The Vampire's Love (14 page)

He didn’t
respond and fear shot through her.  She shook him roughly and he groaned
again.  “Look at me, my love!”

His eyelids
fluttered open and he stared wearily at her.  “Little dove?”

“That’s
right.  You must feed, my love.  Go on.”  She pressed her throat
against his mouth.  When he didn’t bite her, she took his hand and
squeezed it lightly.

“Please, I
want you to feed from me.  Please.”  She whispered.

For a
moment there was nothing and then her back arched and she gave a soft cry as
Val’s fangs sunk into her neck.  He drank greedily and she closed her eyes
and squeezed his hand again.

The smell
of burned flesh was receding and her eyes flew open when Val suddenly flipped
her on to her back.  His flesh and bones were beginning to heal, and he
gave her a brief, haunted look before bending his mouth to her neck and drinking
again.

She arched
her back, feeling lust and need flowing through her as Val drank deeply. 
When his hand cupped her breast, she moaned softly and clutched at his
waist.  Her desire was ebbing away as her body grew weak, and she pushed
tiredly at Val’s chest.  He growled and pinned her hands down before
continuing to drink.

“Please.” 
She whispered faintly.

Val, his
pulse pounding in his ears, barely heard her whispered plea.  Abigail’s
blood was flowing through his veins, it tasted sweeter and thicker than he
remembered, and as it healed his body he sucked eagerly at her neck.  He
wanted to fuck her senseless, he wanted to bury himself in her body until she
was screaming his name.  He squeezed her breast again and when she didn’t
respond, panic fluttered through him.  He tore his mouth away from her
neck and stared at her face.  She was very pale and her eyes were closed,
and he bit back his cry of anguish and stroked her face gently.

“Little
dove!  Open your eyes!”

She blinked
hazily at him before smiling.  “You’re better.”  She whispered as her
eyes slipped shut again.

Val rose to
his feet.  He was nearly vibrating with power from Abigail’s blood and he
studied the vampires in the room.  He wanted to kill them all, he wanted
to rip their heads from their bodies and watch as they burned and –

“Feeling
better, Lord Joven?”  Darius inquired.

Val forced
himself to relax.  He could not kill all of them and protect Abigail at
the same time.  She was unconscious on the floor and, ignoring Darius and
the others, he lifted her and carried her out of the room.

Abigail
stretched and rubbed at her face before opening her eyes.  Val’s face was
directly above hers and she gave a startled little yelp as her heart jumped in
her chest.

“Jesus,
Val!”  She muttered as she rubbed at her chest.  “Don’t do that.”

“How do you
feel?”  He asked anxiously.

“I’m tired
but I’ll be fine.  What time is it?”

“It’s early
evening.”

She blinked
at him in surprise.  “I slept all day?”

“Yes.”

“Well,
shit.”  She muttered.  It had been her plan to kill the shifters
guarding Wesley and Evan this morning and put into motion their rescue. 
She’d fucked up.  Of course, she hadn’t planned on having to save Val’s
life last night.  She sat up and leaned against the headboard of the bed
as Val left her side and returned with a tray of food.

“You must
eat, little dove.  Eat lots.  You need to regain your strength.”

She needed
no urging.  She was starving and she ate ravenously as Val sat on the bed
beside her.  She ate her fill and then covered her mouth with
embarrassment when she burped loudly.

“Sorry.” 
She flushed as a small smile crossed Val’s face.

“Drink.” 
He handed her a large glass of water and she drank all of it obediently.

Violet
hovered beside her and Abby smiled at the pixie.  “I’m fine, little
one.  Just tired.”

“I’m sorry,
little dove.  I should not have taken so much from you.”  Val said
hoarsely.

“You had no
choice.”  She said steadily.

He reached
out and stroked her dark hair.  “Why did you let me feed from you?”

“Because
you were dying.”  She replied calmly.  “And because I love you.”

He gaped at
her.  “Little dove, you – you do not love me.  I am not who you
believe me to be and – “

“I was awake
when you and Jaxen were speaking in our room.”  She interrupted
quietly.  “I know exactly who you are and the loss you have suffered.”

He felt
like the breath had been sucked out of him and he knew he looked ridiculous
simply staring at her with his mouth wide open, but he couldn’t think of a
response.

She crawled
out from under the covers, nestling her body into his and wrapping her arms
around his neck.  She kissed his throat softly and smoothed his hair back
before whispering into his ear.  “I know you do not love me and never
will.  I know your heart will always belong to Karena, and I’m sorry that
your father took her from you in such a terrible way.”

“Abigail –
“

She shook
her head and kissed his mouth.  “No.  It’s alright, Val.  You
care for me deeply, I know that.  It’s good enough.”

