“For you.” Abaddon nodded. “Now, you must feed.”
One of Abaddon’s men brought in a chair so that his Master could sit. One of Demetri’s men brought one in for Justin. He wobbled slightly, and Demetri helped Justin ease down into his seat before Justin’s breathing hitched slightly. Even though Demetri had just fed him, Justin was starting to feel worse again. His father had been right. As badly wounded as he was, Demetri’s blood wouldn’t have helped. Already the burns and multiple holes in his body were starting to worsen. Justin felt the painful throbs intensifying.
Abaddon slipped his suit jacket off and rolled up his sleeve, seeming no nonsense and professional. He sliced his wrist with a long and sharp nail before he offered his arm to Justin. “Drink so that you may heal, young one.”
Justin glanced over his shoulder at Demetri, trying to convey in his eyes that this had to be done, that they had no other choice. Demetri nodded as he began to pet Justin’s hair, giving Justin the comfort he so desperately needed. Turning back around, Justin wrapped his fingers around Abaddon’s arm, mentally noting that this was the first time he’d touched his father. He glanced up at Abaddon to see a tender smile on the vampire’s face.
Justin pressed his lips to the wound and began to drink. Within seconds his tissues felt revived, and the pain of his wounds eased. Something hard pressed against Justin’s shoulder, and soon the lodged bullet worked its way out and clattered to the floor. The holes in his back and chest stopped aching, and his ribs felt better, allowing Justin to breathe with ease. His skin no longer felt crispy and torturous. The painful pull of the tight skin and the agonizing razor-sharp pulsing pain eased.
But something else happened as well. He didn’t understand what was going on at first. Images began to fly through his mind at a rapid rate, but he couldn’t make sense of anything. He tried to grab on to one, but another flew by in his mind, and he lost focus.
Abaddon’s memories.
They slowed enough for Justin to see his father’s life spread out before him in large snatches. He saw his father as a boy, running through a forest at night. His father a little older, riding a horse. So many memories that Justin was stunned that he could keep up.
And then he saw a woman with dazzling blue eyes and blond hair. Justin blushed when he saw them making love. He felt as if he were prying where he shouldn’t belong, but he had no clue how to shut the image out. In his heart, he knew this was his mother.
She was breathtaking.
And then the image was gone, and he could see Abaddon crying out in rage when he found her gone. He tore an office apart, his fangs extended, his eyes the color of crimson. Abaddon had truly loved her. He saw and heard his father giving someone instructions to find his child at all costs.
But Abaddon had never found him until a few weeks ago.
Justin pulled back, licking the wound before he gazed up into his father’s eyes. “You really did look for me.”
“I never stopped.” Abaddon brushed his knuckles over Justin’s face as a tender smile surfaced. The man was truly gorgeous.
“King, we have to get Elron out of here. He’s almost impossible to contain,” one of Demetri’s men said as he stepped into the hall. He gazed at Justin and then Abaddon and finally to Demetri, his eyes quizzical.
“Time to go.” Demetri helped Justin to his feet, but Justin felt better than he’d ever felt before. Sounds were sharper. The colors all around him were more vivid. And the smells. Justin could scent the trees surrounding the grounds, and Demetri’s scent was a hundred times more potent. He glanced down at his arm. “We really do need to get this cast off.”
One of Demetri’s claws extended, and he made a precision slice down the hardened plaster before pulling the cast apart. Justin chuckled as he wiggled his fingers. His arm felt as light as air. “Thank goodness.”
“So easy to please,” Abaddon and Demetri said at the same time.
Demetri narrowed his eyes at Abaddon before he escorted Justin to the door. Justin yelped and felt himself flush as his lover picked him up and carried him into the darkness outside.
There was a large truck waiting, reminding Justin of an armored car. Six men were surrounding it, rifles in hand. The truck swayed, and Justin heard loud roars. He glanced around and then asked, “Where’s Caleb?”
“Here.” Caleb stepped around the armored car, and Justin wanted to jump for joy to see his best friend’s face. He didn’t care if Caleb was mad at him. He raced toward Caleb and threw his arms around the man. “Easy, J. You’re going to break my damn bones.”
Justin chuckled. “Sorry.” He looked Caleb over, but his best friend didn’t look any worse for the wear. “I was so worried about you.”