Bound by Blood (Bound #1)(14)

Time to shut that door. If a demon was left alive, they could force him to show them the entrance to hell.

“You can’t, Morg. You’re not strong enough,” Paul said. Ah, Paul, he knew her so well. She glanced over at him. “Guess we’ll see about that.”

He flinched and there was no missing the worry on his face.

It had been three years since she’d turned him. He was the only human she’d ever turned. Sometimes, she wondered…did he wish that she’d just left him to die?

“You can’t let him drink from you again!” Devon was still screeching as she marched away from him. “Morganna! Do you hear me? You can’t?”

She threw a hard glance back at him. “You forget yourself, Devon. You can no longer tell me what I can or cannot do.” She bared her teeth at him. “I’m not part of the vampire nest anymore.”

His lips parted.

“I’m wolf.” So shove that down your throat and choke on it.

“You don’t understand. I didn’t realize—he’ll become more! ”

She yanked open the door and the scent of hell hit her. “He already is.” And he’s mine. Morgan strode into the sunlight. The big, black wolf stood in the middle of the carnage. When he saw her step out of the compound, his body tensed.

But the battle was over. His men were already shifting back to their human forms. He began to shift as well.

And that was when the other two demons dropped from the sky behind him. Demons…so tricky. So deceptive. They’d waited until he was weak. His attention divided. Because of me.

“No!” She screamed even as they slashed at Jace. Their claws sank into his back. She moved faster than she’d ever moved in her life. She grabbed the first demon and twisted his head. The snap barely slowed her down. She turned for the other hellspawn—

But Jace’s men had already ripped him apart.

She spun back around. Jace stood before her, naked, body heaving, blood pouring from him. Fear tightened her throat. “Jace?”

His eyes were blind, not seeming to see her at all. She stared down at his chest. The demon’s fist and claws had ripped right through him, back to front, and, oh, no, please…

The demon had cut through his heart.





Chapter Five


Morgan caught Jace before he fell. A scream ripped from her as she held him as tightly as she could.

And she knew what she had to do.

She’d found Paul like this. He’d been beaten, bleeding out, dying in a dirty alley all alone. He hadn’t been able to speak because a knife had been stuck in his throat. His lips had trembled and he’d mouthed, Help me.

She had. A stranger, and she’d given him forever.

She’d damn well save the man she’d taken as husband.

She lowered Jace gently to the ground. The pack closed in around her, nearly blocking the light. Louis stood right beside her. She grabbed his hand before he could stop her. His claws were still out, and she sliced them down the length of her throat.

“Cher, no, what—”

Blood dripped down her neck and wet her shirt. She leaned over Jace. His eyes were open. On her. “Drink from me.”

A slight flare of his pupils. She put her throat against his mouth. “Drink.”

His lips parted. His tongue licked her skin. The edge of his teeth scraped over her neck. Then he drank. Slowly at first. So slow.

After a tense moment, his hands rose and wrapped around her. He pulled her closer, held her tighter.

Tighter.

She felt his canines expand and push into her skin. Morgan held her body still. He needs this. His mouth worked on her flesh. Lips. Tongue. Teeth. He took.

“Stop!”

Devon’s scream. Over Jace’s shoulder, she saw the Council leader trying to shove his way through the pack.

They shoved him back.

“Morgan, no! He’ll destroy you! All of us!”

But Jace had saved them today. She closed her eyes. She’d begun to feel the heavy pull of the sunlight, like a weight upon her skin. Pressing against her. Devon stopped screaming.

Her fast heartbeat slowed. Her breath sighed out of her.

Still Jace held her. So very tight.

He…he should have enough blood now. She brought her hands up and pushed against his chest.

He didn’t stop. Fear tightened her stomach.

Then Jace swiped his tongue over her throat and his growled whisper reached her ears,

“More.”

She wondered just how much more he would take.

***

Devon stumbled away from the wolves. Fucking animals. Any minute now, they might rip into him.

He hadn’t forgotten the alpha’s order. The bastard had ordered his death as carelessly as he’d order dinner. Kill them.

When the alpha’s strength came back, Devon had no doubt that he’d give the same order once more.

The way the alpha was gulping Morganna’s blood, his strength would be back in seconds. Should have realized…so blind…

He rushed through the compound, winding down deep into its hidden tunnels. Escape tunnels—because the vampires always had to be prepared.

He snaked through the tunnels, moving perfectly in the pitch blackness. To the left, to the right…

He punched in the combination to the door in front of him. The heavy lock opened with a hiss, and he hurried inside.