One slender black claw began tapping against his cheek. “Really?”
He sobbed as the tendrils in his body pulsed, pouring poison into his system, ratcheting the pain up to nearly unbearable levels.
“I’m going to ask you again. Where is Shane Dunne?”
“Gone!”
The Hob shook his head, his eyes closing. “Oh, Jaden. And you were one of my best.” He tsk’d before opening his eyes to reveal Hell.
By the time the screaming died down to low whimpers the Hob had all the answers he needed.
Robin stared down at the sweaty and blood-soaked vampire on the ground. He actually felt some remorse for what he’d done to the man, but he had to be sure Jaden was telling the truth.
He hadn’t lied, and now Robin owed him. And the Hob always paid his debts.
He started by removing all of Jaden’s memories from the point he’d taken him. No need for him to remember what had been done to him. The wounds would heal on their own. Given enough time, the poisons would pass, the fractures would mend, the cuts and bruises disappearing after a good feeding. But time wasn’t something Jaden had at the moment. If Kaitlynn got her hands on him in this condition, the vampire didn’t stand a chance. And that would be Robin’s fault.
With a sigh the Hob slit his wrist and held it, dripping, to the vampire’s mouth. “Debt repaid.”
He deemed it enough when Jaden’s body began to glow. He was gone in a swirl of dust and wind before Jaden even had a chance to regain consciousness.
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75
Dana Marie Bell
Leo stared down at Ruby, sleeping so peacefully in his bed. She was curled up on her side, her breathing deep and even.
He swallowed. He couldn’t shake off the terror. “It’s been two days. She hasn’t woken up. Not once.”
His mother rested her hand on his shoulder. “Give it time, Leo. It was a very powerful bonding.”
“What if it was too much for her? What if she never wakes up?” He ran his fingers through Ruby’s hair, willing her to wake up.
“She’ll wake up.”
He sat on the edge of the bed, unable to leave his mate’s side even for a moment. “Has a human ever survived a bond this strong?”
His mother’s moment of silence only deepened his fear. “Her body is changing, Leo. Her energies are aligning with yours. She’ll share your lifespan. Some sleep is normal.”
“This much sleep?” He looked up at his mother, pleading with her to reassure him.
Aileen looked away, her eyes closing in pain.
Leo closed his own and prayed.
She’ll be all right. She has to be. Lord, please let her be all right.
Ruby sighed. She tugged at the comforter, frowning when Leo’s butt kept it from moving very far.
Leo jumped up, watching with joy as Ruby snuggled under the comforter. She pulled it up to her chin and settled back down.
He allowed his mother to tug him from the room. “Wake her in a few hours, Leo.” She grinned up at him, some of the worries of the last few days leaving her face. “And then wake her properly.”
He leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I will. Thank you, Mom.”
She nodded and left him to watch over his wife.
The scent of fresh-brewed manna from heaven wafted by her on the morning breeze.
“If you don’t wake up, I’ll drink your coffee.”
The demon’s threat filtered down into her caffeine-deprived brain and she groaned. One hand lifted weakly in the direction the wonderful aroma was coming from.
“That’s it, kitten, open those pretty brown eyes.”
The demon was laughing at her. Ruby opened one weary eye and glared blearily up at the Evil One.
She closed her eyes and groaned.
She could hear him blowing. The scent of the coffee went straight to her nose and filtered into her brain. “Cooo-fffeeeeee. C’mon, kitten, you can do it for coffee, right?”
76
www.samhainpublishing.com
Dare to Believe
“Gimme.” She lurched up and grabbed the mug, downing the entire contents in one very long pull, ignoring the sting of heat. She then, very precisely, put the mug on the end table and collapsed, all without opening her eyes. She pulled her pillow over her head. “Go ’way.”
Okay. The demon was definitely laughing at her. “If you get up I can get you more coffee.”
She pulled her head out from under the pillow and glared at him some more. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
She sighed, her natural sense of humor waking up. The caffeine moving through her system didn’t hurt, either. “Okay, fine, I’m up.” After a long, languid, full-body stretch she sat up, running her fingers through her tousled hair.
Leo wasn’t laughing any more. His gaze was riveted to her body, watching her stretch with a hungry expression. With a start she realized what kind of a show she was giving him. She also realized for the first time that she was stark naked.
“Oh, no. No, no, no. Not before two cups of coffee, at least.”