Damn vampire speed!

With her next breath a sob dislodged from her chest.

“I’m sorry, Nina,” Delilah’s voice came from the floor. “Give him some time. He’ll figure it out. You planted some doubts in his mind. He’ll come back.”

She turned to her and watched her sit up. “Eddie has always been a stubborn kid. I think he’s turned into one hell of a stubborn vampire.”

Thirty-five

Amaury carefully slid the silver dagger into its sheath and strapped it to his hip, before he looked back at Samson. They were gearing up in Samson’s basement arsenal. The others were busy loading up the vans with everything they’d need.

“I don’t think it’s any of your business if I’m communicating with my mate.” He would not be censured by Samson, no matter what. That Nina had so far thwarted all his efforts to get in touch with her was beside the point. If anything, it made it even more important that he should get through to her, to make sure she was alright. Maybe she didn’t know yet how the telepathic communication between blood-bonded mates worked and was confused.

In the sleepless hours he’d spent waiting for sunset, he’d been going through scenario after scenario of why she didn’t reply to him. For his own peace of mind he’d settled on the one where she was unaware or confused about the skill and didn’t know how to apply it.

“It’s my business when she could jeopardize the rescue mission. If you give away what we’re planning, you’re putting Delilah in danger. Is that what you want?” The warning tone in his friend’s voice gave him pause.

“You know full well that I would never do anything to put Delilah in danger. But Nina is my responsibility. I love her.”

The realization sank in deep. Love? Was it possible after all these years, even with the curse? Had he beaten it? How? There was no rhyme or reason to it other than the knowledge that it was the truth. He loved Nina. Loved her beyond the bond, the lust, the sex. His heart felt too big for his chest, as if it had expanded, enlarged to make space for her. The warmth spreading within it extended throughout his body, seeped into every cell and tingled on his skin. Amaury was in love.

“If you loved her, you wouldn’t have bonded her without giving her a choice,” Samson snapped.

Fury reared in Amaury. “What are you saying?” A tiny twinge of something he couldn’t identify flicked through his stomach, but was gone just as quickly. He took a step closer, almost butting heads with Samson.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Why don’t you tell me?” Amaury surprised himself with the menace in his tone. His loyalty to his old friend was overpowered by his love for Nina

“You didn’t tell her what the blood-bond entailed. Nina had no idea what she was getting into.”

“That’s not true.” Samson’s accusation stung. At the same time, a little ball of guilt settled in his gut.

“If it’s not true then why was Nina so shocked when Delilah made a comment about your blood-bond to her? And why do you think Nina is so pissed at you?”

Pissed? She was upset with him? Was that why she hadn’t replied to his telepathic calls?

“You can’t be serious,” Amaury tried to deny his friend’s statement.

Samson nodded and gave him a hard look. “Delilah told me Nina didn’t know you were blood-bonding her. You did it without her permission.”

Amaury took a step back and braced himself against the wall. “But I asked her. I told her.” He had—well, he’d sort of asked. It hadn’t been that explicit, but he was sure she’d understood.

“What exactly did you say?” Samson’s voice was calmer now, more controlled.

“I asked her if she wanted to be mine, and I told her I would be hers.”

Samson tsked with disapproval. “And from that you thought she’d get that you wanted a blood-bond?”

Amaury’s heart contracted painfully. He’d been so sure about her that night. The way she’d looked at him, how her eyes had gazed at him with longing, with want. She’d begged him to take her blood, and there’d barely been a hesitation when he’d asked her to drink his. Nina had wanted him, he was certain. They belonged together, they were right together. This was no misunderstanding. It couldn’t be.

“But she wanted me. She …” His voice trailed off. Maybe she’d wanted him last night, but for how long? This couldn’t be happening.

Amaury felt his friend’s hand on his shoulder and looked into his concerned face. “You are aware that she can bring this up to the council.”