Obsession: A Rejected Mate Shifter Romance (The Mate Games #1)(20)

Without another word, I pushed open the door. The sound of the music was overshot by a few panicked shouts.

I had no trouble catching snippets of the ongoing conversations, and with each one, my anxiety grew.

“. . . that wolf has lost his damn mind . . . two fights in one night . . .”

“Did you see how fast he moved?”

“. . . the girl didn’t stand a chance . . .”

That’s when I caught the scent of blood in the air. Her blood. My fangs snapped down, and my mouth watered with the urge to feed.

Behind me, Alrik and Peter surged forward, their hunger infusing them with strength as they tried to shove past me and toward the source of the blood. My muscles tensed as I fought against my own need, and I shoved them back.

“Stand down.”

Alrik licked his fangs as he pushed to his feet. “If she’s no one to you, what’s it matter if I have myself a little taste?” He rearranged himself as he made his way to the door—and me—a second time.

He started running then, thinking to slip past me, but I was far faster. By the time he’d taken two steps, I’d already gripped his head in my hands, breaking his neck with a satisfying crack. As he slid to the ground, I growled, “I said. Stand. Down.”

Peter’s eyes grew wild as I stalked toward him. “No . . . wait, I—”

“Shh . . .”I said, my fingers gripping the sides of his face. “You’ll only be dead for a little while. It’s nothing personal.” And then I snapped his as well.

No one would be feeding on my little wolf tonight. And though my fangs ached with need, I swore to myself that included me.

Threat handled for now, I raced down the hallway and back into the main room where the crowd had shifted to stand around a trio of bodies. One was dead, so I dismissed him, my eyes zeroing in on the Novasgardian who’d taken Sunday in his arms and was gently lowering her to the ground.

“What the bloody hell happened?” I snarled, shoving him out of the way so I could cradle her trembling form.

“A hunter, I think,” he said, barely sparing me a glance as he moved to press his hands into the wound at her side.

“Hunters? What do they want with her?”

“I don’t know.”

“Why isn’t she healing?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” he gritted out. “Can you just shut up and let me take care of her?”

“Because you did such a bang-up job of it in the first place? If this is you taking care of her, I think I’ll just take it from here.”

Though there wasn’t a hint of animal on him, he bared his teeth, and a low rumble sounded warningly in his chest. “You were the one who left her alone.”

The blow landed, though I did my best to keep it from showing. Before I could respond, a shadow fell over us, followed by the soft sound of a woman clearing her throat.

“Mr. Nordson, if you’d come with me.”

I glanced up only long enough to confirm my suspicion. Lilith had come to deal with the rule breaker in person. The demon would barely reach the Novasgardian’s chest, but there was no mistaking the aura of authority rolling off her. Or the way she held the enchanted length of chain across her palms. Either he’d follow her willingly, or she’d force the point.

He flicked his blue eyes between us, his anger palpable. “This filth stabs one of your patrons, and I’m the one you seek to chastise.”

“The rules are the rules, Aleksandr. He merely attempted murder. You succeeded. Now, if you don’t mind, the natives are getting a little restless. I’d like to put this unfortunate matter behind as quickly as possible. I promise to take your motives into consideration while setting the terms of your punishment.”

Alek’s brows flew up at that. “My what?”

“Your punishment, darling. Now come with me. I have some people who will be thrilled to learn you’ll be part of tonight’s show.”

Alek looked at me and then down at Sunday. The veins in his neck pulsed, and he clenched his jaw, but he seemed to make up his mind to obey.

“She better be alive when I come back, Thorne. Or there will be hell to pay.”

I nodded, not really caring what he said. My full attention returned to Sunday. Her pulse was weak, barely more than a delicate flutter.

“Stay with me, little wolf.”

“Noah?” she croaked, her eyes opening with considerable effort. “Wha—”

“Shh. Save your strength.”

“It hurts,” she admitted, and it felt like I’d been the one run through with a blade.

The scent of her overwhelmed me. It was the battle of my life resisting the urge to lean down and sink my fangs into her. To lap up every last drop.

“Why aren’t you healing?” I repeated, though the question was mostly for my benefit. Speaking gave me something to focus on other than how badly I wanted to taste her.

“Can’t,” she whispered, her voice barely more than a rasp. If not for my vampire senses, I wouldn’t have heard her at all.

My gaze dropped to the wound at her side, spotting the glint of blood-stained silver. The metal must be preventing her from accessing her gifts. With a low grunt, I grasped the jagged edge between two fingers and pulled it free.

But instead of her flesh knitting itself together, blood seeped from the wound, coating my fingers and sending a fresh wave of need crashing through me until I was shaking with it. Like the weakling I was, I brought my fingertips to my mouth and took the barest taste.