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  She ran to the well. Quickly, she drew her dagger from her belt and pushed back the hem of her sleeve. With one deft move, she slit her wrist and stretched her hand over the well. She watched her blood spill and when she was satisfied there was enough of it in the water, she drew back her hand and watched her cut heal and disappear.

  She heard a growl behind her and spun around. A dark haired woman dressed in a pale green gown stood behind her, her expression unpleasant as she ran a derisive glance over her. The hair at the back of Eve's neck rose.

  "You must be the new guest at the castle everyone is talking about. The one who saved Becca," the stranger said coldly, glancing down at Eve's wrist. "What are you doing?"

  "Nothing that should concern you." Eve did not like the woman.

  The woman's face hardened. "You're poisoning our well with your vampire blood, aren't you?"

  Eve narrowed her eyes. "It's not what you think. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. I suggest you leave and forget you saw me here."

  The woman's eyes shifted to amber and Eve clenched her fists. So she was a Lycan. If it was a battle she wanted, she was going to get it.

  "I'm sure Drago will be interested to know what you've done."

  Drago? Did all the villagers address the king in such a familiar manner? She stared at the woman and realised she had to follow her. The last thing she wanted was Drago thinking she was trying to kill his people.

  Pursing her lips, she followed the woman back into the castle.

  * * * *

  Drago's body went cold and he gripped the armrests of his throne. Nolan was talking to him, but he couldn't hear a word. It was Eve. He…he felt her. His heart thudded against his chest as he waved a dismissive hand at Nolan and staggered to his feet.

  "Your Highness, are you all right?" Nolan asked.

  Drago wasn't so sure. He was stunned at the powerful connection he was experiencing with Eve.

  "Your Highness?" Nolan asked.

  "It's nothing," Drago growled. "Leave me be."

  He sensed her approaching the Great Hall and his gut jolted violently. He stared at the door, his heart racing like a thoroughbred in his chest.

  He tensed his mouth as he stepped down from his throne's dais and stood with legs apart, hands clenched at his sides.

  She entered slowly behind Gretchen and her wariness ran across the room and hit him. She was nervous. Grim-faced, he strode to her and stared down at her beautiful face. Up close, she didn't look as wary as he thought. She looked uncertain, almost frightened. The thought didn't make sense to him. Frightened was a word he would never use to describe her. His gaze ran over her tight, leather garb and he frowned, wondering why she wasn't wearing one of the gowns he sent her.

  "Drago, I caught her at the well slitting her wrist," Gretchen began. "She was trying to kill us with her poisonous blood."

  The room grew silent and all eyes turned on them. Drago kept his gaze fastened on Eve. "Thank you. That is all, Gretchen," he said firmly.

  "She was tainting the well with her blood. The well is poisoned," Gretchen persisted.

  "I said that is all!" Drago thundered. "Leave us." He shot her a harsh look. Damnation, the wench was getting out of control. He'd known for months he had to break things off with her.

  "But, Drago, she was poisoning the water!"

  "No, she wasn't," he said, turning his gaze to Eve. One drop of my blood will cure her madness, she'd told him. She wasn't trying to kill his people. She was trying to help them. With every turn of his head, this woman was proving herself to be a champion, a hero. He would have never believed in a thousand years a vampire of her valour existed. He drew in a ragged breath, realising he had done a gross injustice to her, thinking she was evil. She wasn't. His instinct had been right when he showed her his tunnels. She was honourable, her integrity unquestionable.

  Gretchen released a low growl and left the Great Hall. Drago swept a dark gaze around the room and immediately his guards went back to what they were doing.

  Grimly, he returned his attention to Eve.

  She looked around the room, her expression nervous. "I…I didn't expect so many people here."

  Her expression gave way to fear and he frowned. She looked terrified. "Do not fear my guards. They all know you are our ally." She nodded, but the fear remained on her face. "Let us sit down."

  He saw her nostrils flare as she darted her gaze frantically around the room. "Can we…can we sit over there," she said huskily, pointing to his throne. It was the only isolated spot in the room.

