“Draga moja.” she whispered.
Alek was gone and he’d locked her from his mind.
Chapter Five
Alek had pulled his wrist from her before she took too much. He’d given her just enough to start her healing. Nowhere near the amount she’d need to become what he was.
“I’ve never seen you accept defeat so easily. Where’s that Big-Man-On-Compound attitude?”
Sitting just inside the doorway leading to the balcony, distracted by sunrise and the variety of sounds that accompanied daylight, he hadn’t heard or felt Case’s approach. Alek whipped around. “Not right now, man.”
“I remembered uttering those same words not long ago. Didn’t stop you.”
“Go to hell, Case. Where’s Tres?” He stood and walked out on the balcony.
“The Looking Glass, catching up with Holly. What’s up with the lady below?” Case came out and stood beside him.
“She’ll live. If Phoenix hadn’t been pissed at her and zapped her ability to vanish I wouldn’t be stuck with the fallout.”
“A man doesn’t buy the vintage champagne you did to share with someone he considers fallout.”
“What can I say, weak moment.”
“Let me see. A few things come to mind. Hanging out the out-of-business sign is one. The great, the mighty BMOC has gone down. Shit like that.”
“Screw you.”
“Yeah I think I used those words too.” Shrugging, Case said, “It’s not bad, you know. I like having a mate.”
They stood in silence looking over the arena.
Alek turned and rested his hip against the railing. “Don’t think she’s keen on having me as a mate. Her exact words to me were—’I’m not cut out to run on all fours’.”
“Convince her otherwise. Show her the joy and freedom of being both. Took us a while to get there ourselves so give her some time.”
“Why do the Fates fuck with us? We didn’t ask for this.”
“No one asks for trouble, man, but it comes sometimes. Meet it head-on.”
Walking back inside, Alek fell heavily into the overstuffed chair by the desk.
“Case, she knows about Nikol. I can’t be with her because Viv deserves a whole man, not the half-assed man I’ve become.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She needed strong blood to start the healing process. Royal blood. I gave it to her and it sort of aired my dirty laundry. She knows how I feel about him.” Leaning back in the chair, he rubbed his hands over his face.
“Alek, she’s a goddamn vampyre. Hell, she’s not going to give a crap about who you screwed, male or female.” Case chuckled. “If she’s your draga, and she is because her smell is seeping from your pores, I’d only worry about the next female or male you touch.”
“Her name’s Viviana.” Alek glared up at his longtime friend. “Talk about her like that again, I’ll rip your guts out.”
“Good. I made my point. Look, I have to go. Why don’t you bring her to the club tonight, have dinner with me and Tres?”
“No way, you’re not getting me to perform for you so you can get your jollies with your old lady.”
“Don’t call her old, I can still kick your ass. Though you do smell more and more like a… Wait, hold on.” Case leaned down and sniffed until Alek swatted him away. “Shit, man, you’re both cats now. I’ll be damned.”
“Something weird pulled it out of me yesterday morning. My life is a mess right now.”
“Smell better if you ask me.”
“Case, get out.” Alek sent a wave of energy that helped blast the other man into the atmosphere.
Son of a bitch. Now you think you’re the king of beasts.
Go to hell.
The warrior’s laughter lingered long after he disappeared.
Alek settled back in the chair. Could his friend be right? Vamps were different, a carnal group if ever there was one. Cats would do any female, hairy or not, but bloodsuckers would do anything, man or woman, when they were horny.
“Lord, maybe she’s been with other women.”
Blood heated and burned a path through his body. What would happen if he met one of her ex-lovers? If any bastard looked at her sideways he’d rip the heart right from his chest and shove it up his…
Oh hell, she was his draga. For sure.
He stood and paced, wearing a path across the floor.
Okay, how to convince her hairy was good? Think, Alek. How do you show her the beauty of being a cat?
The sun sat high in the sky and that meant she’d be dead to the world. Plus the injury weakened her. Being close, knowing Viv was okay, would help him think clearly.