And she’d almost died tonight. So had Logan and that other man. If she hadn’t shown up, they probably would have died.
If she hadn’t had that odd burst of strength, all three of them would have bought the farm right then and there in that creepy old building.
She opened her mouth to ask Logan if he knew anything about what might have caused her to get so strong so fast, but closed it again before she could speak. She didn’t know this man. She didn’t know anything about him other than he could drink her blood and feel better.
That was not something that recommended him for a confidant.
She leaned her head back on the seat, wondering why she trusted him enough not to jump out at the first stop. Maybe it was what he’d done for Charlie. He’d done something to help the old man, to ease his pain. And he hadn’t even wanted credit for it.
That went a long way in her book. Not many people would bother to help, and those who did wanted recognition. But not Logan. He’d hidden what he’d done, though she didn’t understand why.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Fine.”
“Dizzy?”
“A little.”
He reached over and wrapped his long fingers around her wrist, checking her pulse. His touch was warm, gentle. Warmth radiated out from him, streaking through her blood.
Hope shivered in response.
“Cold?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, more because she didn’t want to admit his effect on her than anything.
Logan cranked up the heat until it was pouring out of the vents by her feet. “If that doesn’t help, tell me so I can care for you properly.”
“Properly?”
He glanced at her quickly before returning his attention to the road. “I might need to restore some of the strength I took from you.”
“You mean you want me to drink your blood?” The idea should have grossed her out. Yesterday morning, it would have. But a lot had happened since then, and she found the idea of giving him the kind of pleasure he’d given her more compelling than she would have ever imagined.
She wanted to make him feel good. The fact that she’d get her mouth on his neck was simply an added bonus.
“No,” he hurried to say, as if the idea was somehow forbidden. “Of course not. It would merely be a transference of energy.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to. All you need to know is that I’ll take care of you.”
While Hope wouldn’t mind a little of that, she didn’t like being treated like a child. “I want to understand. You don’t get to turn my life upside down and not tell me the whole story.”
“There’s a good chance I’m going to have to remove your memories of tonight’s events. The less you know, the more comfortable that process will be for you.”
Remove her . . . ? “Excuse me?”
Logan sighed. “It won’t hurt. And it’s for your own good. Synestryn can sense those memories. They’re like a beacon that calls them to you. If I can’t scrub them away, you’ll be in danger.”
Anger burned hot and bright in her belly. She had to force words out between clenched teeth. “You touch my memories and you’re a dead man.”
He let out a musical laugh. “You are such a fetching creature. As if you could actually stop me.”
“No one is taking any more memories from me. Ever.”
His laughter died off suddenly. “Hope, I’m sorry. I forgot you already face a substantial loss. Forgive me.”
“Only if you promise not to touch a single memory I still have left.”
He was silent for a long moment with only the sound of the tires on pavement filling the space. His jaw was tight with righteous determination. “I’m sorry. I cannot do that.”
A void opened up inside her and was instantly filled with a sense of betrayal. “Stop the car. Let me out here.”
They were through the suburbs and towns were getting smaller as each one passed. If she didn’t want to be stuck out in the middle of nowhere, now was the time.
“No. If I leave you alone in the dark, chances are you won’t survive until sunrise.”
“You don’t know that.”
A silvery light flared, splashing across the steering wheel. “I do. I’ve seen it happen often enough to know. Now, you can be as angry with me as you like, but you’re going to do it here, next to me, where I can protect you.”
“I saved your life,” she reminded him. Sure, it made her a smaller person to bring it up, but the way she saw it, he owed her at least a little respect for what she’d done.
“You did. And I’m repaying the favor by keeping you from needlessly going to your slaughter.”
“Fine, then drop me off somewhere public. A police station. I’ll be safe there.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, remorse softening his tone. “You’re too precious to entrust your safety to humans. I have to insist that you come with me.”
“And do what? Where are we going? What, exactly, do you want from me?”
“We’re meeting friends. They will see to your safety.”
“And what about our deal? What about those missing people?”
“My friends are far better equipped to handle that task than I.”
“So, you’re handing me off. I’m too much of a bother?”
“Hardly. I find your company . . . stimulating.”
Hope couldn’t stop herself from looking at his crotch. It was a knee-jerk reaction. Uncontrollable.
He was hard. His erection tented against the loose fabric of his borrowed scrubs.
The idea that she could do that to him was more than a little exciting. A thrill winged through her belly, exploding into a thousand tiny, shimmering streamers.