  A dawning realisation struck him and he narrowed his eyes. "You do not fear my men," he said. "You fear your thirst."

  She gave him a look that was a strange mixture of fear, disgust and anger. "Yes." She released a strangled breath. "This is no good. I have to go. I'm sorry, but I'm not used to being around so many people." She took an unsteady step back. "I haven't…I have to…" Her expression flickered with suppressed emotion. "I'm sorry. I must go." And she turned and fled.

  Chapter Six

  What a fool she was! All the Lycan blood in the room made her dizzy with hunger. Dammit, why hadn't she locked into Gretchen's mind and removed any memory of them at the well? She choked back a rising sob as she ran down the long corridors. Where the hell was the exit, she thought frantically.

  Finally, she spotted a door and ran outside. A sharp stab in her gut made her wince with pain. Oh God, why did she put herself through this every single night? Prolonging her nightly feeding rite was only asking for trouble. And yet, she couldn't help it. She hated feeding. Even though the act gave her an exquisite rush of ecstasy, the remnant of her human self was still repulsed by it, even after four hundred years.

  She ran into the courtyard, past the entrance, to the perimeter of the grounds. The castle was atop a vast mountain and she inhaled deeply, looking down at the village below lit by torches and lanterns.

  Without another thought, she stared up at the night sky and sprinted into the air, flying over the village to a field past the town's edge. She landed firmly on her two legs and groaned, squeezing her eyes. Dammit, the pain was worse. She knew she could hunt for an animal in the village, but that was too risky. She didn't want to jeopardize a villager's life if she couldn't find a stray dog and her thirst consumed her. She'd have to find a wild animal past the fields in the forest near the horizon. Gritting her teeth against the hunger, she rose and sprinted high in the air, soaring through the flat fields.

  She prayed she was going to make it to the forest in time. After what seemed like forever, flying through the air, she caught a movement to her left and gasped. She landed on the ground and narrowed her gaze on the spot. A fox! Relief flooded through her veins.

  She was about to sprint through the air to catch it when her vampire hearing caught a rumble in the distance behind her. She spun around, stared into the darkness and froze.

  A massive Lycan was running at incredible speed towards her. Even from this great distance and with the absence of light, her vampire sight still made him out. He was over nine feet tall, with a smatter of hair all over his massive, muscular body. The only covering he wore was a dark loin cloth over his genitals.

  She bared her fangs and hissed at the approaching beast. The fox ran to safety and Eve hissed at the Lycan who stopped before her. Up close, he was even more terrifying. His jowls looked fierce enough to rip a stag in two and his amber eyes glowed ferociously. He was a monster.

  She was too weak to take flight, too weak even to run, but she stood her ground and hissed up at him.

  And then he shifted. The brows meeting at the bridge of his nose disappeared, the dangerous incisors faded away, the fierce talons withdrew. She stood there, dazed as she watched the muscular figure of a man take shape. It was Drago dressed only in a black loin cloth.

  Her breath caught as she ran her gaze over his body and when she stared up at his face, she froze. His expression was both astounded and furious. "Why didn't you tell me you fly?"

 
; "You never asked," she said before collapsing on the ground.

  * * * *

  He lowered himself next to her and gently lifted her on his lap.

  She lifted her blue gaze to his and said huskily, "How did you find me?"

  He ignored her question. The truth disturbed the hell out of him and he pushed it at the back of his mind. He ran his gaze over her face and frowned.

  "What is wrong?" he asked abruptly, fear making his nape tingle. "You look weak, paler."

  She licked her lips. "I…I need to feed." She glanced over his shoulder and squeezed her eyes. "Dammit, you scared the fox away." She winced, gasping in pain.

  "Eve, what is it?" He tightened his hold on her and shook her gently.

  She gasped for breath. "If I don't feed…I will die," she said faintly.

  He grimaced and lowered her gently to the ground. He looked around wildly. Dammit, he could have helped her if only she'd come to him. The cooks always had fresh meat being slaughtered and prepared in the kitchen for dinner. They were always washing blood off the counters and floor.

