standing up straight right before her eyes. Claudia’s mouth went even drier, her clit started to throb, and when she forced her eyes to move up to his face, the air felt like it had been sucked right out of her lungs. Dimitri stared back at her. He stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and dried that gorgeous body of his. The whole time his eyes were locked with hers, never looking away. He tossed the towel aside and moved forward, toward her. Claudia took a step backward for each one he made. He didn’t try to hide his nakedness or mask the intent in his eyes. She stopped the second the back of her knees touched the foot of the bed. Glancing behind her, Claudia was lost as to what to do or say. “I—I—I” she stuttered. Dimitri touched her lips with his finger. “Shhh.”

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She trembled under his touch and fisted her hands. He moved his finger down her lips to her chin and didn’t stop. Further down her throat, his finger traced her to the top swell of her breasts. Claudia breathed fast, but managed to stay still for him. His hand stopped at her waist. She gasped when he pulled on her tie, undoing the bow that wasn’t doing a very good job holding the robe closed anyway. He pushed the material off her shoulders, and Claudia stood in front of him in her baby doll nightgown, breathing quickly and shivering. Fear or excitement, she wasn’t sure. The back of his hand moved around one breast. She thought she was going to lose what little sanity she had left. She shook more, fidgeted, and was about to cross her arms over her breasts but stopped when he spoke, his voice was thick, low, and husky. “You frightened?” “Yes—no,” she rushed out. He ran a finger up to her left strap of her gown and pulled it down over her shoulder. With a tug downward one breast came into his view. “Maybe you should be.” He did the same to the other side, and her gown fell to the floor, pooling at her feet. “Tell me no. Tell me to stop and I will.” Standing in only her thin white panties, Claudia swallowed hard. She took another step back and fell on the bed. She scooted back and he followed. The intense expression in his eyes, on his face did frighten her. It also thrilled her. She felt like he stalked her, as if she was the prey and he the hunter. Dimitri stopped only when he hovered over her body on his hands and knees. On instinct she raised her hands up. The motion looked like she was trying to fend him off, the furthest thing from her mind, though she wasn’t sure. He stayed over her, and those dark eyes roamed over her body. He kept his head lowered longer than what felt comfortable, but what could she really do. She was after all, under him and that meant at his mercy.

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way up. Claudia jumped at his touch, moving her own arms up to cover her breasts. He glanced up at her before shifting his position, parted her legs with one foot, and sat back up on his heels between her calves. He pulled her by her thighs until her lower half was just about up on his lap. “I don’t see your mark,” he said, rubbing his hands up and down her legs. “Where’s it hiding, Claudia?” She shook her head, and his hands stopped at her hips. The air stuck in her lungs when he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties. Time felt like it was standing still as those panties began a very slow descent down her hips. Her legs went up to free the panties from her feet, and the material went flying over his shoulder. Dimitri slid backwards to lie between her legs. She lay naked before him, her strong vampire. When did I start thinking of him as mine? He kissed her hip. The reaction from that simple touch seemed to burn a path down her leg in sensual pleasure, and the air she held rushed out. The tip of his tongue touched the spot where his lips had and moved to the left. “Ahhhh, there it is,” he cooed, putting a kiss to her mark in the middle of her pelvic bone, barely an inch above her clit. The bottom pointed right down to her pussy like an arrow, and Dimitri touched it. He started at the top of her birthmark and followed it down to her wetness. She arched when his finger teased her clit, her eyes closing from his erotic touch. A moan left her lips when he kissed and then licked the mark, teasing, to drive her nuts. Claudia fisted her hands into his hair. The silky locks were thick and just as soft as they appeared, still wet from his shower. Dimitri struck fast, startling her, making her jump. She most probably would have jumped anyway when he sank his fangs into her pelvis right over her mark. The pain of

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the bite was enough to have her gasping and coming at the same time. A small orgasm gripped her for a short ride, the same duration of the time he drank from her. She shivered at the feel of his raspy tongue closing the mark. He looked up at her, and she swallowed hard. The intent, the darkness in his eyes, both frightened and thrilled her. She’d never seen a man who looked so out of control, yet held on to his rational self. She really did get the impression she was a meal for the beast. Once more his tongue came out. Dimitri gave a swipe to her pussy. She sucked in a breath, not knowing what else to do or what to say. “It’s been a very long time, Claudia,” he said, his breathing coming faster. “I don’t know how to be the gentle lover I know you need right now.” He caressed her legs again, licking his lips, and looking over her body. “God, you taste so good and feel like heaven,” he said, his voice sounding like a purr. He moved like a dream to her, pulling himself up to hover over her with his weight on his arms, slowly lowering himself down between her legs. He felt good, so strong, powerful, and hard as any rock she’d ever touched. She moved her legs up, surrounding him, and rubbed his body with hers. He moaned against her throat. Putting her hands above her head, he weaved his fingers through hers. The burning tip of his cock touched her heated pussy. Claudia couldn’t keep from wiggling to position the head just right. He gave a nudge, and her breathe hitched in anticipation. He was hot, thick, and swollen, and she was wet in need of something without knowing exactly what. Her body did. Another nudge and the crown of his cock’s head passed through her tight entrance. He entered her slowly, stretching her, she knew, to accommodate his size. She couldn’t put into words what she felt at the moment, but she knew his caution drove her nuts. The welcome invasion halted; the kiss ended too, but he didn’t move away. Dimitri kept his lips mere inches above hers, their gazes locked. She didn’t understand what was going on, why he stopped, or what he was going to do next until he moved again.

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Jaden Sinclair He withdrew partially from her body, slid back in, stopping at the same spot. Once

more he withdrew, but the third time he plunged in, fast and hard, forcing his way through the thin barrier, taking the gift she gave only to him. Pain ripped through her, but she refused to cry out. She squeezed his hands, and he squeezed back, still staring at her and filling her to what she thought was a splitting point. Looking down, she saw he was still only partially submerged. Claudia bit her lip to stop the cry that threatened to spill forth, thinking of what would happen to her when he shoved the remainder of his hard cock in. He stilled inside her, and she panted to breathe through it. “Only when you’re ready,” he breathed out against her lips, kissing her with light pecks. Claudia nodded and blinked several times, waiting for the pain to end. His cock seemed to throb within her, matching the throb of her heart beat and her clit. He nibbled from her chin down to her throat. He teased her with the tip of his tongue then sucked the same spot before moving to her shoulder, kissing lightly. She braced herself for more pain and nodded. He withdrew slightly, but when he slid back into her, pain wasn’t what followed. A new sensation went through her body, bringing to life nerve endings she never knew existed. Chills raced up and down her spine, pooling together in the very spot where his cock eased nearly out to slide in again. Dimitri caressed her clit gently with slow, soft strokes, going slightly deeper each time, stretching her, filling her a little more until she took him all. His movements intensified and accelerated, stronger, driving deeper, faster. Claudia held on for the ride. She opened her mouth, gasping with each inward probe, with each rub to her pussy. The pleasure forming in the pit of her stomach grew more tormenting. Instinct told her there should be something more, something that made her whimper in need, a need that climbed higher and higher. Just when she thought she wouldn’t be able to stand anymore

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an inner explosion ripped through her. She bit his shoulder to stop her cry from turning into a scream. The ecstasy gripped her in what seemed to last forever. She thought it was never going to end, only to have it end too quickly. She let go of his shoulder, she shook her head back and forth, whimpering with each stroke. All of her senses were overloaded. Taste and smell were every bit as sensitive as her pussy. Braced on his arms, Dimitri still pounded into her delicate flesh. He didn’t miss a beat, not even when he lowered his mouth close enough to touch her lips. She stared; his eyes changed colors from dark chocolate to a bright metallic silver. For the first time she saw his vampire eyes. His fangs were extended, but he didn’t take her blood. In a deliberate move, his fangs broke the skin of his lower lip. Blood formed, bright red drops, Tempting or testing, Claudia didn’t know. She did know she wanted to lick the blood away, was driven to. Her head rose of its own accord, her tongue whipping out. The taste of him excited her and made her wild. She pulled his mouth to her by his hair and sucked his lip. Once more she tightened up around his cock. Dimitri drove in and out like a pile driver. His mouth opened, a groan left his throat. She sucked on his lip, drawing more of his blood into her, strengthening the bond forming in her veins with each taste, and a spontaneous orgasm rocked her ten times stronger than the one before. Dimitri pulled back, bit his tongue and kissed her, driving his tongue into her mouth, in time with his cock, in and out, and Claudia sucked. The taste and smell of his blood nearly drove her crazy. She pumped her hips up against him. He moaned into her mouth, and the slamming of his body ended with his muscles frozen, His cock erupted inside her. His hot seed filled her, his cock pulsed, and she tasted the bitter sweetness of his blood, all at the same time.

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and he rested his face in the crook of her neck before he turned to his back, taking her with him. ****

Dimitri held tightly to Claudia. With one arm around her and his hand flat on the back of her head, he linked his other fingers with her hand on his chest. He was tired, but couldn’t sleep. It was hard to think about sleeping when his damn dick was pounding between his legs for another round with his bloodmate. My bloodmate! It still amazed him that he had taken the final step and given her his blood. “I can hear you thinking.” Her breath on his chest sent chills over his body. “Something wrong?” “No,” he sighed, rubbing his face. She moved, rose up, and pulled his hand from his face. “I’m sorry. Maybe I should go.” He touched her face gently. “No, I like you right where you are.” “Then what’s wrong?” “I didn’t want to bring shame to you, but I couldn’t keep away.” Claudia went over him, her calves bordering his hips. With her on top of him, there was no way he was going to hide his hunger from her. His still hard cock pressed against her, throbbing to be back inside, just as his teeth throbbed to sink into her neck. He hissed when she touched his chest, drawing circles around his nipples. “Do I seem shamed to you?” She took hold of his shaft, positioned it, and lowered herself down. Thoughts of him being a Guardian, which to their race was something to be shunned, filled his head. Death was the only thing the protectors were good for. Reason told him,

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she shouldn’t want him but run away as fast as she could go. Reason be damned. He took hold of her hips, helping her to rock on him. Dimitri bucked under her, taking what she gave. She bounced on him, her eyes closed, her mouth open in passion. He watched her face, amazed at how she could want him again, take him into her body, especially, when fucking for the first time. He hadn’t been very gentle with her and worried that she would be sore from his rough handling though nothing in her actions indicated it. “Touch me,” she panted softly. He cupped her breasts and bucked harder. She moaned loudly, picked up speed, and fell forward, bracing herself on his chest. His fangs lengthened, his hunger to taste her again rose up fiercely. He felt her contract, watched her face twist up like she was in pain, and he just bucked harder. He had an overwhelming need to protect her, to hold her close to his heart and never let her go. Feeling her climax begin, he rose up and sank his fangs into her neck. He took hold of her hips when she cried out and her body quivered. He jerked her harder onto him. Taking each contraction, each ripple of pleasure from her body that he could, he drank, his own climax spurting forth. With a sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder while he closed the wounds. Dimitri hugged her close, loving the feel of her around him. “Don’t let me go.” He heard the desperation in her voice. It caused him to tighten his arms around her, closing his eyes. “Never let me go,” she pleaded. “Only death will part us,” he swore. “Only death.” ****

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room. He stared up at the ceiling, taking in how the sounds were not only different but how the things he saw had changed. All around him it was clearer, sharper. He no longer felt like a child. He turned his head, taking in the clinic. “Welcome back.” Brown eyes looked down at him from a hovering position. Lucan felt at ease with the woman. Wavy brown hair was pulled back into a bun with some locks slipping free to fan around her face. Her white coat told him this was the doctor. “How are you feeling?” She helped him to sit up, placing pillows at his back. Sitting down next to him, she brought out a small light to shine into his eyes. “Lucan, you need to try to say something.” He frowned at her, lifted his arm up and looked at the size of it, puzzled at how heavy it was. His whole body felt heavy, foreign to him. “Do you remember anything?” she asked. He gave her his attention again and opened his mouth. Nothing came out. She moved away him as he watched. Water poured into a glass, and the glass pressed to his lips. He sipped first and then took a big gulp. The coolness eased not only the tightness in his throat but the sandpaper feeling too. “Patronus,” he rasped out when the glass was taken away. “Right here.” Carissa stood in the doorway, holding the door open. She went right to him, and Lucan extended his arm out to her. Carissa grasped his arm with both hands, bowing her head. “Sorry,” he said, still sounding like a damn frog. Carissa looked up at him and smiled. “Oh, you’re going to be all right. As soon as you get your ass out of this bed, you’re training starts.” Lucan broke out in a big smile and nodded his head, holding tightly to her arm.