She’d never been very physical. She’d dated a few men. Had sex with a couple of them. But not even all-out sex with all the bells and whistles made her feel half as good as she did now, thinking about how Logan would feel sliding inside her.
Hope squirmed in her seat.
Logan’s nostrils flared as he pulled in a deep breath. His eyes fluttered shut for a brief second and a shudder shook his big body. “We cannot.”
She didn’t ask him what they couldn’t do. She knew what he meant. No sense in playing coy. “You’re married,” she stated, knowing a man like him had to be taken.
“I’m not married. I’m also not human.”
“Point taken. Not that I would have slept with you anyway.”
He sent her a brief, pointed stare so full of arrogance she had to marvel at the trick. A small smile played at his mouth. “You think not?”
“You’re awfully full of yourself.”
“Indeed.”
“Someone should cure you of that conceit.”
“Feel free to try. But do so in a hurry. Our time together is nearly at an end.”
Instantly, Hope began to grieve. Sure, he was arrogant and strange, but there was something compelling about him—something that called to a part of her soul that hovered on the dark side of her memories. She didn’t know what it was or what it meant, but what she did know was that she didn’t want Logan to leave her life. At least not yet.
If Logan didn’t hand Hope’s care to another soon, he was going to do something unforgivable. Already he could see her slim body writhing beneath his as he drove his cock deep into her, over and over.
She was warm and soft, and the way she went pliant as he fed from her, letting out those quiet little noises of pleasure, nearly drove him mad.
He could smell her arousal as they drove. Combined with the sharp scent of her anger, breathing her in was intoxicating. It made him forget his purpose and think only of how she would smell and sound if he stripped her bare and tasted every inch of her skin.
Down that road lay the destruction of his race, so Logan shoved aside his inconvenient desire for the woman and focused solely on doing what must be done.
As soon as he had her settled safely inside the closest Gerai house, his bloodied clothing burning in the fireplace, he excused himself and snuck outside.
“I need you to come and handle this woman,” he told Tynan as soon as he answered the call. He knew he sounded desperate, but he couldn’t help it. He was desperate.
“What happened?”
Logan considered veiling the truth, but that would get him nowhere. Tynan needed to know the risk in order to respond appropriately. “I want her.”
“So have her.”
“It’s not that simple. The longer I’m with her, the more convinced I am she might be a Theronai.”
“Are you sure?”
“No, but her blood is pure enough that there is a chance. You know what happened the last time someone stole away one of the Theronai’s mates.”
“I remember. And with a truce between the Slayers and Theronai closer than it’s ever been, I don’t want anything reminding either side of why the war began in the first place.”
“Neither do I, which is why you must come. Now.”
“I cannot get away. I’ve tried. Between Grace and Tori, my hands are full. Why not escort her back to Dabyr and wash your hands of her?”
“I promised to help her find the cause of some locals gone missing in exchange for her cooperation.”
“Foolish,” chided Tynan.
“I realize that now. Too late.”
“I’ll contact Joseph. He’ll send one of his unbonded men to deal with her problem.”
“I already spoke to him. I’m expecting his men to show up at any time.” Logan didn’t like the idea. He didn’t like the thought of some giant pawing at Hope, desperate for her to save his life.
She would if she was able. The fact that she’d gone back for Logan in that basement proved she was selfless and courageous. If she thought she could save a man’s life, she’d tie herself to him. Logan was sure of it.
And the thought made a dangerous anger swell deep inside him. He didn’t want her tied to a Theronai. He didn’t want her tied to anyone except him.
“You need to come,” he told Tynan, desperation lifting his voice. “You need to take over her placement—wherever that might be.”
“You’re far better at finding good matches than I am. And I’m a stronger healer than you. My place is here, doing what I can to help Grace and Tori.”
“Then send someone else in your stead. Please.”
Tynan’s sigh filled the phone line. “I need to know you can handle this. And so do you. There aren’t enough of us left to be handing duties off to another.”
A cold wind whipped around Logan. He stared up at the sky, watching stars twinkle. “You’re right. I know this. But the things I’m feeling—”
“Will need to be controlled. Remember the goal. Think of a life without hunger. A life with children.”
Tynan wanted a child of his own and had for as long as Logan could remember. He deprived himself of the joy, knowing that any child born to them would be doomed to a life of starvation and pain. None of the Sanguinar could do that to a child. Especially Tynan.