  Deeply concerned, he glanced at the open field. It was barren. The forest was nearby, but he didn't want to leave her alone while he searched for an animal. There was only one thing left to do. Grimacing, he looked down at her. All he saw were her daggers, her sword and a knife. Where the hell was her stake?

  "Are all of your weapons made of silver?" he asked.

  "What?" She blinked away her confusion until realisation lit her face. "No, you mustn't. Let me…let me die." She closed her eyes. "Please…I beg you…just take care of my daughter." She groaned as she clutched her stomach.

  He shook her. "Answer me!"

  "Yes."

  "Your stake," he said roughly. "Are you carrying it?"

  "Be…behind me," she said weakly.

  Without saying another word, he lifted her and felt behind her. The stake was strapped to her back. He pulled it free and laid her down. His heart hammered in his chest as her breath came out in short rasps. Clenching his jaw, he drove the stake through his wrist, twisted it to make a deep cut and pulled it out, tossing it behind him.

  Blood poured from his cut.

  Quickly, he leaned over her still form and placed his bloody cut over her mouth. "Feed," he said hoarsely.

  Her eyes flickered and she shook her head.

  Drago pressed his wrist on her mouth. "Eve, feed on my blood," he said thickly. "You will die if you don't."

  She opened her eyes and stared at him, her expression horrified. "I don't…feed on…humans," she said, her voice growing fainter.

  He grimaced. "You forget I am not human. Now, feed."

  She squeezed her eyes. "Dear God, forgive me," she said and grabbed his arm, pulling his wrist closer to her mouth as she began to drink his blood.

  Drago stared at her face. Slowly, her colour returned. She moaned with pleasure and he was taken aback by the sheer force of his emotions. Damnation, she was drinking his blood. The thought should have disgusted him, but it didn't. Slowly, his loins began to heat with each draw she took, with each suckle she made and his penis grew hard.

  Dammit, she was arousing him. He inhaled sharply through his nose, gritting his teeth. What manner of seduction was this that made him throb with intense pleasure and agonizing pain? He growled as he felt his body soaring to a place where he knew he would have no control. This ecstasy was more than he could bear and he gently tried to pull his wrist away, but couldn't. Eve had a tight hold on his arm and her euphoric expression told him she wasn't finished feeding yet.

  He threw his head back and roared at the white hot pleasure washing over him. Dammit, he was going to lose control!

  "Stop," he growled, but she continued to suckle his wrist. "Eve, I…said…stop," he groaned. If she didn't heed his warning, he was going to shred the leather from her limbs and drive his rigid penis into her warm folds.

  He sucked in a harsh breath. He'd never contemplated rape in his entire life. Holding on to his last shred of sanity, he grabbed her hair and dragged her head away from his wrist.

  He stared down at her serene expression, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Her eyes were closed and she brought up her hand and wiped the blood from her mouth. Slowly she opened her eyes and stared at him.

  "Thank you, Drago," she said.

  Chapter Seven

  He saved her life. Eve licked her lips, tasting the last drop of his blood and her heart raced. She wanted more of him, all of him. She licked her lips again and stared up at his dark, brilliant gaze.

  "Stop doing that," he said hoarsely.

  "Stop doing what?" she asked, but she already knew. She'd known the moment she drank his blood how aroused he was. How much he wanted her. She wanted him, too. She couldn't deny it. Not after what she'd done. Drinking his blood infused her with his life essence and bound her to him in a way that transcended logic. She was his on a level that surpassed the flesh.

  "Stop licking your lips," he rasped.

  For Drago it was still all about the flesh. He wanted to have sex with her. She could see it in his eyes, the way he couldn't tear his gaze away from her mouth. And lower, beneath his loin cloth, his rigid shaft that was pressing hard against her thigh.

  She rose slowly and Drago followed suit. He stared down at her upraised face.

  "How long have you been putting your healing blood in wells?" he asked abruptly.

  "Since I turned four hundred years ago and discovered my blood's power to heal."