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He’d made the right choice. She was going to be perfect as patronus to him. Even though she didn’t know it yet, she was going to need him in the future just as he needed her in the present.

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Chapter Seven

Claudia left Dimitri’s bed before he woke, wrapped herself up in her robe, and slipped from the room. She rushed to her own, grabbed some clothes, and left for a fast shower. She was late for her shift at the clinic and sore from last night. Okay, so she’d given herself to Dimitri, and he bonded with her. Now what? She was embarrassed. It was one thing to give herself away, but another to take the lead the way she had. Even thinking about rubbing her body over his, sliding him into her, and having her way with him had her face heating up. That wasn’t how she was brought up, but damn if it didn’t feel right, and damn her but she wanted to go back and do it all over again. Her mother had preached to her, over and over again that sex was all about the male. Vampires were demanding in their needs and for her—when her time came—to just relax, and let him have his way. Claudia wondered if what her mother told her and what she’d experienced with Dimitri were so far apart because her parent’s marriage had been arranged. Perhaps there was a vast difference between being bound together and being bonded. Perhaps that was why her father had been the way he was. Even though Claudia loved her father, she had still hated him at times. Unlike the Nobles, he’d wanted a second son. Her mother gave him the son, but after the difficult birth, it was obvious she’d never be able to have another child, and the baby died a short time later. That night her father changed. Everything changed. He was abusive to her mother and yelled at Claudia all the time. It became hell at home. Still, no matter how much she might have hated her home life, she hadn’t wished it

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to end by the hands of the breeds. She still remembered her father’s eyes that last day and how he looked at her just before he died. She saw her father’s love again only to have it was taken away forever. “Hey!” Julian’s smiling face brought her out of her past. She smiled back at him. “I was wondering what happened to you.” “How are you doing, Julian?” He walked with her to the clinic. “Think I’m still a bit shocked. What about you?” “Think the same.” “I was going to see how Lucan was doing. Tempest is still in a state of shock too, but helping to care for Paris seems to help her.” “She’s a beautiful little girl. I think she’s going to break a few hearts when she grows up.” Julian groaned. “I don’t even want to think about the future. I’m just happy to make it through one day at a time.” When they walked into the clinic, Claudia went one way, to join Doc Ivy, and he went the other, to Lucan’s bed. “Well, you look like you’ve gotten a good day’s sleep,” Doc Ivy told Claudia. Embarrassed and knowing she wasn’t hiding it, she couldn’t meet Ivy’s gaze with her own. Though Ivy gave her a double-take look at the reaction to her comment, she didn’t say anything. Thank God. “Ready to get started on your next lesson?” Claudia forced cheerfulness into her voice. “I’m all yours.” They worked for a couple hours. Claudia learned how to stop a bleeder and to do some internal stitching up. It was slow work, but one that left her feeling good about herself. When they were finished, she was grateful, because she felt strange. Bloated—as if she needed to bleed herself.

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how to do a procedure, so she picked up a knife and headed for the bathroom. Shutting the door, she caught sight of Dimitri walking in. She panicked, slammed the door the last few inches, and turned the lock. She retreated until the back of her knees touched the toilet, and she dropped on the closed seat. Knock—knock. “Claudia, are you in there?” His voice had her melting. Claudia closed her eyes, pressed her hand over her mouth, and prayed that he would go away. She couldn’t see him. Not yet. “Claudia.” The knob rattled and again he knocked on the door. “I know you’re in there. Open up.” The pain, the sickness hit her. She jumped from the seat, raised the lid, and puked. Oh, God, she’d forgotten about the purging. The vomiting knocked the wind right out of her lungs. The knife clattered the floor, and she hung onto the sides of the toilet while her body emptied itself of the extra blood in her system. The knob popped, the door opened, and Dimitri was inside the small bathroom. “Damnit!” he snapped. Kneeling down behind her, he held her hair back from her face as she filled the toilet bowl with blood. “What’s going on?” Ivy’s asked. “She’s purging,” Dimitri answered. “She needs to get in some water before the pain overtakes her,” Ivy said behind them. Dimitri touched her, and Claudia wanted to sink into his touch. The heaving stopped, and she reached for the knife. Dimitri yanked her hand away. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demanded. “That shit isn’t going to work now.”

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He jerked her up, swung her around, and had her off of her feet before she could blink. She did sink into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him tight, and waiting for the pain to pass. Back to his room, they went right into the bathroom. He put her back on her feet when he sat down at the edge of the tub and held her tight against him. While the water ran to fill the tub, he took her clothes off. She couldn’t help him, not when a sharp stab of pain landed in her gut. She doubled over, holding her stomach as he finished stripping her down to bra and panties. As soon as he placed her in the warm bath, the pain began to ease. She closed her eyes, sighing. “Now, do you care to tell me why you tried to bleed yourself after we bonded?” Claudia shook her head and turned her back on him. “Did I do something wrong?” “I thought I could still do it.” “Why?” She took a deep breath, brought her hands up to her face and rubbed. “I don’t know.” “Hey, Dimitri,” Shadow’s thickly accented voice sang out to them. “You in there?” “Not now!” he snapped. “It’s okay.” She lowered her hand and sat up in the water. “You’ve got stuff to do.” “Claudia—” “I have to go back to work.” She tried to get out of the tub, only to have her arm grabbed, her escape stopped, her body pushed back in the water. “I’m sorry about last night.” He sighed. “I shouldn’t have shamed you.” She looked up at him slowly, her heart pounding hard in her chest. “I’m not ashamed,” she whispered, tears forming in her eyes. “You didn’t shame me.” He touched her cheek, thumb brushing back and forth. “I’m sorry for not being gentler with you. You deserve gentleness, and the bonding should be done when we both are in our right minds, not in the heat of the moment.” “I’m not sorry about any of that,” she whispered.

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Jaden Sinclair “Then what’s wrong?” He touched the side of her face again. “Why’d you sneak

away from me, and why did you lock me out?” The tears fell, and he brushed each one away. Emotions she sensed coming from him overwhelmed her, and before she could stop herself the words came forth. “Do you love her?” She didn’t mean to ask the question, but after she took his blood, after they bonded, she felt something. She felt a connection between him and Carissa, one that she wasn’t sure she could understand. “Claudia,” he said with a sigh. “I picked up this feeling you have for her,” she whispered. “Like you love her.” He didn’t let go of her hand, and she couldn’t look at him. “I don’t love her. Maybe once a long time ago I thought I did, but I don’t, not like you mean.” She turned her head, looking at the man of her dreams. A new kind of pain seemed to hit her, and she was powerless to stop the rest of the tears from falling freely. “Yes, you do,” she breathed out so softly. “I can feel it and have seen it in your eyes when you look at her.” She sniffed. “I’m sorry. I don’t have any right to question you like this.” “You have every right to question me.” Dimitri pulled her out of the water and into his arms. She went willingly; hands clenching his shirt, she held back the sob threatening to slip from her throat. “I care, yes, but not like you think. Carissa and I have been through a lot together.” His chin rested on top of her head, hand fisted in her hair. “How can I make you understand a past that I still don’t understand myself?” “Make me understand.” He sighed, his hold tightened then lessened with a kiss on top of her head. When he pulled away, he stood up with her in his arms. He turned and sat down on the side of the tub with her on his lap.

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“Carissa joined freely,” he said. “She was thirteen. I had already been here for almost five years in training. She was hurt, sad, depressed, everything she should be if she had been forced here as the rest of us. I didn’t understand or know why until later on. “Claudia, my family was old school,” he went on. “My father already had three daughters and one son before I came. I’m a second born son. And questions of my parentage came as soon as I came into this world. I didn’t look like the rest of my family. I was darker. My father beat me all the time until I learned how to stay hidden. I resented being taken, but Ambrose turned out to be the first person I ever trusted.” He finished softly, placed her on the side of the tub, and walked to the doorway. Dimitri raised his arms up, leaning into the doorway but not leaving. From their bond, she could feel the pain of his memories. She sniffed and stood up, reaching for a towel, wrapping it around her body. She went up behind him, closing her arms around his waist, and rested her cheek on his back. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.” Dimitri turned in her arms and brought her closer. “Carissa and I were each other’s comfort in a world which had been very cruel to us. I fed from her and she from me. And what I see in your eyes, the one question you want know is yes.” He took a deep breath, walked over to the bed holding her hand, sat down, and pulled her to stand between his legs. “I slept with her.” Claudia felt like her gut was about to drop. She couldn’t look at him. She turned, or tried to, but he held her in place. “We never bonded. That wasn’t there between us. Don’t you see that what she and I had doesn’t mean anything now?” “I don’t know what to see.” More tears fell free. “I feel like this was all rushed and— and…” “It is rushed.” She looked at him again. “Once the first link is felt, everything between vampire and bloodmate is rushed. The moment I fed from you everything

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changed. Now that your body has gone through the purging, our bond will only become stronger. That only happens in a true bonding. My blood in your veins and yours in mine ties us together for life.” “I can’t be the second,” she whispered, willing the fresh onset of tears to go back and failing. “I’m sorry, but I—” Dimitri yanked her down and silenced her with his lips, reminding her quickly the choice she made was the right one. “You’re not second to anyone,” he told her, his lips brushing against her own. “You’re the only one I want and crave. Our bonding happened so fast, Claudia, neither one of us ever got the chance to know the other or to adjust to the fact we were meant to be together until death parts us. So now we get to know each other.” He gave her another quick kiss before smiling at her. “And remember, you did ask me to not let you go.” Claudia laughed through the tears and went into his arms. “I’m sorry, and I think I do understand. I don’t’ think my parents ever truly bonded.” “That’s to their sadness then,” he told her in a tight embrace. “Never be sorry. This is new for me too. I have a lot of baggage on my shoulders. My soul is stained, and in my eyes, I don’t deserve you.” “Your soul isn’t stained.” Dimitri frowned, pushed her away, and moved to the other side of the room. “Claudia, I have so much blood on my hands, I’m amazed I can sleep at night.” “You’re a fighter and protector for our race.” He turned and smiled at her, his eyes lighting. “See, when you say things like that, I know deep down, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.” “What’d you mean?” “You’re acceptance of me. Most turn their back after they discover what I am, knowing the killing I’ve done.”

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Claudia took a deep breath and sat in the spot he vacated, folding her hands in her lap. “My mother used to tell me stories when I was little about how a strong vampire would come one day and bond with me. She made it sound like a fairy tale.” She grinned at the memory. “When I was ten, I saw my first Guardian and was instantly fascinated. My father became upset. He read in my diary how I wanted my vampire to be one. I never saw my father act like that before and never understood why he thought the Guardians were so shameful to be around. I still don’t.” She stood up and smiled quickly. “I got my wish, Dimitri. I’ve bonded with a Guardian, but I don’t think I’m strong enough to hold on to you either.” Her voice trailed off. He came over to her quickly, kneeling down at her feet. “Never think you’re unworthy. Right now, to me, you’re my light in a darkness I’ve been living with for so long. I don’t think before this very second I’ve realized just how lonely I really was.” He cupped her face gently in his strong hand, and she leaned into his palm. “Claudia, the first second I saw you in the clinic, I knew I had to be with you. It took a hell of a lot for me to stay away, just because I didn’t trust myself to be around you. The urge to touch you is too strong, even now.” “So what do we do?” “As much as I would love to take full advantage of you, I need to start Julian’s training.” Dimitri wiped her cheeks. She leaned forward, kissing him lightly. “You sure you can’t spare a few moments for me?” She grazed the tip of her tongue over his lips. “Please?” “Claudia,” he groaned. “Then how about a fast bite.” She grinned. “But I want you to bite right here.” She moved his hand down between her legs. Instantly he cupped her mound. “Over my mark.” Again Dimitri groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”

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Jaden Sinclair He pushed her down, yanked the towel away and the wet, thin panties down her legs

so fast she didn’t even get to help him. Instantly, his mouth was upon her. His tongue parted the swollen lips of her sex, licked and sucked at her, teased her clit. She wrapped her legs around his head, holding him close while panting in instant arousal. Lips closed around her clit, fingers slid into her, and Claudia lost herself in bliss. She fisted her hands in his hair, pulled at the locks, and pressed him harder against her flesh. “Don’t stop,” she breathed out. “I’m so close.” “Not without me, you don’t.” With one jerk and twist, the button pulled free, his pants opened, and his cock sprang out. Claudia got only a glimpse of his magnificent tool before he fell over her and thrust the full rigid length of his cock into her. She arched in welcome, wrapping her legs tightly around his hips. Dimitri pounded into her, and she welcomed it all. Clutching his shoulders, she rushed to the orgasm building in her. The tension snapped. Wave after wave cascaded through her. “Yes!” she cried, her nails digging into his back. Two more strokes and he cried out as well. “Oh, shit!” Dimitri arched back, mouth open, fangs extended, but he didn’t sink them into her. He collapsed, his body covering hers and holding her tight. She pushed at his leather pants, trying to move them down his legs and off. He laughed. “What do you think you’re doing?” “Do it again.” She couldn’t catch her breath, but at the same time, she wasn’t ready for it all to end. “Claudia, I really need to go.” She tightened her pussy around his cock, still buried deep inside her. He moaned. “That isn’t very nice.” “You didn’t drink from me.” She almost had his pants to his knees when he kissed her deep and pulled back, his cock slipping free.

