A Kiss of Blood (Vamp City #2)(66)

Micah looked at her with surprise, his gaze swiveling to Arturo. But when Arturo started toward her, she held up her hand. “No. Just Micah. Just blood this time.”

Arturo frowned. “Cara.”

“Vampire . . .” She glanced at Micah, who was watching them curiously, though his fangs had already elongated. “Would you please eat? We don’t have much time.”

His expression bemused, Micah took her arm and lifted her wrist to his mouth, sinking his fangs painlessly into her flesh.

“You are angry with me,” Arturo said quietly. “I would not have let him hurt you.”

She met his gaze and saw the sincerity in his eyes. “That’s good.”

His mouth tightened. “You do not believe me.”

For a long moment, she stared at him. “Honestly, I don’t know, Vampire. You’ve changed. I know you’ve changed. And yet it was just two weeks ago when you watched Cristoff break my ribs and did absolutely nothing to stop him.”

“I have explained . . .”

She sliced her hand through the air. “I know. I understand why you couldn’t challenge him before and that your conscience was still half-buried. I even understand that racing to my aid today before it was absolutely necessary would have been the wrong thing to do. That with any luck the situation would turn to our advantage, which it did. None of that alters the way I feel right now.”

Micah lifted his mouth from her wrist. “Kiss him, Quinn. Either kiss him or kiss me because without a complete feeding, I’m not sure I’ll be able to call your glamour up.”

Quinn stared at him hard, wondering if he was trying to take advantage of the situation, either for his own gain or his buddy’s. She felt Arturo move up behind her, felt his hand slide lightly over her hair.

“I would not have let him hurt you, cara mia,” he said quietly. “I will not let anyone hurt you. Never again.”

Dammit. She didn’t want this, this softening. And yet a part of her longed to believe him, longed to be back in his arms. She turned and met his gaze, her mouth tight. But she gave a brief nod, and that’s all he needed.

His finger lifted her chin. His head dipped. Sliding his hand into her hair, he pressed his mouth to hers, a tender brush of lips, undemanding, and as gentle as dew on a rose petal.

Her response was slow in coming, but it was his gentleness that tore away her defenses. The breath she’d been holding trembled out of her on a sigh as her body melted against his. She lifted her arms and circled his neck, pressing her mouth more firmly to his.

His lips parted, stroking hers, then diving inside when the last of her resistance gave way. And then thought fled, and she spiraled into sensation and passion and the certainty that this was where she belonged, where she’d always belonged.

Behind her, Micah cleared his throat. “That’ll do it, kids. You did say time was of the essence?”

Quinn pulled away as Arturo lifted his face, his eyes as warm as his skin now. He cupped her cheek, then turned to Micah. “Did that help?”

“It did indeed.”

Micah took her hand and pulled her in front of him to work his own personal magic. “Welcome back, Jillian,” he said after several moments. “I’m afraid this isn’t going to last long. Probably not much more than an hour.”

Quinn nodded. “Then I’ll have to be back in an hour.”

As Micah reached for the doorknob, Quinn turned to go, and Arturo curled his hand around her shoulder from behind.

“Someday you will trust me implicitly, bella.”

“I hope you’re right, Vampire.”

As it was, she trusted him far more than she’d ever thought possible given what he was. And what he’d done. But trust had never been something she gave easily. To anyone.

Quinn followed Arturo the short distance to the second pantry, slipping inside, while Arturo grabbed the torch, and Micah ran interference, distracting the only vampire close enough to see them.

The moment Arturo followed her into the pantry, Quinn opened the door to the dungeon and started down. Quietly, she led the way back to Vintry’s cell.

This time, the old fae was sitting up, waiting for them, his eyes bright and excited. At the sight of them, he rose slowly, painfully, to his feet, a smile stretched across his face.

“The Healer and the Snake.” But as he neared the bars, he frowned. “You’ve still not found the key?”

Quinn shook her head. “We haven’t been able to look for it.”

Vintry waved it away. “No matter.” He reached a bony hand between the bars and grabbed Arturo’s wrist. His eyes widened. “You’re no vampire.”

“I assure you, I am.”

“You’re warm.”

Arturo nodded, a funny look sliding over his face as he glanced at her. “I’ve been kissing the sorceress.”

Vintry made a comical and charming expression of surprise, then began to cackle. “Of course, of course.” As his laughter died, he eyed Arturo seriously. “You were born to this world for a purpose. A purpose you must not forsake. The Healer needs you. And you her. Cleave one to the other, or all will be lost.”

Quinn frowned at his words, but there was no time to ask questions. Not now.

Vintry reached for Quinn’s hand, then set it on top of Arturo’s when she gave it to him. “Hold her,” he ordered Arturo.