  "You're four hundred years old?"

  "Yes."

  "And you've been curing people ever since without anyone's knowledge?"

  She stiffened. "Curing an illness will never make me human again. Please don't glorify my actions. Anyone in my position would do the same thing."

  "Would they?" His mouth tightened. "A vampire cannot control their thirst and yet you said you do not feed on humans. And tonight, you could have easily fed in my kingdom, but you came out here." He grabbed her by the shoulders and looked deeply into her eyes. "You're more human than you realise, Eve."

  "Let me go!" She struggled out of his hold and glared up at him. "I won't let you do this."

  "Do what?"

  "Make me…hope." He reached for her and she drew back. "You are a Lycan. You have a chance at living a happy life because you have a destined mate. I am a vampire. And vampires don't have soul mates. Leave me alone. Find someone else to pass your time until you find your one," she added on a rising sob.

  His face hardened. "I see. So that is what you think of me."

  Eve immediately regretted her outburst. Hadn't he taken care of Katya the past month with shelter, food, clean clothes and a warm bed? Hadn't he been gentle and kind with Becca in the well? "I'm sorry," she said quietly, her energy spent. "I…I know you've been kind to my daughter."

  His expression softened and he reached for her again. This time she let him gather her in his arms. She closed her eyes against the comfort of his embrace and felt an uncharacteristic rush of security.

  "What makes you think vampires are destined to be alone?" he asked quietly above her head.

  "I've been alone for four hundred years, Drago." She paused, inhaling shakily.

  "What of Katya's father?"

  She detected a hard edge to his tone. "He was a good man who came into my life when I was very lonely and needed to feel human warmth. I wanted to live like a human. I wanted to feel love. I was tired of death all around me." She drew in a shaky breath. "So I pretended to be human for a short while. Katya was the result of our first night together. I stayed with him in his home and managed to conceal what I was from him and the villagers. Everyone thought I suffered from an allergy of the sun and could only go out at night. I hated lying to them because they were all so kind to me, but the truth would have destroyed them." She paused. "Caleb died two years to the day of meeting him. One evening he was playing with Katya and his heart just stopped. The village healer said it was a heart attack a
nd there was nothing anyone could do." She paused, swallowing. "My blood cannot revive the dead."

  "I'm sorry."

  She looked up at him. "I'm grateful I met him. Otherwise I would not have Katya."

  "When did you tell Katya you were a vampire?"

  "When she was old enough to talk. It was our secret and no one ever found out. One evening, I went out to feed in the forest near our home. When I returned, I saw the devastation Balkathan's army of demons did to our village. If I'd been there, if I hadn't left, I could have done something…prevented some…" She couldn't speak.

  "You couldn't do anything, Eve. Don't blame yourself for what happened."

  "What do you know of what I felt? Drago, I could have saved some lives. I could have…have saved my daughter."

  His face darkened. "You could not save any villagers nor your daughter any more than I could have saved the queen." He paused. "After Balkathan's army turned my castle, two hundred years ago, the queen couldn't live with what she'd become. The Gods were on our side that night because we managed to drive his army away, but it came with a dark price. The queen went mad. She refused to speak to me or our son, Vasilis. She kept herself locked up in her private chambers. One day I found her on her bed with a silver dagger in her chest. She killed herself and there was nothing I could do to stop it."

  Horrified, she raised a hand to her mouth. "I'm so sorry, Drago. I didn't know."

  Grim-faced, he nodded. "So you see, I do know what you feel. I could have placed her under constant supervision. I could have had Hesta care for her day and night until she grew well, but I didn't. I…I didn't know how mad she had become until the very end." He gave her an unreadable look. "Do you miss your husband?"

  "We never married, but I do miss him. He was a kind man."

  "Do you love him still?"

  "I cared deeply for him, but I don't think I loved him. That part of me died when I turned all those centuries ago. I am not able to love."

  His face hardened. "You love your daughter."

  "That's different. I'm talking about the love between a man and woman."

  "I see."