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She stayed on the bed, legs spread as he cleaned himself before pulling his pants up. “You’re not ready for me to drink from you. You just purged.” She put on a pout, and he laughed again, shaking his head. “Play fair.” “Can I at least come and watch you?” Dimitri’s eyes narrowed, a grin on his lips. “Hmmm, not sure that would be a good idea.” She lowered her eyes with a feeling of not being wanted. With a sharp yank of her arm, she flew off the bed and into his arms, her breath stolen by a deep kiss. When it ended, she had her eyes closed. “Only because I might get distracted. Now, get that damn thought right out of your head.” With a light flutter, she opened her eyes. “What thought?” “That you’re not wanted.” He squeezed her with a slight shake. “I want you, in case you can’t feel right now what’s pressing up against you, which is why it’s not a good idea. I’ll be thinking of the things I want to do with you instead of his training.” “Will you still think of them and later do?” “Oh, yeah.” He kissed her again, moaning into her mouth as he panted softly. “Damn. I swear I’m never going to get out of here and get to work. You feel too damn good in my arms.” He delivered another deep kiss that left her breathless. She gulped air and told him, “I love how you hold me. How you make me feel so safe.” “I know.” “How do you know?” “We’re bonded now. Remember, I can feel your pain, just like you can feel mine, and I can sense your emotions. I’m learning all of this too, Claudia. I’ve been on my own for a very long time. Being together is going to take a lot of understanding from you and

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a lot of patience from me. But one thing I’m going to make very clear to you right now, I’m not letting you go. You’re my bloodmate—for life.” She swallowed hard and nodded. Slowly he released his hold on her. “Then I’ll see you in a few hours. I need to get some work done with Julian.” That had her frowning, “A few hours?” He was halfway to the door when he stopped and looked up at her. “I’m going to have to feed from you to get your blood count stable.” She made a silent ‘oh’ with her lips, and he winked. “And I’m looking forward to it.” **** “You are my leverage to get what I want.” Rage reached out, touching the tiny bundle, wrapped up tightly, sleeping in a cradle next to Renzo’s desk. “The ace in the hole.” “What are you doing in here?” Rage turned slowly from the baby to face the one man he wanted to rip open with his bare hands. Renzo Ferrari stood at six foot even. He dressed and acted like a military man with a short buzz cut hairstyle without a hint of salt and pepper. His face showed the signs of his age, however. Wrinkles creased the skin around his eyes, the flesh along his jaw line sagged, and his lips thinned out too much. His once sharp green eyes held a trace of the madness taking over his mind, faint until he was roused. Like always, Rage had to play things cool with the man. He had to detach himself from the hate burning a hole in the pit of his stomach. Bide my time. Soon I will be able to kill him. Soon I’ll avenge my mother. He tossed a vial at Renzo. “It’s ready,” he stated in his detached, cold voice, the voice he practiced and had mastered just for Renzo. “Need to test it out.”

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“You should’ve tested it on that thing you had serving you,” Renzo sneered, holding the vial up to his eye. He pushed Rage out of the way, to look down at the baby. The man smiled, touching her small head. “I let her go.” Renzo looked at him sharply. “Are you out of your mind!” he snapped while Rage walked over to the chair, propped his feet up on the desk and linked his fingers over his flat belly. “If you got tired of it, then you should have killed it.” Rage almost smiled. He would have if he had put in his false teeth to keep his fangs hidden. Scraping his tongue over the sharp points, reminded him of what he was and who was responsible. “I don’t understand why you felt you needed to keep a damn vampire’s whore in the first place. She was useless to you, unless you were fucking it?” He wrinkled his nose in disgust, how curious Rage thought since all of the deaths started over Renzo’s twisted love of what he called a vampire’s whore. He said, “She’s more useful to me alive,” not adding he had needed her for more than fucking, something Renzo would know when the time was right. Renzo groaned, moved away from the baby, and sat down. “She’ll go to them and tell them everything she’s seen.” “That’s the plan,” he lied. The old bastard glared at him. “What are you up to, Rage?” Oh, the urge to smile, to show his fangs, and expose himself to the son-of-a-bitch, letting him see what he’d created. Rage held it back and only shrugged. Slowly, raising his head, he looked the man dead in the eye. “They have something I want this time. Something I plan on taking.” For my own pleasure. Renzo shivered and glanced back at the baby. “Does she have the mark?” Rage asked. Renzo’s shoulders slumped, giving Rage the answer he sought. Yes, she had it. She’s a bloodmate just like her mother. He stood up

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quickly, moving to the door of the office. “As much as you hate to admit it, fate has you by the balls. You know you can’t do anything for her. Give her back or she’ll just end up dying like Serina did.” “I won’t lose my Serina again,” Renzo said softly. Rage glanced over his shoulder. For the first time he saw how fragile the man looked. Renzo touched the baby. “I won’t give her up to the monster that killed her mother.” “Then she’ll die just like her mother did.” Rage walked out of the office. Outside, Denver unloaded the contents of a box. Their eyes met, but no greeting passed between them. Yes. Denver would stay with her father if for no other reason than to look after the baby. Oh, my brother! What kind of a life would we have had together without him? Rage snapped his fingers and the half breeds who accompanied him followed out the door. “Let’s get started on our own plan,” he said to them. “I want it done by the end of the week.” His car door was opened from inside, and he slid onto the back seat where two of the humans who had joined Renzo waited for him. “Tell me everything.” **** When she returned to the clinic, Claudia knew it was obvious they all knew she was a bonded bloodmate. Ivy grinned at her, Lucan smiled from his bed, and Carissa gave her a nod. Claudia was surprised to see Carissa sitting with the boy, until she learned from Ivy that Carissa was his patronus, his personal protector. Lucan had changed so much. Overnight he’d grown as tall as his father Lucian. She knew he had never worked out, but because of his transformation, his body had developed to the size and strength of all of them. Thick arms, muscles everywhere, strong legs, and dark hair touching the back of his neck, almost to his shoulders. Another difference was his facial features. They had

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changed so much, he didn’t resemble his parents any longer. His lips were fuller, the shape of his nose had changed, and his cheekbones were not as narrow. His eyes really stood out, not dark like his father’s or the gray of his mother’s. Lucan’s had altered to a bright blue that seemed to look right into her soul when his gaze fell upon her. It felt creepy and yet soothing at the same time. After a quick check in with the doctor, Claudia went to help get Lucan up on his new feet, a struggle handling his size. Between them, Claudia and Carissa, the boy, or rather the young man, stood up. He began walking after about an hour, but he still didn’t talk much and was shaky. He had some catching up to do with his new body. The mind was willing, but his body suffered the aftereffects of the premature and excelled transition. After two hours, Ivy told her to take off. There wasn’t much to do, and her blood count was rising. She could feel it. She wasted no time going to find Dimitri. Claudia snuck into the gym, she thought, walking to one of the darkest corners she could find. In the middle of the room, Dimitri worked with Julian. They were both sweaty. Dimitri showed Julian a few moves slowly. He stopped every so often, corrected Julian’s stance, or had him repeat a punch. From what she saw, Julian was learning how to take a weapon out of Dimitri’s hand. Dimitri fascinated her in the way he moved. As large a man as he was, he could move with the grace and speed of someone so much smaller. He explained to Julian how to use circumstances to his advantage. Everyone had a weak spot, one just needed to find it and make use of it. He needed to watch his opponent’s eyes to learn what that weakness was. She soon learned Dimitri was aware of her presence. He looked her way, and his eyes seemed to light up. He gave her a quick nod, finished what he was telling Julian, and ended the session with a slap on the back. Julian also looked over her way and smirked knowingly. She felt her face heat up, cursing her tendency to blush at every little thing.

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up along with a towel he slung over his shoulder. She went forward toward Dimitri. “You look good, Claudia,” Julian said. “Thanks. It looked like he was putting you through some intense stuff.” “Oh, yeah.” Julian sighed, rolling his head around. “And from what he just told me before you came in, this shit is the basics. The kids learn this all before they transition.” “Do you think you’re going to be able to handle it?” “I don’t have a choice. Need to get my baby back.” He glanced over his shoulder. Claudia also looked. Dimitri watched them, wiping his face and chest off with a towel. Julian gave her a wink. “I’ll let you two have some alone time. I need to find a hot tub and soak. Damn, I’m sore.” he teased as he left. “Everything all right?” Dimitri asked. Claudia nodded. “We got Lucan up and walking, but he’s still not talking. Doc thinks a couple more days, and he’ll be up and about. Did you notice that his eyes have turned blue?” She shivered. “When he looks at you it feels like he’s reading your mind and knows everything that’s going on in there.” “It’s good he’s up and moving around. I’m not at all surprised about the changes in him. He was born with all the knowledge of our race. Transformation alone changes people. With Carissa—a Guardian who’s already done the Crossover—it was even stronger.” He grabbed her wrist, drew her close, and kissed her. “You need to be fed upon,” he said in a statement, not a question. She nodded and then exhaled. “Yes.” Dimitri glanced up and around. “Come on.” He kept hold of her hand, pulling her into a back room she had seen before but had never gone inside, the gym’s large shower room. The area was open with a half-wall

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in front and the entrance to the left. Eight showerheads lined the wall with one big column fixture in the middle, pouring a waterfall from the top. Dimitri turned all the faucets on. Steam quickly filled the room. When he came back out, he was naked. The sight of his strong, aroused body had hers quickly coming alive. “Take your clothes off,” he said. Claudia’s hands shook as she undressed. She put everything on a bench and reached for the hand he offered. Dimitri walked backwards into the spraying water. The shower felt heavenly. Heat beat over her head, on her back, over her breasts, and nipples, which quickly became overly sensitive. Claudia closed her eyes, tossed her head back, and enjoyed. She gasped when his hand cupped between her legs, squeezed her mounds, and his lips kissed at her throat. She moved her hands up his arms to his neck, and he picked her up, cradling her ass in his hands. She didn’t hesitate in wrapping her legs around his waist. He took advantage of the angle and lowered her onto his cock, filling her slow and easy. She took each solid, thick inch, one slow push at a time, into her body, losing her sanity. He stole her breath away. He rocked inside her and kissed the column of her throat until she thought she was going to die with his teasing. “Please,” she begged pitifully. He growled against her and struck. His fangs went deep into her throat as he pounded his cock in and out. She climaxed the second he bit her, holding on tight as he moved. Oh, it felt good. Better than the first, second, or even that fast third time. With his hands on her ass, his cock surging into her pussy, and his mouth sucking, drinking her blood, Claudia felt the second wave of orgasm quickly approaching.

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Jaden Sinclair She held on, dug her nails into his back, and pressed her heels into his ass. Dimitri

moaned against her throat, pulling even harder. “Yes,” she moaned, grinding herself as much as she could against him with each thrust. “Don’t stop.” He licked, closing the bite. “Never,” he promised in a grunt. The pinnacle hit; she screamed. Pleasure washed over her like the water splashing on her head and back. She came, and she came hard yet was still aware. Dimitri swelled inside her. His fangs sank into his own lip, and he kissed her. His hips slammed into her, and his body stiffened, his balls convulsed to pump his seed. His hot cum gushed into her as she tasted his blood. Claudia closed her eyes and sucked on his lip, taking his blood into her mouth in greedy gulps. He shivered, and she tightened her hold on him. With great reluctance, the kiss ended, but not the embrace. Dimitri held her closer, resting his face in the crook of her neck. “Will it always be like this?” she asked, breathing hard and heavy. “God, I hope so,” he answered, breathing the same way.