She slipped
her hand inside his shirt and rubbed his hard chest.  “Make love to me,
Val.  I need you.”  She whispered.  She kissed his neck again,
licking and sucking lightly as she stroked his warm skin.

Val stared
blankly at the wall in front of them.  He was reeling from her admission
of love and he barely felt her gentle touch.  His mind kept returning to
her words, kept hearing the steady sound of her voice and the look of surety in
her gaze when she said she loved him.  She loved him.  Despite what
he was, what he had done, she loved him.  He had insulted her, had nearly
killed her twice from drinking her blood, and acted like a spoiled, jealous
child whenever anyone looked at her, and she still loved him.

“Val?”

“Yes?” 
He croaked.

“Are you
okay?  Your heart is really pounding.”  She traced her fingers over
his chest and he captured her hand before bringing it to his lips.

“Your touch
does that to me, little dove.”  He whispered.

She smiled
before kissing him lightly on the mouth.  “I need you.”

“I need you
too.”  He replied.  He cupped her breast, stroking her nipple gently
with his fingers until it hardened, and she squirmed closer until she was
straddling him on the bed.

“You should
rest more.”  He muttered but his hand was already slipping beneath her
short skirt.

“I’ll rest
after.  Oh!”  She gasped as Val rubbed her pussy with his warm
fingers.

“Are you
sure, my dove?”  He groaned.  “I do not want – “

There was a
loud knocking on the door and Abby jerked in his arms when it opened and Tavien
stepped into the room.

He eyed
them closely.  “Forgive me, Lord Joven.  I did not mean to
interrupt.”

“You are,
so get out.”  Val snapped.

“Of
course.”  He smiled benignly at him.  “But first, a gift from Lord
Darius.  As an apology for last evening.”

He reached
into the hallway and pulled a young woman into the room.  She was short
and slender with curly blonde hair that brushed her shoulders and she was
dressed similarly to Abby in a tiny skirt and see through top.  Her eyes
were a light green.  They were wide and frightened looking, and Abby could
see the shine of tears in them. 

She made a
soft moan of terror when Tavien tugged lightly on her curly locks.  “Lord
Darius asks that you accept his apology and take this slave as a gift.”

“No.” 
Val said harshly.

Tavien
frowned at him before rubbing at the birthmark on his cheek.  “You would
deny your host’s very generous gift?  The girl is young and
untouched.  She has a timid nature and will train easily as your pet.”

He stroked
the woman’s face lightly and when she twitched away from him, he struck her
harshly across the face.  She cried out and stumbled into the wall as Abby
slid from Val’s lap.  He caught her by the arm and she gave him an
impatient look that he ignored.

“I have no
need for a second pet.”  Val said.  “Tell Lord Darius I am,” he
paused and gave Tavien a sarcastic look, “touched by his eagerness to make
amends but that the woman is unnecessary.”

Tavien
shrugged before grabbing the woman’s arm and squeezing it tightly.  “Very
well.  I will inform him of your decision.  Come, girl.”  He
grinned down at her and the woman made another moan of terror at the sight of
his fangs.  “It seems it will be my bed you warm tonight.”

“My
lord?”  Abby stroked Val’s arm in a conciliatory manner.  “It would
please me greatly if you took the woman.”

He frowned
and she gave him a sweet look.  “Please, my lord.”

He stared
silently at her for a moment before nodding.  “Very well.  We’ll take
her.”

A look of
disappointment flickered across Tavien’s face but he dropped the woman’s arm
and pushed her further into the room.  “Will you be joining us in the
common room this evening, Lord Joven?”

“I have not
decided yet.”  Val said tersely.  “I’m sure Darius will understand
why.”

Tavien gave
him a brittle smile before leaving the room.  He closed the door firmly
behind him and the woman pressed her back against the door and stared with
fright at Val.

“What are
you doing, Abigail?”  Val asked.  “I do not need another pet.”

“Tavien is
cruel.  I couldn’t leave her with him.”  She scowled at him as he
sighed harshly and walked toward the woman still cowering against the door.

The woman
held her hands up, they were shaking badly, and began to cry.  “Please
don’t hurt me.”

He sighed
and rolled his eyes as Abby pushed past him.  She smiled gently at the
girl.  “It’s alright.  No one in this room will hurt you.  I
promise.”

The woman
stared at the holes in Abigail’s neck as more tears slid down her cheeks. 
“Please don’t let him bite me.”

“He
won’t.”  Abigail soothed.  She stepped a little closer and held her
arms out.  “Come here, honey.  You’re safe.”

With
another frightened glance at Val, the girl stepped into Abigail’s embrace and
hugged her tightly.  She buried her face in Abby’s neck and sobbed
quietly.

