Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood #3)(110)

“Yes,” she said in a low voice. “I’ll take care of him.”

“Thank you.”

“I think I despise you right now.”

“It’s about time.”

She pivoted on her heel, ready to go striding back to Phury’s room, when Zsadist said softly, “Have you bled yet?”

Oh, terrific, another cringer. He wanted to know if he’d gotten her pregnant. Would no doubt be relieved when he heard the good news he hadn’t.

She glared at him over her shoulder. “I’ve been cramping. You have nothing to worry about.”

He nodded.

Before he could get away, she bit out, “Tell me something. If I were with young, would you mate me?”

“I would provide for you and your babe until another male did.”

“My babe…as if it wouldn’t be half yours?” When he said nothing, she had to push. “Would you not even acknowledge it?”

His only response was to cross his arms over his chest.

She shook her head. “Holy hell…you really are cold to the bone, aren’t you.”

He stared at her for a long time. “I’ve never asked you for anything, have I?”

“Oh, no. You’ve never done that.” She let out a hard laugh. “God forbid you open yourself up for that.”

“Take care of Phury. He needs it. So do you.”

“Don’t you dare tell me what I need.”

She didn’t wait for a response. She marched down the hall to Phury’s doorway, shoved Rhage out of the way, and shut herself in with Zsadist’s twin. She was so pissed off that it took her a second to realize she was in the dark and that the room smelled like red smoke, a lovely, chocolaty scent.

“Who’s there?” Phury said hoarsely from the bed.

She cleared her throat. “Bella.”

A ragged sigh rose into the air. “Hi.”

“Hi. How are you feeling?”

“Downright perky, thanks for asking.”

She smiled a little until she came up to him. With her night vision, she saw that he was lying on top of the covers with only a pair of boxers on. He had a gauze pad around his belly and was covered with bruises. And—oh, God—his leg…

“Don’t worry,” he said dryly. “I haven’t had that foot-and-shin combo for over a century. And I really am okay. Just some aesthetic damage.”

“Then why are you wearing that bandage like a sash?”

“It makes my ass look smaller.”

She laughed. She’d expected him to be half-dead, and he did look like he’d been in a hell of a fight. But he wasn’t on death’s door.

“What happened to you?” she asked.

“I got hit in the side.”

“With what?”

“A knife.”

Now, that made her sway. Maybe he only seemed okay.

“I’m fine, Bella. Honestly. In another six hours I’m going to be ready to go back out.” There was a short silence. “What’s doing? Are you all right?”

“Just wanted to see how you are.”

“Well…I’m fine.”

“And, ah…do you need to feed?”

He stiffened, then abruptly reached for the comforter, pulling it over his hips. She wondered why he was acting like he had something to hide…. Oh, right. Whoa.

For the first time she assessed him as a male. He really was beautiful, with all that gorgeous, lush hair and a face that was classically handsome. His body was spectacular, layered with the kind of heavy muscle his twin lacked. But no matter how good he looked, he wasn’t the male for her.

It was a pity, she thought. For both of them. God, how she hated hurting him.

“Do you?” she said. “Need to feed?”

“Are you offering?”

She swallowed. “Yes. I am. So would you…May I give you my vein?”

A dark fragrance permeated the room, so strong it eclipsed the red-smoke aroma: The smell was the thick, rich scent of a male’s hunger. Phury’s hunger for her.

Bella closed her eyes and prayed that if he accepted, she could get through it without crying.





As the sun went down later in the day, Rehvenge stared at the funeral drapes hanging off his sister’s portrait. When his cell phone rang he looked at the caller ID and flipped it open.

“Hello, Bella,” he said softly.

“How did you know—”

“It was you? Untraceable number. Very untraceable, if this phone can’t locate the source.” At least she was still safe at the Brotherhood’s compound, he thought. Wherever that was. “I’m glad you called.”

“I went home last night.”

Rehv’s hand crushed the phone. “Last night? What the hell! I didn’t want you going—”

Sobs came through the phone, great, wretched sobs. The misery stole his words, his anger, his breath.

“Bella? What’s wrong? Bella? Bella!” Oh, Jesus…“Did one of those Brothers hurt you?”

“No.” She took a deep breath. “And don’t yell at me. I can’t bear it. I’m through with you and the yelling. No more.”

He dragged air into his lungs, clamping down on his temper. “What happened?”