Damon (The Protectors #1)(33)
With one last look at her he actually saw relief on her face. God he was screwed because to please her was the only thing that seemed to matter to him. Taking his focus where it belonged, he noticed everyone staring at him waiting for him to start their lessons. “Okay people let's get a partner and start the defense moves you learned last class.” Damon ordered then felt his breath catch when Nicole slipped him a smile. Yep, he was totally screwed.
After their class and shower Nicole headed over to her bag smiling. It was a good class, but better yet Damon had not gone into the offices with the redhead and that sent her stomach flipping happily. Damon had gone to shower telling her they would leave as soon as he was done.
“Hey” Pam grabbed her stuff and headed out the door. “I brought that book you wanted to read. I'll grab it and bring it in.”
“I'll walk out with you. I have to wait for Damon anyway.” Nicole followed Pam outside in the sticky August air.
Pam opened her door grabbing the book. “Don't worry about giving it back. I don't usually reread them.” Pam hugged her. “Gotta get. Kenny worked a double so I want to make sure he has a good dinner tonight.”
“Tell him I said hey.” Nicole waved watching her friend pull out of the parking lot. Opening the book she thumbed through it while walking back to the warehouse. A chill shimmied up her spine causing her to look up and then behind her. Suddenly she didn't feel alone. Flipping the book closed she turned again to start walking faster and screamed. Standing in front of her was the redhead.
“God, you scared me to death.” Nicole laughed nervously bending down to pick up the book she dropped.
Alice looked her up and down without apology. “Damon needs to feed.”
Nicole slowly straightened instantly on alert knowing this wasn't going to be a friendly conversation. “And you're telling me this why?”
“I heard Jared and Duncan talking.” Alice picked a piece of nonexistent lint off her sleeve. “If Damon doesn't feed soon they are going to have to tell the Council.”
“Damon is a grown man. I'm sure he knows when he has to...” Nicole couldn't bring herself to say feed especially to this women who she knew he had fed from.
“Feed?” Alice gave a nasty laugh. “God, you humans are pathetic. I could kill you with one swipe of my hand. Just hear me out, human. While you may have a little crush on Damon he will never commit to you. Ever.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Nicole was getting angry, but she wasn't stupid enough to go up against this woman since she could actually do what she said and kill her with one swipe of her hand that furnished long sharp red painted nails.
“Because Damon has been good to me and I plan on making him my mate and nothing will stand in my way. Jared and Duncan agree that you are going to ruin Damon. We have already talked about it and I was elected to fill you in. As long as you are in the picture Damon is not going to hurt your pitiful little human heart by feeding from me and that will lead to the Council being informed, which in turn will lead to Damon's downfall. He is one of the top warriors and it would be a dishonor for him to be pulled because of blood lust.”
“Blood lust?” Nicole hated being ignorant about anything.
“The longer he goes without feeding from one of his own the more unstable he becomes. Soon he will lose control and feed from a human, which would probably be you.” Alice wrinkled her nose as if the thought disgusted her.
“And that would be bad because...?” God she hated asking this woman these questions, but she needed to know what the hell was going on.
“Oh you poor thing. You really think Damon would want your blood. Look at you.” Her laugh was humiliating. “Listen, do yourself a favor and give it up. It's not going to happen. He might be screwing your brains out and believe me I know how good he is at that, but he will never take your blood. He is a warrior and he needs pure vampire blood, my blood.”
Okay that hurt, but Nicole hid her emotions because no way would she let this vamp bitch know she was killing her slowly with her words. “Jared and Duncan feel the same way?” She didn't know why she ask it, but the question popped into her head and out of her mouth before she could stop it. She didn't want to think Jared and Duncan had been talking about her and she sure didn't want to be a burden to anyone. No...that place in her life was long gone.
“What, that you're a pathetic human they have to watch over now? Yeah, they do. All they want is for you all to disappear so they can get back to what they were doing before and protect their own kind.” Alice smirked. “I cannot believe you can't take a hint. Why humans have been in charge this whole time and we have been in hiding is beyond me. Seriously, if you like Damon at all leave him alone so he can save face. Jared and Duncan are very concerned and serious about calling the Council.” And with that she was gone.
Nicole stood in the parking lot still as stone not knowing what to do. Pain not only about Damon, but the others was too much, overwhelming her with emotions she fought so hard her entire life to control. She couldn't face any of them. Seeing Eddie come out of the warehouse she jogged up to him. “Hey Eddie, can you do me a huge favor?”
Chapter 10
Damon headed out from the back and instantly knew something wasn't right. Looking around he headed toward Mitch. “Where's Nicole?”