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Chapter Eight Rage sat at his desk, his hand up to his chin, his fingers drumming across his lips. He stared at the picture on the computer screen of his laptop. Standing on the other side of the desk, the two humans told him all they knew of Renzo’s plans. None of it was pretty. One part was that Renzo wanted Julian Marino dead and made plans to trap and kill him. That wasn’t really a big surprise. Payback is what Renzo called it, for the death of Serina. He refused to accept the simple fact that he had caused her death. He had forced the girl into labor and then left her to bleed to death. Renzo didn’t know, and would never find out from him, that Serina had another daughter. Twins. Rage planned on making sure the second baby was kept a secret. He owed his sister that much for the part he’d played in taking her back to Renzo. The guilt over how Renzo treated her and how he let her die weighed heavily upon Rage’s shoulders. At the time, he thought what he was doing was right. He believed she should be back with her family, not living as a slave to a vampire. Once he learned more about the bloodmates, and what they needed and received from a bonding—well, the story told by Renzo was all a big lie. Bullshit in fact. They needed a vampire to live. To keep them apart meant their death, plain and simple. Each time Rage saw Renzo, he saw more of the madness taking over. If he’d doubted it, Renzo provided proof when Renzo called the baby Serina. Denver knew something. He knew how to contact them, Rage was sure. “Have Denver contact me. I need to talk to him as soon as possible.” The men nodded and left. Rage stood up, closed his laptop, and slipped it into his bag before heading for the special room. At the open door, he stared at the creation he’d

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made. The special chains no longer held the same appeal for him as when he’d started the project. He no longer wanted to chain his pet. To do that would mean to break the sprit within her, and he hated the thought of doing that. Yes, he wanted her, but not like that. He refused to become what his father was, a monster. Even with the things he’d already done, he didn’t think it was too late to change. Without saying a word he turned, going back to his desk. He packed everything important into the one bag. Slinging it over his shoulder, he glanced around at the place he’d claimed for his own. Nowhere was ever a home to him. Places like this were just a spot to rest his head for a short time. The time there had come to an end. Taking the stairs two at a time, he went up and stopped when one of the human men came up to him. “Denver will call you for a meeting.” “Good. Burn the house.” Rage walked past him, out into the night. He got into his car and had cleared the driveway when the house blew up; thanks to all the explosives he had all throughout the house. The explosion would’ve killed the human, along with the breeds who were inside. Rage didn’t care. He knew what he needed to do, knew who to trust, and any man coming from Renzo wasn’t one to trust or a loss to humanity. Getting rid of the house didn’t bother him in the least. He had another place to go; one Renzo had no clue still existed. As a child, it was a place Rage had called home. His cell vibrated against his chest. Rage reached into the top inside pocket of his coat, flipped the cell open, and put it up to his ear. “Yeah.” “Heard you want to meet.” Denver’s voice held uncertainly. “Why?” “I think it’s time for skeletons to start coming out of the closet—brother.” The other end became deathly quiet. “Meet me in one hour at the cemetery where Serina died. We need to talk. Now.”

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“I’ll think up an excuse to leave and get one of the breeds to take me to town. I’ll be there.” **** “Your job will be to convince the Guardians that I’m on their side now and that I’ll help in any way I can to bring Renzo down,” Rage told Denver. He could still see the shock on Denver’s face from discovering they were indeed brothers and the anger when he filled him in on the details. He could also see the distrust. Denver was shocked as to Rage’s parentage, but in an odd way, he didn’t really look surprised. Denver, like Rage and Serina, had known for a long time that Renzo had been in love with Rage’s mother. He and Denver traded facts, matched dates, and Denver was convinced—of that. He still needed convincing of Rage’s change of sides in Renzo’s insane war. “They might believe it more if I could tell them why you’re willing to do it,” Denver told him. “This is something I need to do. He lied to me, Denver, just like he lied to you about Serina and what it meant to be a bloodmate, and he used the way the man I believed was my father treated me to convince me all vampires needed to be killed. What he did to Serina and stealing that baby is twisted. If I hadn’t left before…” He let the sentence trail off and drew a deep breath. “I saw then how crazy he is, and I did nothing. Now I’m doing something. Returning that baby is a first step in the right direction.” Denver pointed out, “One good deed can’t erase a fucking barrel full of shit.” “I know, I know, but give me time, and I’ll fix it. I’ll get the baby to you, but you go with them, taking the blame for her being gone. I’ll stay and help them anyway I can from the inside to bring him down.” “You should just go with us and help the Guardians fight him.”

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got to stay to make sure he doesn’t get the chance to follow through with his plans.” He just didn’t have a clue how. The others wouldn’t know he wasn’t done with Renzo yet was the real reason he wouldn’t leave. He needed to keep up the ruse that he was on Renzo’s side until he was ready to bring him down his own way. He did, however, convince Denver to agree to take the baby. Now he just needed to get his plan in action. **** “I can’t believe how hungry I am.” Claudia sat at the small table in the kitchen of the main house. She’d planned on coming up and just having a sandwich, but Corbin insisted on fixing her something, and she sat stuffing her face. Corbin stood at the stove, preparing another egg omelet, toast, and more sausages for her. He smiled at her as he put her second plate in front of her, picked up her empty glass, and filled it up again with juice. “Oh, I can,” Corbin said, going back to the stove and bringing out a large pan from the oven with three huge roasts cooking in it. “Bonded bloodmates, I’ve learned, tend to eat like crazy for the first few days, until their bodies get regulated. Also, you’ll eat like crazy if you get pregnant. Tempest used to eat me out of house and home, when she was carrying Lucan.” Claudia stuffed her mouth as she watched and listened to the human. He was strange, but had a kindness about him, which made one want to sit in the kitchen and watch him work all day and night. He wasn’t as tall as the vamps. Corbin maybe stood about six feet, but she thought more like five-eight. He had short brown hair and dressed always in slacks, crisp white shirts, and loafers on his feet. He nearly always had an apron over his clothes. He had such kind eyes, anyone instantly felt at ease in his company.

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“So does everyone know that I’m bonded?” she asked, wiping her mouth and picking up her glass. “Well, when you started to purge, and Shadow saw him kissing you…” he turned his head towards her and smiled, “…pretty much.” Her face heated up. “But I’ve learned from Ambrose it’s a real good thing for Dimitri. He’s been alone for a very long time. A strong fighter needs someone special just for him.” “From what I’ve seen, they all need one.” Corbin nodded while he rubbed something on the meat and put it back in the oven. “They’re all lonely.” He grabbed a towel from the rack, wiped his hands, and walked over to the table. Sitting down across from her, he said, “They all are. I think this whole house is lonely. The girls are doing what they can to brighten it up, but they are just as worried as the rest.” “They want to be bonded.” He nodded. “I’ve never heard of a Guardian bonding before, but I could understand why they would want to be. Everyone wants someone special to love.” “Are you looking for someone?” “You know I’ve sort of given up on me.” He smiled quickly and stood back up, taking her plate over to the sink. “Right now I’m more concerned with Lucian, Tempest, and Julian. Fate hasn’t exactly dished them out a fair life.” “And this war isn’t easy either.” “We all do what we can for the ones we love. Now is there anything else I can get you?” Claudia smiled, shaking her head. “No, thank you. That breakfast was great. I can see why Ambrose put you in charge of the house. You’re a great cook.” Corbin chuckled. “Believe it or not, Julian taught me how to do a few tricks in the kitchen.”

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Jaden Sinclair “You think he’ll be okay? Maybe find another bloodmate?” Corbin shrugged, leaning back against the counter. “I don’t think he’s going to look

for a very long time. His sole purpose right now is getting his daughter back and raising the twins after he does.” “I have faith that Dimitri and Carissa will get the baby back.” “So do I.” She pushed herself away from the table and stood up. “I better get back to the clinic. Ivy is teaching me how to be a nurse, and I still have a lot to learn.” Corbin gave her another smile. “If you get hungry again you know where to find me.” “Thank you.” She left the kitchen, went down to the underground, and was heading for the clinic when voices ahead stopping her. “Ambrose, he isn’t going to be able to keep up.” Dimitri’s voice carried softly in the dimly lit hallway. Claudia pressed herself back against the wall so as not to disturb them, but she felt guilty for eavesdropping. “Just the basics I put him through wore his ass out. Basics, as in what the children begin with when they first arrive.” “You can’t offer him the Crossover,” Carissa said. “His father will use it against us to get what he wants.” “I have to agree with her.” Dimitri sighed. “Crossover for Julian would be a mistake. He’s a first-born. If by chance he wants to go back to that life, he won’t be able to. I don’t think he understands that.” “We can’t overlook his request.” Ambrose stated. “To hell with the request!” Carissa’s voice got louder. “We will get her back for him.”

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“Ambrose, he can’t keep up,” Dimitri repeated. “Request or not, you have to take into account his Noble status. If it was any other first born Nobel asking to become a Guardian would you let him?” “You risk a lot by even thinking about offering it to him,” Carissa added. “Julian isn’t his father,” Ambrose stated. “He’s his blood.” Dimitri’s voice rose. “His father will burn us when he finds out his only son and heir has turned.” “You need to stop this now,” Carissa said. “Julian isn’t strong enough, and his grief over the loss of Serina holds him back.” “Then we need to give him the tools he needs to keep up.” Ambrose’s voice chilled, holding more authority than friendship. “And you show him how to use his grief to strengthen him and his training.” “Ambrose,” Carissa sounded angry, but was cut off from saying more. “I’ve made my mind up. We do this at the end of the month.” Someone walked away. Claudia pressed herself closer to the wall, deeper into the shadows, holding her breath. Carissa sighed. “I don’t like this, Dimitri.” “We don’t have a choice,” Dimitri stated. “He’s the elder. We’re going to have to do as he wishes even if we don’t like it.” “Still it doesn’t mean that I can’t give voice to how much of a mistake it is.” “Look at it this way; you can beat the shit out of Julian if you want.” Claudia heard another set of feet leaving, but not the third. “You can come out now.” Claudia closed her eyes, bit her lip, and inwardly groaned. Dimitri knew she was there, but that shouldn’t have been much of surprise to her. They were bonded now. He was going to know when she was near, and she would know where he was too.

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mean to eavesdrop.” He took hold of her hand, drew her closer, and wrapped his arms around her body. Claudia closed her eyes, sighing with pleasure at his embrace. “How are you feeling?” he asked. “Good. Corbin just fed me.” She pulled out of his arms and looked up at him. “Are you going to do that thing for Julian?” He brushed his knuckles across her cheek before moving out of the embrace to lean back against the wall across from her. “Ambrose wants us to.” “But you don’t.” “It isn’t up to me. Ambrose rules down here. Julian isn’t strong enough to be one of us or go out there to hunt for his daughter.” His statement had her looking back up at him. “But what he really doesn’t understand is he won’t be strong enough afterwards if he goes through with it either. Look at Lucan. His early transition sent him in a Crossover. Crossovers takes time; time Julian doesn’t want to take.” After his transition and Crossover, Lucan was still too weak to get out of bed. If that gave her any insight as to what a Crossover was like, then yeah Julian wouldn’t be ready to go after his daughter if it happened anytime soon. “But hey,” he gave her a big smile, his dark eyes lighting up, “let’s not think about all that shit right now. Let’s, I don’t know, do something else.” “Hey, mate!” Shadow came running up to them, breathing hard. “Been looking for you and Carissa. Got another message and this one is going to blow your world away.” Dimitri cast Claudia a look, but she smiled. “Don’t worry. I need to go check in at the clinic. We can do something later.” Dimitri snatched her hand quickly before she took too many steps away from him. He pulled her close, lowered his head, and kissed her. “Later.” ****

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Dimitri watched her go, wishing like hell he could take her to his room for the rest of the night. So this is what being bonded feels like. Shadow chuckled. “You got it bad, mate.” Dimitri tore his eyes from the sight of Claudia only after she turned the corner. He looked at Shadow with a glare. “What’s the message?” “That son of Renzo’s again.” The two of them walked to Shadow’s little corner of the world. Computers and weapons were the man’s specialty, and he soared in both. “He said he has a plan on how to get the baby to us and needs our help.” “I don’t know if I trust the brother or not yet.” “He did save the one baby for Julian.” Shadow pushed open the door to his sanctuary. They walked past the worktable loaded with weapons to the computer center. “My gut tells me it won’t end up the way he plans. Something fishy is going down.” “Yeah, but if we have a chance of getting the baby back and keeping Julian from joining the Guardians, I’ll take the risk.” Shadow smiled. “Don’t like him much?” He sat down and went right into typing on his keyboard. “What if I don’t?” Shadow chuckled again, “Mate, you don’t like anyone too much. That’s just one of the reasons I’m so shocked about you and the lovely lady you’ve bonded with. Never would have thought I’d live to see it. Okay, here it is.” Dimitri leaned over Shadow’s shoulder. The message was simple. Got help to get baby out. Forty-eight hours, meet me where Serina died. I’ll bring the baby, but you have to protect me. Deal?” “Does Ambrose know?” Dimitri asked. “Yeah, he sent me to find you. Said you get the call on this one. You’re show.”

