Nicolae rested his brow gently against Destiny’s. “She is a fighter, Vikirnoff. If anyone can beat this, she is the one.”
“You do not object to my giving her blood?” The question was put mildly.
Nicolae shrugged his powerful shoulders as he looked down at the face of the woman he loved. “I will give her all I can; you will have to replace my blood as you have done so many times. It is one and the same. She has a need, and we can do no other than to meet it.” His fingers flexed in Destiny’s hair, crushed the silken strands in his fist. He wanted to take her away from this place, back to his homeland, where the healers and the soil would have a chance to work their magic on her.
You have always been my magic. I have no need of others.
Her voice came out of nowhere, brushed at the walls of his mind like gentle butterfly wings. His gut clenched in reaction. His heart rolled over in his chest.
It is about time you admitted it. Well, don’t get a big head or anything. I still think you’re annoying.
That sounded so much more like his Destiny that he breathed a sigh of relief. He felt the sweep of her tongue, closing the pinpricks on his chest.
You have not taken nearly enough to replace the blood you lost, Destiny. I feel you growing weaker. Go hunt. I can wait.
A ripple of pain went through her body, a certain sign that she was waking. Her eyelashes fluttered, two thick crescents that lay like feathery fans against her pale skin.
Nicolae bent over her, brushed his lips across her eyes. He trailed a series of kisses along her cheek-bone, down the line of her small nose, then lingered by the corner of her soft, curving mouth.
You’re taking advantage. I’m too weak to resist. No, you are not. You do not wish to resist. Maybe you’re right. But if you are, it’s because you mesmerized me while I was unconscious. It has nothing to do with the way you smell. Or the sound of your voice. Or the way your mouth is so perfect.
Nicolae teased her lips with his, rubbing gently, persistently until her lips moved under his. Softened. Accepted. He took her breath. Gave her his.
Destiny gasped, muffled a groan of pain, buried her face against his chest and held herself very still. “I’m sorry, it slipped out. It isn’t that bad.” The weakness was almost worse than the pain.
His hand stroked gentle caresses through her hair. “I know it hurts, Destiny. You need to go to ground and allow the earth to heal you. Vikirnoff and I will take care of your people.”
“You’re not at full strength. You gave me too much of your blood.” Her voice was barely audible, even with his acute hearing. She opened her eyes to study his pale face. “Go feed.”
There was too much pain in the depths of her eyes. “I thought I would just hold you for a while. I am not certain I will ever get the chance again. For once in your life you are being cooperative.”
A small smile lifted her mouth. “Is that what I’m doing?” She winced as she shifted to get a better look at him. “I bet I look great.”
His eyebrow shot up. “You look beautiful.”
“I knew you’d say that. You’re such a liar. Please go feed, I don’t want to have to fight any more vampires tonight, and you’re not in any shape to kick butt.”
“You could not fight your way out of a paper bag,” he pointed out.
“Hey! I destroyed my vampire,” she said softly, her hand going to her raw throat as if it hurt her to speak. “What did you manage to do?”
“I bagged two of them. Vikirnoff took out his, although he should not have done so.” Nicolae spared a quick glare for his brother.
“Do you have to do that? Is it a man thing or something? I’ll admit I don’t know much about men, but it’s so annoying.”
Nicolae leaned closer, took her hand away from her throat because he couldn’t bear to see her fingers fluttering helplessly there. She looked so vulnerable with her pale face and her torn body. “Have to do what?”
“One-upmanship. I kill one, you have to kill two. The big bad hunter flexing his muscles. It’s annoying.”
“You are not going to whine simply because I have superior hunting skills, are you?” He rubbed her knuckles along his jaw, wanting the contact. Needing to show her what he felt too deeply to say. “It did not occur to me you would whine.”
“It’s hardly whining to point out how annoying you are. And you aren’t superior, just luckier.” Her voice was husky, sounding far away, but she was grateful she could talk.
“I hesitate to mention I am not the one in need of healing.”
“You don’t seem all that hesitant to me. You pointed it out just fine. I’m sure your brother heard you.” Her impossibly long lashes drifted down to cover her uniquely colored eyes. She turned her face toward him so that her lips brushed the back of his hand where he was holding hers. “Did you know that there are laws against stalkers?”