Fractured (The Deep in Your Veins Series Book 5)(43)
“You must have some kind of limitation,” insisted Max.
“The rainstorms never last long,” Keeley reluctantly admitted. “It’s pretty tiring to keep them going.”
“But if Reuben amplifies her gift, we won’t have to worry about that,” Sam pointed out.
“Are you combat trained?” Chico asked her.
Keeley lifted her chin. “Enough to hold my own.”
“Does that mean you’re joining the battle?” Sam asked her. “If I didn’t need to concentrate on keeping up my shield, I could feed on the small amount of energy leaking from you and have your gift for a while. I’ve created a storm before, though it wasn’t a rainstorm. But I can’t concentrate on creating, sustaining, and containing a rainstorm when I have to focus on my shield.”
Keeley was silent for a moment. “I’ll join the battle.”
“You’ll have protection at all times,” Jared assured her.
I had one concern. “You can keep the storm under control?”
She nodded curtly.
“What happens if you’re hurt?” I asked. “Will it go out of control?” That would be seriously bad and possibly make a shit situation even worse.
“If I’m hurt or killed, it will quickly die off.”
Fair enough.
“When do you think the dragon shifters will come?” Sebastian asked Sam and Jared.
“As soon as The Order realises its members are being hunted,” Jared replied. “It will be the only way they can stop us from going after them.”
Ava kicked at the sand. “How will we know when they’ve figured it out?”
“When the squads can no longer find the members they’ve been assigned to kill,” said Salem. “It will mean they’re in hiding.”
“According to the register,” began Jared, “one of the vamps at the top of the list is a telepath. He’ll have psychically warned the others before he died. They’ll be angry, scared, and they’ll feel forced to move forward with their plans and kill all of us before we kill the rest of them. I’d say we have twenty-four hours at most before the dragons arrive.”
Sam nodded her agreement. “All of you go have a long rest and tank yourselves up on NSTs. Or, in Imani’s case, have a little munch on Butch. Meet us outside the mansion at dusk.”
(Imani)
Later on, I was snuggled into Butch’s side while he lay in bed, his fingers brushing through my hair. Deliciously sated, I was on the verge of falling asleep when he spoke.
“It’s at times like this, when there’s a battle coming, that I wish we were officially mated.”
Instantly awake, I blinked. “What?”
“If I hadn’t messed up a year ago, we’d have been together long enough for you to feel secure and so sure of my commitment to you that you’d have agreed to Bind with me by now.”
I knew that part of the reason he was worrying so much was that Jared had ordered Butch to personally guard Sam throughout the battle. Vampirekind knew plenty about Sam’s abilities, and The Order will have passed on that knowledge to the dragons. That meant that as soon as an energy shield covered the island and trapped them, they would know that the shield was hers. They would do their best to get to her. Butch’s shield would keep her safe while she concentrated on maintaining her own shield.
His strategic mind would understand and agree with Jared’s decision. But the rest of Butch was no doubt balking at the thought of parting from me during the battle. I’d promised him I’d stay close enough for him to see me at all times—not just to placate him, but because I didn’t want him distracted, wondering where I was. He still wasn’t happy about it.
“I know that’s not a reason to Bind with someone, but we both know that’s not why I want to Bind with you. It’s just a plus.” He tapped my lower lip. “But you’re not quite there yet, baby.” There was no judgement in his tone.
“It’s just that—”
“You need a little time to be sure I’m not going anywhere. I don’t blame you for it. I understand.”
“That’s not what I was going to say. It’s not that I doubt you. I trust you and I—”
“You don’t have to justify it, Imani, I’m not trying to pressure you. I walked away from you once before, so of course you’ll want to be sure it isn’t going to happen again.”
“That’s not it. If you’d let me speak, I could explain,” I said a little haughtily.
Lips twitching, he swept out a hand, inviting me to continue. Smart ass.
“Like I said, I don’t doubt you. I just find the thought of Binding a little...worrying.”
He blinked. “Worrying?”
“I’m not a full vampire anymore. I’m physically weaker than I was before. I bruise and I don’t heal as quickly. It’s why you and Paige are panicking about me being part of the battle. There’s really no such thing as immortality—anyone can die. And now that I’m a little vulnerable, I could die a lot easier. If I was mated to you and that happened to me, you’d die too.”
Eyes narrowed, jaw hard, he arched a brow. “Let’s get something straight. You are not rejecting the idea of Binding with me out of some misguided idea that it will protect me. No fucking way.”
“Butch—”
“If you want to make this about protecting me, let’s look at it another way. If we were officially mated, I’d be able to feel you through the connection; I’d know where you were, that you were alive, and I could help boost your strength. It would keep me sane in battle, which would mean I wasn’t distracted worrying about you.”
“Yeah, but—”
“And if we were mated, I’d fight harder, faster, and dirtier to keep you safe. And you would do the same, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course.”
His mouth curved smugly. “So your worries are pointless, baby.”
“It’s easy for you to say. If you thought mating with me would make me vulnerable, you would be just as hesitant as I am.”
“Yeah, I would,” he admitted instantly, not at all repentant. “And what would you say to me?”
That there was no way I’d let him refuse to Bind with me out of some stupid idea that it would help protect me. I’d be prepared to take the chance. I sighed, “Point taken.”
“Good.” He kissed me, his tongue licking into my mouth as his hand slid into my hair. “I hope you’re done fighting me on this. I want us to Bind. You’re it for me. There never has and never will be anyone who’s as important to me as you are. I know what it’s like to be without you. I know how much better my life is with you in it. Got no intention of letting you go again. As far as I’m concerned, you’re already mine. Binding would just solidify that.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” He lifted my hand. “I want to look at this finger and see a Binding knot that says you belong to me. I want a matching knot on my finger. Can’t say you’re getting a good deal here, but I’m not kidding, baby, I’m not letting you go again. Not ever.”
“Why would you think I’m not getting a good deal?”
“I’m a realist, Imani.”
Not when it came to himself, thanks to his past. “If you want, I can hunt Kylie and smack the bitch down.”
He chuckled, dragging me on top of him. “I’m not sure she’s even alive. If she is, she’ll be in her seventies by now. Anyway, she probably messed up her own life. But the gesture is appreciated.”
“I don’t think you realise that I’m completely serious.”
“What I think”—he flipped us so that I was beneath him—“is that we should forget about her.” He sucked at my pulse, making my inner muscles spasm. “And you should lie there like a good girl while I pound you into the mattress.”
“So romantic.”
“Ain’t it though?”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
(Imani)
I’d spent years of my vampiric existence in hiding, so I was no stranger to it. But I’d never liked it. Never liked that feeling of not facing danger head-on. I supposed it went against a vampire’s predatory nature to hide. The only reason I wasn’t mentally bristling now was that this time I wasn’t running from the danger that was coming. I was simply tricking it.
Concealed among vine-covered trees with Butch and David on either side of me, I waited impatiently for the dragon shifters to arrive. We knew they were close because a certain member of the legion was able to sense when danger was approaching—he could even estimate how long it was before that danger arrived.
It seemed like hours ago that Jared had telepathically sent out a five minute warning, but it couldn’t have been longer than a few minutes.
Where were the fuckers?
I didn’t realise I’d said that aloud until Butch looked at me. “They’ll be here soon,” he whispered into my ear. “Remember, don’t go far. Be vigilant. I need you to stay alive for me.”
I kept my voice just as low. “I need the same from you, so watch your ass.”
His mouth kicked up in one corner. “I’d rather watch yours. It’s hotter than mine.”