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Jaden Sinclair “And Julian?” Shadow shook his head “Ambrose doesn’t want him to know. Thinks he’ll try to

either go with you or stop you. If he asks you anything, you’re to tell him it’s just a scouting trip.” Dimitri read the message two more times before he made his decision. “Tell him we have a deal, and I’ll let Carissa know to get ready.” Shadow agreed and Dimitri stood up to leave. He slapped Shadow on the back of the head. “Always show respect when it comes to my bloodmate.” Shadow laughed. Dimitri turned and left with a big smile on his face. **** Dimitri had never seen the dining hall before. It was a tremendous room, and the table Corbin and the bloodmates found was huge and perfect. Once again Corbin had outdone himself with the lunch. Even Lucan was recovered enough to be at the table to enjoy it, though he still needed help doing simple things. His mother and father were right there with him to help. As they all sat around eating, Ambrose recalled the past. The Elder talked non-stop about the parties he’d held, big fancy dinners, and all the holiday celebrations. Dimitri only heard about half of it. Primarily his mind was on the meeting he was going to be having with Denver, and the rest of his thoughts were on Claudia. She hadn’t joined them. She had work to do with Ivy and wanted to get caught up to be free to spend the time with him before they had to leave. He was going to have to go out as a Guardian, not a bonded vampire. The thought hung in his mind like a heavy weight. Being a Guardian was still his life. It didn’t matter if she was a part of it, but it did scare the hell out of him. What if he didn’t come back? What would happen to her?

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He glanced up at Carissa. She sat at the far end of the table, the expression in her eyes showed she had the same worries. Like always, there were unspoken words passing between them. While Ambrose continued to talk, she pushed away from the table and walked out. Julian watched her leave. Dimitri wasn’t at all surprised when he followed her. The man had a lot of unanswered questions that Carissa refused to answer. “You okay?” Claudia came up behind him, causing him to jump when she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yeah,” he answered, lowering his eyes to his plate. He took a deep breath before turning his full attention on her. “You done?” “I’m all yours for the night.” “Why don’t we go back to my room then? I’m sure you’re going to need to be fed upon soon.” Her face flushed, and she held out her hand. He took it to lead her from the dining room, toward the hidden doorway. On the way, he kissed her hand, because he needed to take her scent into his lungs. Hell, he needed her to remind himself he was more than just a killer. With Claudia he had something to live for. “Are you okay?” she asked again. Once at the door, he pulled her into his arms, hugged her tight, and closed his eyes with a sigh. “I just need to hold you. That’s all.” **** Carissa stood in front of the weapons table loading a clip for one of the many weapons in front of her. She knew the second Julian joined her, but chose not to acknowledge him for the moment. She kept pushing the bullets into the clip, letting the silence fold around them. “Where you going?” Julian asked, strolling up behind her.

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Jaden Sinclair “Out.” “Out where?” “We have a lead, and I’m going to check it out.” She couldn’t look at him, wouldn’t.

If she did, he’d see right through her. “Is it my daughter?” “I don’t know.” “Don’t lie to me!” he yelled. “Everyone has lied to me enough.” “Yes, it’s about your daughter. Denver might have her, and I’m going out to get her.” “And if it’s a trap?” “Then I’ll deal with it.” “Carissa, damnit.” He blew out a breath. “Why are you doing this?” “It’s my job.” Julian moved fast. He grabbed hold of her arm, turned her around, and on pure instinct and reflex, Carissa had her gun cocked and pointed right at his head. They stared at each other; time feeling like it simply stood still. A twitch at his right eye, breathing normal, arms to his side, Julian stood like a statue craved of wood. “Is this how things are going to be between us now?” he asked. “You’re going to point a gun at me?” “Don’t mistake that I won’t shoot you if I have to,” she told him. However, deep down she knew she never could. “And why the hell would you think you’d need to shoot me?” “I’m not the girl you once knew.” “Oh, I can see that.” He moved fast, faster than what she could’ve expected, taking the gun from her hand. In exchange, he backhanded her, stunning her enough for him to get the upper hand. “And I’m not the same guy you used to know either.” He ejected the clip, slammed it and the gun on the table. In the next instant, he grabbed her by the front of her coat, gave her a hard shake before picking her up and

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dropping her ass on the table. Standing between her legs, he pinned both of her hands behind her back. “You forget, just like Dimitri and the rest of them. I have your blood already in my system, which means I have a part of your strength.” Carissa twisted in his hold, but couldn’t break free without hurting him. “Now you’re going to sit here and talk to me.” “There’s nothing to talk about,” she stated through her teeth, not telling him that no one knew he had her blood. Julian narrowed his eyes, his brows pinched together in the middle in an expression she remembered too well. “Look at you.” He nodded, looking her up and down. “You’re not a fighter but a woman on the edge. You’re not sleeping, you don’t eat much, fighting all the damn time, and I know for a fact you’re running on hardly any blood.” “I don’t need your lectures!” she snapped. “The hell you don’t.” He got his face so close to hers their noses were barely an inch apart. “I know you still bleed inside,” he went on. “Just like I know what you’re doing now. The fighting won’t take the guilt away, no matter how many you kill.” His hold on her wrists loosened, and she quickly took hold of his face. “It’s all I have to give to you,” she whispered. Something inside her began to crack. She could feel it and wished like hell she could push it back. If she broke down, there would be no going back. “Can’t you see that?” She felt the tears form and slowly lowered her forehead to his. “Everything I’ve ever done has been done for you.” Julian held her hand to his face. “Stop blaming yourself. Stop looking back and forgive yourself. I have. I don’t blame you. I never have.” Carissa looked him in the eye and gave in to the impulse she carried with her for so long. She kissed Julian as if it was the last kiss she would ever give. When it ended he hugged her close.

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Jaden Sinclair “Sometimes I do regret the things I’ve had to do, but don’t you understand why I had

to leave you?” she asked in a whisper, the words pouring out before she could stop them. “All I have are the memories of you, frozen in my mind, and it kills me that I couldn’t save her for you.” He enclosed her face in his hands as she held his. “Never look back there again, never hold any guilt for Serina or what you had to do.” Sniffing back the unshed tears, Carissa pulled her head away, pushed him back, and jumped off the table. “You should go.” She had to take several deep breaths, pulling herself back together. “I have to get these things ready.’ “You turn your emotions on and off so easily.” His voice hardened. “How can you do that?” “I can’t let myself care for you again.” She turned back around, her eyes fixed on him, feeling like she was in control once more. “You’re a weakness Julian. One I can’t afford to have.” “I’m your reality, and you can handle it. You need to stop running and deal with this —with us and what there could be between us. I’m not running from it anymore, Carissa. Neither should you.” “I felt your pain then,” Carissa said instead of acknowledging what he said. She couldn’t face it, face that he might be right, and she really was running from him. “Just like I can feel it now.” After all, he was Julian, her protector as a child, her friend, and at one time the love she could never have. “I felt her fear as if it was my own, and I never once took a drop of your blood. I could feel Serina giving birth and dying Julian, and I got the first real taste of how much you loved her.” A single tear slipped free from her eye. She didn’t bother trying to hide her tear even as he stood there watching and listening. “I chose to save you over her, and that decision alone kills me each and every night I wake up and see you here alone, hurting.” She finally wiped the tear away, giving him her back again.

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“I’ve been living here for so long alone, I can’t be a normal woman anymore,” she added softly, lowering her head. “I see Dimitri happy, and it hurts me so much, because I’ll never have that.” Taking a deep breath, she turned. “Your destiny isn’t me; it’s those babies. All of our childhood memories are just that, memories. You need to understand no matter what happens we, can’t be together the way you want.” Slowly she reached behind her for the gun he’d put down. “My place is here, and I’ll always be here.” “You didn’t kill her, Carissa. Renzo did.” “I know.” She nodded. “Which is why I must kill him.” He took a step toward her, and Carissa went on the attack. She swung wide. Hitting Julian in a controlled blow on the side of the head, she knocked him out cold. Without the control, the same blow could have cracked his skull. “And you must stay here.” She knelt down, touching his face gently. “Forgive me, but I can’t let you come and risk your life. I won’t have that on my shoulders as well.” Standing back up, she quickly grabbed her weapons and dashed from the room before anyone else might come to stop her. Renzo was hers. **** Dimitri intended to undress Claudia slowly. Instead, he stood at the foot of the bed as she took off his clothes. Fangs were down, sharp and ready to sink into her neck. It took a hell of a lot of willpower to stand there, but he gave her what she wanted. Claudia wanted to give to him, and he was going to let her. He raised his arms up for her to pull his shirt off. Sitting down for the removal of his boots, he laughed at her struggles. When she had him down to nothing but his boxerbriefs, Dimitri pulled her to stand between his legs for his turn. Though he unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans, she took them off, wiggling the material down her legs. He took her shirt off, leaving her to stand in her bra and panties.

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her close. “What’s wrong?” She whispered the question, holding him close. “Now I understand why Guardians never bonded,” he said. “The pain of knowing that the time we’re together before I go out could be our last.” He glanced up at her. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I couldn’t stop.” Dimitri closed his eyes as she brushed her hands across his face, opening then again when she told him, “I completely understand what I’ve gotten myself into. But you need to understand that I would rather have a short time with you than none at all. Haven’t you heard that old saying ‘Better to love once, than never to love at all’?” She finished with a smile. Dimitri smiled back at her. “Are you saying you love me?” Claudia bent down and kissed him lightly. “What if I was?” she asked, blowing against his lips. “Then I’ll have to say you are the very first person in my life to ever love me.” He touched the side of her face briefly, moving his hand down her neck to her shoulder. Hooking a finger under the strap of her bra, he pulled it down. Claudia reached behind her, unclasped it, and let it fall between them. “You have my heart, Dimitri,” she whispered. “Always.” His gaze swept down her body and back up to her eyes. “And you have my soul, my forgotten soul.” He lay back, carrying her with him. Their lips touched, lightly at first then with more hunger. Dimitri wrapped his arms around her, moved his hands down to cup her rear and tried to kiss her deeper, but Claudia had the lead. He was going to let her have it for as long as she wanted—or he could stand it. The kiss to his lips ended, but not her mouth on his body. Claudia kissed his chin and made a heated trail down his neck to his chest with her lips and tongue. God, the

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emotions that flooded through him, the sensations, and her love, were overwhelming and comforting at the same time. He wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to handle it all. He’d always been the one in charge. With her, he wasn’t. Her tongue touched his nipple, and he hissed with still another physical sensation. Dimitri felt and sensed her innocence in the action, and fuck if it didn’t feel as though heaven had just landed on his head. She teased the nub with the tip of her tongue before closing her lips over it, kissing it, giving it a bite. “Hey, now.” He groaned with a smile. “You start biting, and I’m going to be tempted to do the same.” He made sure she saw his fangs and watched her shiver. “Promise?” “Count on it.” She licked her lips, and once more a rosy hue crept into her cheeks. “I want to really taste you, Dimitri. All of you. Can I?” I’m so fucked! His cock jerked, and he would have sworn he was on the brink of coming in his damn shorts just because she asked the question. It wasn’t his blood she was asking for, but his flesh. His mouth went dry, and he wondered if he was going to be able to talk. He had to take a few deep breaths before he even attempted to answer her. “Whatever you want.” She bit her lower lip and squirmed herself down between his legs. Dimitri held his breath, watched her, and feared embarrassing himself when she took hold of his briefs and pulled them down. One thing he wasn’t going to tell her, at least not then, was he had never had a woman go down on him. He’d had sex in the past and fed from others, but when it came to any of his lovers going down on him—yeah, that never happened. But it sure as hell was about to!

