The Way You Bite(53)
“I won’t leave.” She bit her lip. “But I don’t want to watch you die like this.”
He thought to her, “We could always go upstairs. I’m not dead yet.”
She bit her lip against a smile and shook her head. “I’d like to give the blood-drinking idea a try.”
“I want to be there to help you through the change, but if I do survive this, let me be clear about it. I can’t stop you from shifting. It’s inevitable. I don’t want you to attempt this blood drain because you think I can.”
“I have trouble wrapping my head around a reality where I can change into something with fur. I don’t want to do it alone…without you.”
“You’ll let Eric help you.”
“I don’t want his blood or to have him see me…turn into something else.” She swiped away more tears before wrapping her arms around him and burying her head in his chest. “Don’t leave me. Not yet.”
“I’m not sure we have much of a choice.” He hugged her tight. “All right. We’ll try this. Stop if you feel ill.”
…
As the others reentered the room, Roman stood above her. “I won’t do this. You’ll die, Vee. His blood is so ancient that you’ll probably die before you make even a dent in his total blood volume.”
“I can take more of his blood than you think.”
Roman shook his head. “Not happening.”
She stood and whispered into Roman’s ear, “I’m half wolf. A demisang. Lexan is here to deal with this…dilemma.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No.”
“Maybe that’s why you preferred to care for animals?”
Maybe that was why she felt more at home in a veterinary clinic than at a human hospital. True. She connected with pets, more so with dogs than cats or other small furry creatures.
“Maybe it will work.” Roman glanced around. “I need two to donate. Ryder, you’re probably as close a match as we’ve got for His Majesty. You in?”
“Of course.”
“Who else?” Roman looked at the others.
“I’ve given him blood before,” Eric said, “Use mine.”
Roman pointed at a young wolf. “Run to the truck and get my emergency bag.”
Vee bit her lip as chaos carried on around them. She gripped Lexan’s hand tight. “Hold on.”
He smiled weakly but didn’t open his eyes. “There’s dignity in a quick death during battle, but not this.”
Roman ordered, “We’re ready. Do your thing, Vee.”
Vee gazed at the jugular vein pounding in Lexan’s neck. Fifteen wolves stared at her with abject curiosity. She whispered to Lexan, “I can’t do this with them watching me like I’m a circus sideshow act. Plus, they think I’m about to die a horrific death. Several of them might enjoy watching. Who’s to say one of them won’t put it on YouTube?”
“Everyone other than Roman, my guys, and Ryder get out. TC, you’re in charge outside,” Lexan ordered.
“I’m not leaving,” Julio declared.
“Get. Out!” Lexan thundered.
Julio scurried out the door.
As soon as the room cleared, Vee leaned in. “Let me know if you want me to stop.” She licked his neck, felt him tense, and bit as gently as she could manage. After a short time, the euphoria of his blood was surpassed by a stomach cramp, but she forced herself to continue. Sweat dribbled down her back and forehead as the level of pain in her midsection increased. When she felt him get weak to the point passing out was imminent, she followed the steady thrum of his heart until it got faint. Then, she stopped. Within seconds, Roman had Ryder hooked up to one arm and Eric hooked up to the other, donating.
Her whole body went cold. The cramping spread everywhere. Had she ingested too much? She’d never taken in that much blood before. She leaned against the far wall, hoping the pain would pass.
“You doing okay?” Lexan asked. Worry was etched into his face.
Everything in her rebelled. She vomited. Then she hit the floor.
…
Lexan roared and thrashed to get to Vee.
Roman center-chested him and body-smashed him against the sofa. “Don’t move. They’ve got to finish refilling you. We just need another few minutes to get enough blood back into you. There were risks, even though she’s…special. No one really knows about these things.” He quickly disconnected Ryder from the catheter attaching his arm to Lexan’s left. “How you doing, Eric?”
“Let him have what he needs.” Eric shifted on the sofa next to him and cradled his head with his free hand. He’d given too much.
Damn it. His second was about to die for him, and his mate was dying.
Vee writhed. Her back arched as she started seizing.
Lexan yelled, “Vee talk to me. What’s going on?”
She didn’t answer as her body contorted. Her head whacked against the wall.
Lexan looked about the room wildly. “Show yourself, old man. I can feel you in here. Get over there and do something for her.”
Blay walked from behind him, probably releasing whatever mental lockdown he had on everyone else, which prevented them from seeing him. Damned unnerving skill. “What the hell were you thinking? I leave for ten minutes to take a call and you two try to kill yourselves? Have you gone completely daft? I told you to let her have a drink when she shifts, not drain you dry.”