Bleed For Me (Loved By Gods #1)(13)

Apollo glanced back at her. Her pale face was set in determined lines…and she had another lamp in her hand.

“You would choose him?” Eric gritted as he swiped at the blood on his chin. “After what I did for you?”

“You killed me, Eric! You. Killed. Me. How many times do I have to tell you? I didn’t want to become like this! I. Didn’t. Want. This!” She was shaking, violent shudders that wracked her entire body.

“You’re mine, Terese.” Eric’s shining gaze locked on her and seemed to brighten. “I’m not going to let you go.”

“You never had me.” Her knuckles were white as her fingers clenched around the base of the lamp. “Now get the hell out and don’t ever come near me again.”

Eric glared at her.

“Do what she says,” Apollo ordered, his fists ready at his sides. He was tempted, so very tempted, to call on the power of the sun…and burn the vampire to ashes.

But if he did that, Terese would be hurt. She was too close to him, too close to Eric, she’d never be able to withstand the blast of the sun’s power.

The anger slowly drained from Eric’s face. “This isn’t over, Terese,” he said, his voice almost…sad?

Her jaw locked. “Yes, it is.”

Eric stalked toward her.

Apollo stiffened. “Don’t even think about touching her.”

“Oh, I’ll touch her,” now that freaky smile was back, “and I will see you dead.”

“Promises, promises…” Apollo taunted.

The vampire growled, then vanished.

*

“Oh, shit!” Real terror rocked through Terese when she saw Eric teleport right before her eyes. “He’s an elder!” No wonder Eric had been able to control her so easily, to convert her and—

“What,” Apollo began carefully as he closed in on her, “is an elder?”

“An ancient vampire.” She dropped the lamp and realized that her knees were shaking. Being a vampire hadn’t made her immune to human weakness like fear. She was so scared then that she was shaking. “One who has lived for centuries and has the power to prove it.” A vampire who could teleport, just as Eric had done when he’d disappeared from her apartment.

Well, at least that explained how he’d managed to get inside her locked home.

And, unfortunately, it also presented her with a whole new slew of problems. Because if Eric could teleport, there would be no safe place for her to hide from him.

She didn’t doubt that he’d be back for her. Eric wouldn’t just walk away. Things would never be that easy.

He’d be back, and he’d make her pay for her perceived betrayal.

“You’re not his mate.” Apollo gazed down at her with blazing eyes.

“No.” Hell, no.

His fingers circled her injured arm. Warmed the flesh.

“You don’t have to—” She began but the dull ache immediately eased as the skin closed. Terese swallowed. “I told you before, I can heal myself. Vampires heal while they sleep.”

His hand dropped away, and she missed the warmth of his touch. “Eric’s the one who made you into a vampire.”

Even though it wasn’t a question, she nodded.

“Was he your lover?” Quiet, emotionless words.

“We-we were dating. We’d just been seeing each other for a few weeks. I didn’t know what he was.” It wasn’t like she’d expected her boyfriend to be a vampire.

“Were you lovers?” Not quite so emotionless now. There was anger humming in his voice. Anger or jealousy?

Terese shook her head. “We weren’t. Not even after he changed me.” She’d thought he would rape her after that first terrible night, but he hadn’t. Eric had been waiting, confident that she would turn to him, that she would seek out his lovemaking.

Wrong again, *.

Some of the tension eased from Apollo’s shoulders. But his gaze still simmered with emotion when he said, “Don’t run from me again.”

A broken laugh slipped from her lips. “Don’t you get it yet? That’s all my life is now. Running.” And the running wouldn’t stop. Not until Eric was dead.

Killing an elder? Good luck with that one.

“Why did you leave?” His fingers brushed her arm. “Was I…too rough?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I liked…everything you did.” That was the problem. Terese stepped away from him. “And now I need you to leave.”

He blinked. “Run that by me again.”

Didn’t the guy see that she was fighting to hold on to her control? “Eric is an ancient vampire. One who now hates you.” Because of me. “The last thing I wanted to do was put you in danger.”

He laughed.

She glared. “I left to protect you, Apollo! I didn’t want my hell coming to your home.” But he’d followed her, and Eric would know him now.

“I don’t fear your vampire.” Ah, that cockiness was back in his voice. “He should fear me.”

Then his hands wrapped around her and pulled her against him. “Why did protecting me matter to you?”

This was the tough part. “Because…you’re special.” He’d brought her out of the sunlight. Shielded her. Healed her. “You took care of me. You gave me so much pleasure. I just…I don’t want anyone to hurt you.” Because her feelings for him were so new and confusing and it almost felt like they were ripping her apart.