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hell to steady his breathing. Fuck, if he could control shit. Her warm breath touching his cock was enough to make any sane man go nuts. “I don’t know if I can—” he began, the word choking off in his throat. She took hold of him, and her mouth closed around the head. “Oh, fuck!” he cried in a moan. She took not quite a third of his length into her mouth, sucking him hard. The pleasure exploding behind his eyes and left him hissing. Up and down she pulled, suckling on him until he knew, without a doubt, he was going mad from the pleasure. He wasn’t going to last. Dimitri knew he wasn’t going to be able to hold back for much longer, and he sure as hell didn’t want to explode yet. “Claudia.” He panted her name, fighting with himself to not buck and make her take more of his cock into her mouth or down her throat. “I can’t hold on.” She released him with a popping sound, her hand still moving up and down on him. “What? The big bad Guardian can’t handle something after all.” He chuckled. “Oh, that does it!” Dimitri spring, pulled her away from his cock, and he tossed her to the bed on her hands and knees. He ripped away her panties and with one powerful surge thrust inside her to the hilt. Claudia gasped loudly, arched her back, and pressed back against him. He pushed her hair to the right side, kissed the back of her neck, and held still inside her. “I love the way your pussy stretches tightly around my cock,” he said in that near purr she pulled from him. Claudia shivered, and he scraped his fangs against her neck. “You were made only for me, Claudia.” She dropped her head and sighed. “Yes.” Fangs teasing her neck, Dimitri moved his hips slowly. He withdrew from her and sharply, powerfully thrust back in. She fisted her hands into the sheets, and he watched

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her breathing, heard it leave in a sounding rush as he had during the time she sucked his cock. He made sure to move slowly, wanting her to savor as much as he had. He pulled his cock out enough to have her push back and bury him into her body again, but he kept complete control. He wanted to build her up gradually, to make this night as special as he could just in case. “Dimitri, please!” she begged. As much as he hated to, he gave her what she wanted. Calculated plans be damned. He let loose, moved faster, harder into her, and when her pussy tighten around him, he sank his teeth into her neck. Claudia cried out, contracting around him, and he drank deeply, fucking her harder, faster, until he could no longer control his body. His balls swelled and exploded. He closed his eyes and drank from her as he spilled his seed deep into her. She yelled again with another orgasm, and still Dimitri moved and drank until sense returned. Dropping to the bed, he took her with him, scooping her into his arms. Dimitri held her tight, breathing hard, closing the wounds at her neck. Claudia sighed and turned over in his arms, resting her head on his chest, her arms draped across his chest. With sense came worry. The coming mission didn’t set well with him. His gut screamed in warning that something was going to happen, and his heart felt like it was cracking at the thought. What if something happened to him? What would happen to Claudia? “I think I love you,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. She snuggled closer, sighing in her sleep. **** Rage walked into the bedroom Renzo set up for himself and the baby. She slept in the cradle, wrapped up in pink, sucking on a pacifier. Her fine hair stood up in the center

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of her head almost making a curl. In the corner, Renzo slept deeply, a bottle of whiskey on the floor beside him. Rage scooped the baby up in his arms and walked out. He kept to the shadows, walked straight out of the lab to his car. He got in, placed the baby on the seat next to him and drove away. The drive to the cemetery where Renzo murdered Serina took less than an hour. Once he gave the baby to Denver, Denver would go down to wait for the Guardians. Rage parked up the hill where he told Denver to meet him. Their plan was very simple on Denver’s part. Make contact and then go with them. How the hell could the man fuck that up? Rage pulled in behind Denver’s car. Opening the door, he picked up the baby, holding the tiny body close to his chest as he got out. Denver already walked toward him. “I can’t believe this worked.” Denver smiled, holding his hands out for the baby. “He let her out of his sight finally.” Rage handed the baby over to Denver. “I drugged him. Only hope it lasts long enough for you to get to those people.” Denver didn’t answer, gazing down at the baby. “Take care of yourself and them, Denver,” Rage said. “I’ll see you again.” Rage turned and headed back to his car. “When?” Denver called out. “You can’t keep playing this game, Rage. He’ll figure it out.” “I know he will.” “Then why are you doing this?” “Because I have to.” He looked over his shoulder at Denver. “Go. Take the baby away from here. Get her to her father.” “I’ll take her just as fast as I can. You take care of yourself.”

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Rage stood next to the open door of his car, watching Denver until he was out of sight. Instead of getting in and leaving, he brought out binoculars, went into the trees, and found a spot where he could watch everything that was about to happen. He wanted to be able to see her bright eyes again if only for a second. Besides, he had this nagging feeling that something might go wrong.

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Chapter Nine “I have a bad feeling about this.” Shadow hunched down behind Dimitri who knelt next to Carissa. They left the safe house just before dawn and hid out in one of the crypts for the day. Dimitri wanted to go before Claudia awoke and Carissa before Julian came to, though the others hadn’t discovered her reasons until after they left. Finding out Carissa knocked Julian out right after telling him what they were going to do pissed Dimitri off. The plan had been simple. Rest after lunch, don’t tell Julian—not knock him out—and leave. What she did would only lead to trouble once the man woke up. Trouble, however, seemed to be Carissa’s middle name these days. “Too quiet,” Shadow went on. “Something’s lurking. I can feel it.” “If shit hits the fan, stick with the plan,” Carissa told him, bringing out one of her guns. She unclipped it, checked the bullets, and shoved the clip back in. “You get Denver and the baby out, no matter what. Think you can handle that?” “And watch your ass,” Dimitri added, standing up slowly. “Don’t need to get it shot off. And you,” he pointed to Carissa, “when we get back, we’re going to have a long talk about your anger issues if Julian doesn’t beat me to it.” “Yeah, did you teach him that fucking move to take a weapon away?” she asked. Dimitri smiled. “Sure did.” “You’re such an asshole.” “Children,” Shadow snapped. “Can we focus here?” With a curt nod, they started. Alone, Dimitri walked out of the tree line into the open. Carissa and Shadow went down further under the darkness of the trees to cover

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him. About halfway to the building where Serina had died, Dimitri stopped. Eyes were on him. He could feel it. He pulled out a gun, kept it at his side, and looked around. It was too quiet. Not even a bird chirped. “This isn’t right,” he mumbled to himself. As much as he hated to, Dimitri called out for the guy, hoping like hell his gut and Shadow’s were wrong. “Denver!” Gun fire rang out. Dimitri dropped to the ground for cover. Bullets hit headstones; tiny pieces flew everywhere, some landing on him. Breeds came out, some with guns, others with knives. All had a red haze over their eyes and drool dripping from their mouths. “Fuck,” Dimitri snapped, going up to his feet, aiming, and firing his gun. He dropped ten before he had to reload. Popping the clip, running, he reloaded, and fired. Off in the distance he heard the faint sound of a child screaming. Shadow and Carissa came out of the woods, shooting their way towards him. “Shadow, find Denver and get him the fuck out of here!” Dimitri yelled. Shadow nodded and broke away from them. Carissa reached him, pulled out her sword from her back and sliced a breed coming at Dimitri’s back. “So much for being easy,” she said. “Nothing is easy,” he said back at her, shoving the smaller guns back at his holsters and reaching behind his back for the bigger ones. “Thought you learned that by now.” The more breeds he shot down the more seemed to come out to replace the fallen. They were outnumbered. Whether it was because they had been betrayed or because Renzo had some tracking device on the baby, Rage, or Denver, Dimitri didn’t know. At the moment, he really didn’t give a damn. Out of ammo, Carissa turned to her blades. Dimitri got a quick glance to see her move with skill with her knife in one hand and the spring blade at her wrist. Skilled with both weapons, the knife had turned out to be her specialty.

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running to where they’d hidden the van. He trusted Shadow to get Denver and the child back to the house. That was his mission. His sense of peace was short lived. Turning around to take out another set of breeds, Dimitri saw Carissa in serious trouble, the kind she wasn’t going to get out of alone. More breeds came out of nowhere. They rushed upon her, taking her down. Dimitri gave his full attention to her, began shooting as many as he could and ran in her direction. He didn’t get too far. As unexpectedly as death could be, one single shot rang out and the bullet pierced the middle of Dimitri’s chest. Knocked backwards, feet away from Carissa, Dimitri landed hard, the breath knocked out of him. Pain gripped him unlike anything he ever imagined. He panted for air, as he tried to control the pain, which had a brutal hold on him. Tears came to his eyes as he thought of the pain Claudia would go through once she learned he was dead, and he was damn sure he didn’t want to die. With crunching sounds, along with the grunts of the breeds, someone walked toward him. He heard the distinct sound of a shotgun opening and the shells popping out. More shells slid in, and the barrel closed. The fucker had used a slug on him. “Dimitri!” Carissa yelled his name, but he couldn’t see her. What he saw was the end of the shotgun no more than a foot from his face. Tears rolled down the side of his face. He knew the end was but moments away. He waited and heard a single shot fired, and the shotgun was no longer in his face, but too late. Carissa screamed. Closing he eyes, he thought, I failed her. I failed Claudia. I’m dying! He could feel his life flowing away with the blood from his chest. The pain started to subside, as did the warmth in his body, replaced with cold and numbness. “Forgive me, Claudia,” he whispered.

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“You don’t die today.” Dimitri stirred slightly, struggling to open his eyes to see who spoke. The jarring of having his shirt hacked off helped to force his eyes open to no avail. He couldn’t focus. All he saw was a man hovering over him, covered from head to foot in black. The man pressed down on the wound, and Dimitri yelled, but the pain took him into a darkness he was powerless to fight and left him only dimly aware of anything more than breathing. **** Rage put pressure on the shotgun wound to the Guardian’s chest, pressing on the crude bandage made out of his shirt. He made sure the blood stopped pouring out of him at least, enough to hold him until help could get to the man. He was sure they would come back for him. Things hadn’t gone as planned. He knew Renzo would show up eventually. He just wasn’t expecting him so damn early. He glanced around, making sure he was alone, but the way his luck had been the past few days, he wasn’t. One of the damn breeds was coming back, probably to finish off the kill. Rage rolled his eyes, pulled out his gun, and shot the damn thing right between its eyes. It couldn’t go back to tell Renzo what he’d seen. Rage didn’t need extra aggravation, not since things had gone sour, and Renzo had taken bright eyes. That was definitely not part of the plan. Rage was going to have to put on a new fucking show for Renzo once he got back, long enough to get her away from that fuck. “I don’t think you can hear me, but I’m going to say it anyway,” he told the Guardian. “She won’t die. That much I promise you. I’ll get her out, but I don’t know when or how. Fuck!” Double-checking to make sure the bleeding had slowed, Rage brought out his phone and called Denver.

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die if he doesn’t get help. The breeds are gone and have the girl. And check for a bug.” He hung up before Denver could say anything. Then he stood and walked away. “God Damnit,” he grumbled again. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” He looked back once more, making sure no more breeds were out there. Only when he saw a blond man in black leather running towards the fallen Guardian did he let out a sigh of relief. The man would live. Rage just had to make sure the girl did as well. **** Claudia paced the clinic, hugging herself, and rubbing her arms. Every few steps she glanced at the door, waiting for Dimitri to walk in. Her gut screamed that something was wrong. She was certain the mission had failed in some way, and he wasn’t going to be walking through that door. She couldn’t stop this nagging, stinging in the center of her chest and rubbed frantically at it. “Something’s wrong,” she said to the doctor when she walked past her. “I can feel it.” Lucan stumbled into the clinic. “Something … is … wrong.” He still had trouble talking and walking, but was slowly coming around, those blue eyes showing he knew way too much. Claudia opened her mouth to question him, but jumped when Shadow came bursting into the clinic. Her heart sank at the sight of her vampire limp in Shadow’s arms, blood soaked rag on his chest, and his face pale as the sheet. Hand over her mouth to still the screams, which almost erupted from her lips, shock kept her planted off to the side of the room, her eyes glued to Dimitri. Shadow placed him down on the bed and instantly Doc Ivy went to work examining the large hole in his chest. “What happened?” Ivy demanded as she went to work.

