Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
But as she fell back to earth, her fear went volcanic. What did I just do?
Kaira beat on his chest and shoved at his shoulders and pushed with her feet. “No, stop!” she cried. “No!”
On a growl, Henrik lurched away until he was on his knees above her. His chest heaved. His fangs protruded. And his lips were coated in the dark red of her spilled blood.
He was darkly masculine. Fiercely gorgeous. Alluringly otherworldly and raw. Like a lion whose animalistic beauty drew you in even though you knew he could end your life in an instant.
Hunger rolled off him in waves of potent energy that she could feel dancing over her skin. Which was when she knew.
He was nowhere near sated.
And it was also when she first allowed herself to really consider what it would be like to be the one to give him everything he needed…
Chapter 8
The taste of copper spilled onto her tongue as three men exploded into the room. They grabbed Henrik’s arms and dragged him backward off the bed.
Henrik unleashed a feral growl. He flailed and fought. The men struggled to contain him and in a coordinated move, slammed him to the floor. All of them on top of him. Pinning him down. Fighting right back.
Kaira gasped and scrabbled off the bed. “Stop! You’re hurting him!” Granted, she’d freaked out and wanted him off her, but he’s listened to her. He’d stopped. And getting overwhelmed didn’t mean she wanted him roughed up like this.
Wasn’t he their king? How could they treat him this way?
They ignored her pleading as Henrik continued to struggle. She grabbed at the closest vampire’s arm. “Please. He didn’t do any—”
His elbow busted her in the cheek.
For a second, all she saw were silvery white stars. She groaned and clutched her face, stumbling back from the melee until she sagged against the wall of the small room.
Warmth spilled against her palm. Damnit. So stupid. She never should’ve approached them like that.
Henrik’s roar reverberated off the walls.
Kaira looked up to find bodies strewn around the king as he jumped to his feet. His breathing was like a freight train, a growl rumbling out on each exhale. Fangs extended and flashing eyes narrowed, he took one step toward her, then another.
Jakob burst through the door. “What the fuck?” His gaze made quick work of scanning the room. “Henrik, no!” As the others rose to crouches, he lunged for his brother.
Not again. “Jakob, stop!” She held up the hand not busy covering the new cut she now wore on her cheek. “Leave him alone. They jumped him. He didn’t do anything. Just…give him a minute.”
Jakob reared back, eyes wary but hands in the air, just as Henrik whirled on him and gnashed his teeth.
The king’s eyes flashed back to hers and zeroed in on the hand pressed to her cheekbone, the one hopefully offering enough pressure to staunch the bleeding. Kaira’s heart pounded but her gut told her he would keep his word.
He wouldn’t hurt her.
Though she’d never seen him like this before. Eyebrows an angry downward slash, fangs so big they were almost animal-like, hair wildly disheveled, shoulders bunched and arms at the ready. He looked somehow bigger and definitely more fierce.
Henrik shook his head and mumbled under his breath in a language she couldn’t understand. Like he was arguing with himself. Or trying to convince himself. Or praying.
The other men slowly rose to their full heights.
Kaira frowned and watched the other vampires. She thought back to the blood on her thumb, how he’d barely been able to resist it. Her blood flowed now, yet none of the others seemed to share Henrik’s struggle.
Was this part of whatever was wrong with him?
She didn’t know, but she did know if she didn’t help calm him, the other four vampires were going jump him again. Their bracing muscles, readied stances, and silent communications made that perfectly clear.
In her mind’s eye, she saw him being slammed against the hood of the car. Pinned down. Restrained. Just like here on the floor moments ago. And she didn’t want to see him treated that way again. Not if she could do anything to prevent it.
Before fear got the better of her, she pushed off the wall and stepped toward him. “Henrik?”
His gaze flashed to her and tracked her progress. A rumble rolled through his chest.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement. Keeping her voice light, she said, “If one of you makes a move for him, I will kill you.” Not that she could. She knew it. They knew it. But she was satisfied to see they’d listened.
Henrik spun at them and growled.
“Hey, now, Henrik. Look at me. It’s okay.”
As if in slow motion, he obeyed. She took another step. “Don’t,” he growled.
“It’s okay. Come back to me now, you hear?” She forced the knot of fear down her throat with a hard swallow. If she could just get to him, she believed she could get through to him, too. After all, twice now he’d stopped when she’d told him to. And he’d seemed so pleased at all they had in common. It was impossible, but true.