“Shh, don’t
cry.  It’ll be okay.”  Abby stroked her hair and rubbed her back as
Val rolled his eyes again and stalked over to the fireplace.  He sat down
and closed his eyes as Abby tugged the girl back gently.

“What’s
your name, honey?”

“Sara.” 
The girl whispered.

“That’s a
pretty name.  How old are you?”

“T-twenty.” 
She stuttered.  “Please, don’t let him bite me.”

Val snorted
loudly and, without opening his eyes, said, “The girl is a frightened
mouse.  She won’t last a week on her own, and once we leave here I am not
keeping her.  You should have given her to Tavien.  At least then she
would have a roof over her head and food in her belly.”

“Enough, my
lord.”  Abigail said sharply.

She wiped
at the tears on Sara’s face.  “Don’t pay any attention to him.  His
bark is worse than his bite.  Trust me.”

The girl’s
face paled even further and Abby groaned loudly.  “No, no – it’s just a
saying.  I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that he’s going to bite you.  He
won’t.  Please believe me.”

She tugged
the woman toward the bed and urged her to sit down before sitting next to
her.  She took her hand and squeezed it gently.  “My name is Abigail
and that is,” she paused, “Lord Joven.”

“It – it is
nice to meet you.”  Sara said timidly.  Her eyes kept flickering to
Abby’s throat and Abby touched the holes delicately before smiling at her.

“He feeds
from me because I want him to.  You do not, so he won’t.  Do you
understand?”

“Yes.” 
Sara replied softly.

“Good. 
Now, do you have any family?”

“No. 
I had an older brother but he was killed by Darius’ men when they took our
village.”  She made a watery gasping sob and Abby rubbed her slender arms.

“I’m sorry
for your loss.  I know you are frightened and I know – “

Sara
inhaled sharply as Violet poked her head out from Abby’s hair and stared
curiously at her.

“You – you
have a pixie!” 

“Yes. 
Her name is Violet.  She doesn’t speak.”  Abby replied.

Violet,
wings fluttering gently, flew to Val and landed on his knee.  He didn’t
open his eyes and she climbed up his body before pinching his lower lip.

“Enough,
bug.”  He growled.

She pinched
his lip again and when he opened his eyes and scowled at her she grinned widely
and stuck her tongue out at him. 

“Remind me
again why I have not simply squashed you under my thumb?”  Val asked.

She turned
and wiggled her ass at him before quickly kissing his lower lip and flying back
to Abigail and Sara.  She hovered in front of Sara and Abby smiled. 
“You see?  Even the pixie is not afraid of him.”

Val scowled
at Abby.  She winked at him as Sara held her hand out hesitantly. 
After a moment, Violet landed on it and Sara lifted her to her face to study
her more closely. 

“Hello,
Violet.”  She whispered.

Violet
waved at her before leaning forward and sniffing curiously at Sara’s
face.  She flew from her hand with a sudden whirring of wings and landed
on her shoulder before touching the curly blonde hair.  She pulled on a
strand of her hair, straightening it out and then grinning delightedly when she
released it and it sprang back into a tight curl.  She clapped her hands
with delight before suddenly diving into Sara’s mass of blonde curls.

Sara gave a
squeak of surprise before giggling softly.  “It tickles.”

Abby
grinned.  “You get used to it.  Are you hungry, Sara?”

“Yes. 
They hardly feed us in the slave quarters.”  Sara admitted.

“Then let’s
give you something to eat.  You are much too thin.”  Abigail brought
her the tray of food and Sara eyed it hungrily.

“Eat,
honey.  There’s plenty.”  Abigail urged. 

As Sara
began to eat, Abby smiled happily at Val.  He shook his head in mock
disappointment and closed his eyes again.

* * *

“Well,
she’s a pretty little thing.”  Faren examined the sleeping Sara
closely.  “If you don’t want her, Val, I’ll take her.”

“She’s a
human being, Faren.”  Abigail snapped at him.  “Not some dog that you
can just pass from one owner to another.”

“Alright,
alright.”  Faren stepped away from the bed.  “I was just offering.”

He gave Val
a scrutinizing look.  “How are you feeling?”

“Perfectly
fine.”

“You look
better.”

“Obviously.” 
Abigail snorted.

“No, I
meant he looks better than he did even before the beating.”  Faren
replied.  “Thirteen months without human blood is too long for any
vampire.”

“Thirteen
months?”  Abby whispered.  She stared at Val and he was dismayed to
feel a blush rising in his cheeks.

“I know,
right?  He’s an idiot.”  Faren said cheerfully.  “I’m surprised
he didn’t keel over.  Animal blood only gives you so much energy.”