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“Breeds,” Shadow answered. “I was getting Denver out like we planned, and we were at the van when he got a call. Rage told him to come back and get Dimitri.” “Where’s Carissa?” Ivy asked, holding fresh gauze against the wound and reaching for the surgical pack. “Dunna know.” “What happened?” Ambrose came in with Julian right behind him. Claudia couldn’t move. She saw everyone, not understanding anything. Dimitri was shot; Carissa missing. That was all her mind could process. “Claudia!” Ivy’s sharp voice seemed to snap her out of the shock. “I need you to help me here.” Claudia forced herself to move over to Dimitri’s still body. She brought over one of the chairs, sat down on the other side of him, across from the doctor, her hand on Dimitri’s arm. “You can do this,” Ivy said, squeezing her hand quickly. Claudia nodded her head, took a deep breath to steady her, and worked the gloves on. She went to work, focused not on the fact it was Dimitri she was helping to fix up from the inside out, but a patient on the bed who needed attention. Claudia glanced over her shoulder very quickly. Another man, a human man came into the clinic with a bundle in his arms. “Julian,” he cried out, rushing to Julian who rushed to him. He handed over the bundle in his arms. Julian’s daughter! Claudia had to block them out and the rush of emotions at seeing Julian take his child. Her sole purpose was Dimitri. Period! He needed to get better. “Okay, I’m going to start working on these bleeders, you get all the metal. The damned slug fragmented,” Ivy told her. Claudia handed clamps and more gauze to her as she needed them. At the same time, she worked slowly and carefully at picking out all the small pieces of metal she could

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find. She didn’t hear the talking going on around her. Didn’t look to see who else might be in the room. All she did was think and concentrate on the job, which had been given to her. Ivy remarked, “That shotgun slug did a number on him.” “May I stitch him up,” Claudia asked. “Couldn’t think of a better person for the job.” Claudia looked up, and Ivy smiled. “He’s going to make it, Claudia. Just keep telling yourself that.” Ivy left her, and Claudia went to work on sewing up the large wound in the middle of Dimitri’s chest. She was halfway done when Lucan sat down in the chair, which Ivy had vacated. “It isn’t his…time yet.” She didn’t look up at him. If she did, then she knew she was going to lose it and break down crying. Lucan reached out and closed his hand over hers, stopping her from doing the last bit. The action urged her to look up at him. As she feared, the tears fell. “We all have a role to play,” he said softly. His new voice was deep like a man’s, as was his body and face. But those blue eyes of his held so much knowledge it had her shivering. “His has just…begun.” She sniffed back her tears, finished up the stitches, then cleaned, and put a fresh bandage over the wounds. She kissed him softly, lingering over his lips longer than she should have. When she stood up, preparing to cut away his ruined clothes, she saw Julian standing alone, watching her. A small bruise colored one side of his face. She’d heard Carissa hit him, knocking him out to stop him from following her. He smiled at her. One arm still held his daughter as the other opening up for her. Claudia didn’t hesitate. Undressing Dimitri could wait. She went right to Julian, taking the comfort he was offering. He sighed against the top of her head. “I’m so sorry, Claudia.”

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She held on tight, making sure not to crush the small bundle he still held in his arm. “I can’t lose him. I can’t.” “You won’t. Dimitri is a strong man. He’ll make it through this.” She sniffed and nodded before turning her face and looking down at the baby. “So this is Ziva. Hello, little one.” The small baby girl squirmed just a bit before snuggling up against Julian’s chest. “I think she knows you.” The baby gave a big yawn, but when Tempest walked in with Paris, her sister, Ziva opened her eyes and looked up at Julian. Claudia stepped out of his arm so he could take the other, and for the first time, Julian held both of his daughters in his arms. “You look very natural holding them,” Tempest remarked with a smile. Julian’s voice was unsteady when he answered. “And it feels very good.” Claudia didn’t stop smiling at the scene. Taking a few steps back, she left him and went back over to Dimitri. Lucan still sat with him, staring at Dimitri. “He will sleep…for awhile,” Lucan stated. “But your…news will bring…him back.” “News?” she frowned. “What news.” Lucan smiled at her. “You’ll see.” **** Dragged into a warehouse and drugged made fighting almost impossible. Bright light flashed, blinding her over sensitive eyes. Carissa’s feeble efforts didn’t stop them from putting her wrists in iron cuffs or pulling her heavy body up, dangling her with her toes a few inches off the ground. Helpless, but her head cleared quickly with her vamp metabolism throwing off the drugs. “You have a very nasty habit of showing up where you’re not wanted,” a deep hateful voice rang out, echoing off the walls. “And taking things not belonging to you.” “She didn’t belong to you!” Carissa yelled. “She belonged with her father!” When she tried to work her wrists free, her whole body swung.

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herself up, threw her legs around his neck and twisted. His neck snapped, and his body slumped to the floor. The speaker laughed. “A fighter. Good. You’re going to need it.” Carissa pinpointed where he was, coming down metal stairs, each step echoing louder. Renzo Ferrari slowly moved into her line of vision, close enough to block the light, letting her see. Cold, forbidding eyes glared at her. He presented himself as a leader, but deep down she could still make out the cold bloody killer inside. Hell, she could see it in his eyes. Renzo enjoyed killing, enjoyed the pain of others. In all her years, Carissa never hated one person, one man as much as she hated the one standing before her. She wanted to rip his throat out with her bare hands and simply watch him die slowly at her feet. She wanted to see his life extinguished; the light fading from his eyes. “I see how much you want to take me down.” With a nod he circled around her. “You’re the first female of their kind I’ve seen. Who’d have thought a woman could be a protector.” He finished with a snort, standing back in front of her. “Most of the females I have had in the past cringe and beg for mercy, but you.” He wiggled his finger in front of her face. “I don’t see you begging.” “Only to be the one to sink my knife in your heart,” she said through her teeth. The sound of a knife cutting through the air fluttered by her ear, and the sleeve of her coat split open, followed by a stick of a needle to her arm. Within seconds the room began to spin and sleepiness threatened to overcome her. Her eyes refused to focus, but Carissa fought to stay awake and get herself out of the mess she’d landed in. Going to sleep or passing out wouldn’t help her one bit. She felt as if she weighed a ton, and if not for the cuffs cutting into her flesh of her wrists, she might crumble to the floor. Her head fell back; she was just too damn weak to even hold it up. “I heard you were the best.”

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She willed her head to move and eyes to focus on the man sitting in a chair in front of her. “I think I’m disappointed.” “I’ll do better next time,” she said. Even her voice sounded drugged. He chuckled. “Oh, I’m not sure there will be a next time.” The chair scooted away, making a loud noise, which pounded in her head. “See, I don’t think you are going to walk out of here as easily as you walked in.” He laughed. “I forgot you didn’t walk in. My breeds carried you, so I know you’re not walking out.” She tried to look around but nothing would focus for her. “What did you give me?” She couldn’t even hold her head steady. She jumped when he whispered in her ear. Whatever they shot into her arm had dulled all of her senses. “Something special. I had it made especially for your kind.” Carissa shook her head, trying to clear off the haze. An arm came around from her back showing her a knife. He was behind her without her being aware of him moving. Then was when how helpless she really was dawned on her. A hand touched her chin, moved down her throat to the zipper of her vest. He cut it off, pieces dropping to the floor, and then cut the rest of her clothes away, leaving her only in her thin panties and a sports bra. “Do you think she can breed?” Renzo called out. Carissa turned her head, trying to focus on the other figure looking down at them from the second floor. “No,” came the answer, sounding from a distance and echoing off the walls. “Halfbreeds don’t breed. Like mules, they’re sterile.” “And how would you know?” “I’ve done my research.” “Pity.” Renzo walked back around to the front of her. “Such a fighter would make strong breeds. I guess information is all I’m going to get out of her. Let’s get started.”

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above her. She couldn’t make out more than the dark outline of his body before her wrists were freed. Falling hard to the ground, she was picked up, dragged away, and tossed in a cage. The door slammed shut, lock snapping into place. Caged like an animal, she was helpless to even stop them when they gave the cage a push, causing it to sway and twirl on the chain it hung from. **** Rage tamped down and buried his boiling anger, and worked to put no emotions on his face when Renzo walked back up the iron steps to stand next to him. He felt Renzo’s eyes on him and masked his face in preparation. He kept the detached expression in place, staring at the girl in the cage being turned by snickering breeds. He wanted so very much to shoot the bastards between the eyes and take her out of there. “She’s going to be tough to break,” Renzo stated. “Might be impossible.” Renzo snorted. “Nothing is impossible. She’ll break, or she’ll die.” Again Rage had to push back the need to beat the man to death. He took a deep breath, calming himself. “They’ll come for her,” Rage told him, watching her closely. “You know that.” “I hope they do.” Renzo rubbed his hands together and smiled, his eyes shining. “I look forward to killing them all.” Or they’ll kill you. Renzo’s face and voice hardened. “You know what happened?” “Umm.” Rage murmured. “Your son stole the baby and betrayed you.” He enjoyed the irony that both sons had betrayed him, though of course he didn’t say it. “He’ll pay for that.” “And how will you make him pay?”

Guardians 2: Forgotten Soul Renzo laughed. “Oh, you’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you.”

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Chapter Ten

Ambrose, it seemed to Claudia, got older in just one short week. The whole house seemed to change. The atmosphere became dark again, and no matter what Corbin or the other bloodmates tried to do, they couldn’t lighten things. Lucan got stronger every day. Shadow worked with him, as he did with Julian. Julian, even though he had his baby, was still determined to fight with the Guardians with a new reason, to get Carissa back. Claudia learned what Lucan meant about news for Dimitri. She was pregnant. Dimitri’s stitched wound healed, and yet Dimitri was still unconscious for no reason Ivy could find. Ivy had blood IVs hooked up to him, feeding him, making him strong, but for some reason he wasn’t waking up. And at the start of the second week, Claudia had enough of sleeping alone in a bed that was far too cold for her taste. She went to Lucan, hoping he could tell her why Dimitri didn’t wake. Lucan said Dimitri didn’t wake because he thought he had failed, that Carissa was dead, and that Claudia would be better off without a Guardian for a bloodmate. Not doubting for a moment that Lucan was wrong, his words made her want to storm down there and slap Dimitri awake. As worried as she was, she might even have tried that if Lucan hadn’t told her of a way she could get Dimitri to wake—feed him her blood, providing Dimitri again with a connection to her and possibly to hearing the heartbeat of his child. She dug into Dimitri’s drawers, found clothes for him and one of his pocket knives.

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Claudia picked daytime for her mission. Everyone was sleeping, including the doctor. She went up to his bed and dropped the clothes on his lap. Grabbing a chair, she dragged it over, sat down, and flipped open the blade of the knife. “Okay, here’s the deal,” she said to him. “I need you to wake up, and I need it right now. I’m lonely and very scared.” Pressing a fingertip on his chin, she opened his mouth, cut her wrist, and pressed on the cut, dropping blood into his mouth. Lucan said this would work, so it better! Closing her eyes, she pressed on her arm, forcing more blood from her veins. She wasn’t sure if it was working, until she opened her eyes and looked down at him. Claudia smiled. Eyes closed, Dimitri’s tongue licked, and he swallowed her blood. She leaned forward, pressed her wrist to his lips, and nature took over. His fangs sank into her, pulling, drawing more gulps of blood from her vein. Her chin quivered at his response, and she prayed that it was going be enough to bring him back to her. **** Like a fog being lifted, Dimitri felt himself coming back from the deep sleep. He could feel her heartbeat, taste the sweetness of her blood, and sense the love she had for him. His chest hurt like hell, but the silkiness of his bloodmates flesh against his lips was well worth any pain. Something else was there as well, something faint that he could hear and feel, an echo of her heartbeat. Something he never sensed before when he drank from her. Recognition hit him like a splash of cold water; Dimitri let go of her wrist and lunged up in bed. He looked at her and frowned, ignoring the pain. “Hi,” she said softly, touching his cheek, moving her hand to his hair. “I’ve missed you.”

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holding and hugging her tightly. He pressed his face into her hair and drew in her scent. The soreness in his chest couldn’t and wouldn’t dull his need to simply hold her, feel her breath upon his flesh, and take her scent deep into his lungs. “I’m sorry, Claudia,” he rasped out so low he didn’t even know if she could hear him. “So damn sorry.” “Well, look who has decided to wake up.” Ivy came over with a smile on her face. “I was starting to wonder if there was more going on that was keeping you out. I’m glad I woke up in time for this.” Dimitri straightened, but he didn’t let go of Claudia. “How long have I been out?” he asked. His throat was raw, but it wasn’t going to stop him from asking questions. “Too long, but then it was a gunshot wound. Those tend to knock you guys on your ass, especially shotgun slugs. I’ll call up and see if Corbin has anything he can send down for you to eat. And congratulations.” She turned and left. Claudia’s face turned red again. “I heard it,” he said. He placed his hand on her belly. “A baby?” Her face brightened, and she nodded. “You’re going to have a baby?” “We are going to have a baby,” she corrected. “Oh, man.” He rubbed his face. “How far along?” She giggled and told him, “Enough for it to have been the first night, my viral stallion.” She sighed and sobered, wrapping her arms around his neck. “God, you had me so scared.” “I’m sorry about that.” She sniffed and pulled back. “Well, I’m not going to waste my time telling you to not let it happen again. What I am going to say is don’t scare me like you did by sleeping like that. I don’t like thinking you’re never going to wake up.” Dimitri couldn’t help himself and smiled big. Claudia was the first to ever speak to him like that, outside the order that is, and he didn’t mind it a bit. He loved it.

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“Yes, Mama.” Before she could get too far away, he grabbed her wrist and jerked her onto his lap. He kissed her deep, moaning against her lips at the pleasure of having her in his arms again. “I really am glad I’ve bonded with you, Claudia Waylon. You make me very happy, and I look forward to the birth of our child.” Her eyes lit up, and she stroked from his forehead back through his hair. “Are you trying to say you love me then?” He smiled, kissing her again, “Oh, I love you very much. Heart and soul and I’m going to make damn sure you know that each and every night or day we are together.” Her face turned an even darker shade of red. “Then I best get you out of this bed so you can.” **** After spending some time with Claudia, Dimitri’s first objective was to find out what had happened while he slept. Hell, he didn’t even remember clearly what happened after he got shot. He went to Shadow in the computer lab for answers. “Renzo has her,” Shadow said. “There’s no doubt about it.” “But what has he done with her?” “Julian believes she’s alive. He says they have a connection, and he’d know if she’s dead. Lucan says she’s alive too.” Nodding, Dimitri understood how Lucan knew and didn’t question how Julian did. “I feel the same. If he still has her, how long can she hold out.” They all worried about that as well as whether she was alive or dead. Carissa knew a lot, and Dimitri would bet Renzo was going to try everything he could to get information on all of them, including the safe house location. “Denver’s been trying to get a hold of that guy, Rage. Nada. The guy hasn’t answered any of the calls.” “Whose side is he on?” Dimitri wondered out loud.

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the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “He got your daughter out safe,” Dimitri reminded. “Rage was there the night Serina died. He led the breeds that took her back to Renzo. He’d have killed me if not for Carissa. She stabbed him during the fight, so I can’t really imagine him helping her. Can you?” Shadow hooked his thumb towards Julian. “He has a point.” “So he does,” Dimitri agreed, but some memory he couldn’t grab a hold of about that night nagged at him. “Any ideas then?” he asked Julian. “Why don’t we take him,” Julian shrugged. “Sort of offer a trade. Him for her?” “Might work.” Shadow sighed. “But I prefer to take them both.” He smiled when Dimitri glared at him. “He’s bound to have info we can use. So why not?” Dimitri shook his head and stood. “You come up with a sound plan, and I’ll listen.” “Where are you going, mate?” Shadow asked. “Hey, I’m bonded now.” He smiled big at Shadow. “And she’s expecting. So I’m going to tend to my bloodmate. See you two at dinner.” Julian stopped him from walking out with a hand on his shoulder. “I never got to say thank you for getting my daughter back.” Dimitri met Julian’s gaze, eye to eye. “You don’t have to.” “Yes, I do. It almost cost you your life.” He smirked. “Then thank me by coming out of the Crossover alive. Hate to have to tell Carissa we killed you when she comes home.” Julian’s face softened, but he didn’t smile. “I can do that.” Dimitri walked away, heading for his room where he was going to get things ready for his bloodmate. My bloodmate. Man, I love the sound of that.

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He’d asked Corbin to fix up a special, high protein and calorie filled snack for Claudia. With pregnancy, she was going to eat even more than before and need less feeding from him. Opening the door, he smiled. He just couldn’t stop smiling now that he was bonded. Food was on a large tray on top of the covers on the bed. Claudia’s cravings started fast and were very strange. For one, she wanted steak and lamb all the time, and she wanted it very rare. The strange part of it all was she hungered for a chocolate dipping sauce for all the meat. Corbin made it for her. Every morning he fixed up a huge pot of it, so she had it ready all throughout the day. She also craved pancakes with lots of butter. When he opened the lid of the tray, he wasn’t at all surprised to find both the pancakes and meat. Just looking at it, he wondered what she was going to hunger for the farther along she got. “Okay, Ivy said you wanted me to—” Claudia talked as she opened the door, only to stop when she saw Dimitri standing next to the tray of food. “Oh, God, is that lamb?” she gasped. Her mouth opened and the tip of her tongue touched her lips, her eyes fixed on the food. He picked up a piece of the meat, dipped it in the sauce, and held it out for her. Claudia came to him quickly, taking the bite he offered and moaning with closed eyes. “Oh, I love you,” she mumbled with a mouth full. Dimitri chuckled, turned her around, and sat her down on the bed. “You know, I remember a time you were on your knees before.” He took her shoes off, followed by her socks as she ate. “It was a very sexy sight.” She stopped stuffing her face, frowned down at him, and her shoulders slumped. Quickly she chewed and swallowed. “I’m anything but sexy. I’m eating like a pig.” She tried to get up, but he stopped her. “You are eating like a bloodmate who is expecting,” he told her, picking up her foot, rubbing it. “And I find that very sexy. Care to know why?” She cocked her head to the

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side, arms crossed over her chest. Dimitri leaned up, took a piece of steak, dunked it, and put it in her mouth. “Because it’s my child, and you’re my bloodmate, and for the moment, I get to spoil you just the way I want to.” He got another piece of meat, repeating the process. “And I love you.” She smiled as she chewed. He took a deep breath and finished massaging one foot before going to the second. “You’re going to eat your snack, and then I have a nice hot bath planned to help relax you.” “Are you going to join me?” she asked, licking her fingers. Dimitri growled. “I want you to. Please.” “If that is what you want, then that is what you shall have.” He put her foot down and stood with the intention of heading to the bathroom. “No, I want to watch you undress first,” she said, stopping him. “I like watching you.” Her face brightened up when he handed her the belt from around his waist. “You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?” “Sure, I am.” She licked her lips. “I’m going to be very easy for you to take full advantage of.” Dimitri busted out laughing. He couldn’t help it. “Okay, Claudia. Let me get the bath started then I’ll come back out here and undress just for you.” He started the water, making sure it wasn’t too hot and went back out to the bedroom. He stopped in the doorway, smiling as he watched Claudia eat the meat. Boy, he couldn’t wait until she began to show. “Is it really that good?” he asked.

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She nodded, wiped her mouth, and stood up to stroll slowly, sensually toward him. “Very good, but not as good as you.” Her hand slipped between his legs, cupping his hard cock. She rubbed and Dimitri moaned. “I think your sexual drive has increased just like your appetite.” He lowered his head, kissing her until she pulled back. With a two-handed jerk from her the buttons of his leather pants opened. One hand pushed down his briefs, and the other curled around him. “Then I suggest you feed me both, and do it very often,” she said, giving him a shove into the chair. She knelt down and wrapped her lips around the head of his cock. Dimitri lost the power to breathe or think. All he was capable of was watching her and drowning in the intense pleasure she gave him. Unable to take all of him into her mouth, one hand wrapped around the base. The other cupped his balls, rolling and massaging them. That fast, he fought to hold back a climax. “Oh, shit,” he moaned, thrusting his hips forward slightly. “You’re killing me softly here.” She moaned back, the sound vibrating around his shaft, giving him tiny jolt sensations that raced up and down his spine to pool right at the head of his dick, heightening the threat to spill forth. When she pulled hard, flicking her tongue fast over the crest, he knew if he didn’t get her to stop right then he would come. With great regret, Dimitri pushed her back, took his cock from her, and stood. Claudia licked her lips, her eyes watching every movement as he undressed for her. “I never get tired of looking at your naked body,” she said, doing a slow strip for him. Dimitri waited until she had everything off, extended his hand for her to take, and led her into the bathroom where the bath awaited them. Claudia got in first. He followed, sliding down in front of her, drawing her legs to either side of him. Resting between his legs, she put her head on his chest, and sighed.

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positioned it as she rose up, and lowered herself down over him. He moaned into the kiss, gave her the lead, and held on for the ride. Water splashed out onto the floor with her movements, her eyes closed and mouth opened in bliss. Dimitri watched her love him, fascinated as always to do so. Never was there a more beautiful sight than what he saw in her face. She broke the kiss, arched her back, and took him deeper, harder. “Bite me,” she ordered. “Claudia, I—” “Please!” she pleaded. “Now!” Her brow wrinkled, he felt her orgasm coming. The convulsion struck fast, and he sank his teeth into her throat. Claudia screamed, her pussy contracting around his shaft. Dimitri moaned against her throat, gripped her hips, and slammed her down even harder upon himself. He swelled, exploded, and closed the wounds at the same time. Wrapping his arms around her body, he held her close. The spasms seemed to ricochet through him in unstoppable waves. He couldn’t control them any more than he could stop his heart from reaching out to her. Her head lowered to his shoulder, a content sigh left her lips, and the rest of her simply relaxed. Dimitri closed his eyes and slumped in the warm water, holding Claudia as she fell asleep. In the quietness, his thoughts turned to Carissa. She’s out there unprotected. Dimitri couldn’t shake the guilt. For so many years it had just been the two of them against the world. Now it was Carissa alone, and Lord only knew what might be happening to her. They needed to get her back. He knew her well, knew she wouldn’t tell any secrets. She’d die before she said a word to betray them. But how much time did she have before that might happen?

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“We’re coming, Carissa,” he whispered under his breath so he wouldn’t disturb Claudia. “Just hang on. We’ll find you.”

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Epilogue God, I’m hungry. Carissa was dragged out of the cage by two very strong breeds. Or were they humans? She couldn’t tell. Hell, she didn’t even know how long she’d been locked up away from everyone and starving. Time didn’t matter anymore. They kept her weak and drugged to a degree she could no longer tell if it was night or day. Carissa winced from the lights in the room they dragged her to. Since the night she was taken and the drugging started, she’d spent all her time in a cage in the dark. Once out, she couldn’t see for the brightness of the lights and could barely walk. Shoved roughly into a chair, she struggled for balance. Her eyes couldn’t focus, but her fingertips told her a table sat in front of her, and she could smell something she wanted desperately. Food! She could smell food, and she heard the clunk of what sounded like something hitting a plate. “You must be hungry.” She flinched when something slide across the table. “Eat.” She didn’t move. Her stomach grumbled, her mouth watered, but she couldn’t make herself eat the food, which was under her nose. “I’m not going to poison you. I’m trying to give you a chance against him.” “Who are you?” Carissa barely recognized her own voice. “Take a deep breath, Bright Eyes.” She jumped again when air moved against her ear. She hadn’t heard him walk up to her and didn’t know he had until he blew in her ear.

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“You know who I am,” he whispered, moving her hair over a shoulder, exposing her neck. His lips grazed her neck, moving back up to her ear. “You are the only one to ever leave a mark on me.” Carissa jumped up from her seat, stumbling back as far away as she could. She still couldn’t see shit and hitting a wall hard stopped her. “What do you want?” The damn bright lights in the room blinded her so much, but that time she sensed when he moved toward her. She made to move away, only to be grabbed by her arm and yanked back. His head blocked some of the light, and she was able to focus on the outline of his body for a split second, only long enough to make out his dark eyes and soft, brown hair before he moved to her side, the light blinding her again. “Listen and listen carefully.” He whispered low, right in her ear. “Once a week only I will be able to come to feed you, and you better take advantage of it. Renzo wants information, and he will break you to get it.” “I’m not afraid to die.” His hand closed around her throat, but he didn’t squeeze. Instead, he moved his thumb back and forth gently, as a lover would. “He won’t let you die. Only make you suffer and wish you could.” He forced her face to turn towards him. “I promised your partner that you won’t die. I never go back on my promises, Bright Eyes.” He shocked the shit out of her by kissing her gently on the lips. His tongue probed for entrance, plunging in when she gave a slight sigh. He deepened the assault, pressing his body against hers before pulling back slowly. A tiny lick to her lips followed a brush of his thumb to her lower lip. “Now eat,” he told her. “Renzo will be back for you in a couple of hours.” He pushed away from her and walked out. The second the door closed the lights went off, encasing her in darkness, darkness that she could see in.

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stuffed the food into her mouth as fast as she could. Later on, she’d think about the things he said and did. Right then she was going to eat and try to get some of her strength up, because he was right. She was going to need it.

To be continued…

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About The Author Jaden Sinclair lives in a small town of Kansa with her husband of fifteen years and two boys that keep her hoping. Between sports, running the household it’s a wonder at times how she is able to keep the flow of her writing going. But she does. She has many series in the works and out for your enjoyment, and most know her for the Shifter series. Between werewolves, vampires, sci-fi, new worlds, or simple romances, one never really knows what will come out next.

Authors Website www.jadensinclair.com Also available at Secret Cravings Publishing Forget Me Not (Guardians 1)

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Secret Cravings Publishing www.secretcravingspublishing.com