Page 128 of Burn for Her
“I only care about you. What will it take to save you? That’s what I want to hunt down.”
Lucian made a small, choked noise in the front seat, but other than that, he didn’t make a peep. Good thing, Dorian didn’t need them to gang up on him about this.
“I’m the last one you need to worry about.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
“Why are you acting like the world isn’t ending,” she whispered, her teary eyes pleading with him to drop the act.
“I’m not dead yet. There’s still some fight left in me.”
She pulled her hand out of his and closed it into a fist in her lap. “How did everything go from amazing to dismal in the blink of an eye?” she choked. “I can’t lose you, Dorian. Not now. Not after everything. Maybe I lack something in my blood that’s supposed to save you?”
“Don’t.” He gritted his teeth. “We can’t think about this right now.”
He put his walls up, regardless if that made him an asshole or not. It was the only way he would make it home without screaming.
“Stryx needs to be taken down immediately.” Dorian said loud enough for Lucian to hear.
“Damnit, Dorian!” Lena smacked her thigh, “Why are so fixated on him?”
Because I can be obsessive over a target just like my father. “Because if what you think you saw is true, it means Stryx already knows where you live. He knows your scent. Your appearance.” Dorian’s brow pinched and he sat forward. “Holy shit… the sonofabitch was in your backyard. I didn’t think—”
The fleeting memory of when he thought he saw something out on her lawn when those birds scattered and flew away. Aw hell, even that cleaver on the counter. He knew it was out of place.
Then the wolf, the cleaver there, the note, the name Fear Eater…
Stryx was taunting Dorian with all his worst memories. Why?
They pulled into the House of Death’s front circle and Dorian bit back a groan as he exited the car. Holding his hand out for Lena, he glanced at her.
She was thirsty again. Her eyes were darker, the veins in her neck pulsing wildly. He’d remedy that issue after he spoke to Malachi and got her into a private room.
They stormed through the front doors and the place was practically buzzing with anticipation.
“Holy shit, where have you been, Reaper?” Xin hissed from the balcony. “Whoa.”
“Yeah, whoa and wow,” Victoria grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Oh, and hell yes, too.” She stared directly at Lena. “And probably ‘Can I get an amen?’ for good measure.” She swaggered over to Lena and walked a slow circle around her. “Nice work.”
Dorian didn’t say a word. He wanted Lena to have this moment.
“I’ll be damned,” said Reys. “You look absolutely ravishing, Cherry.” He kissed the back of her hand and Dorian let out a small warning growl.
“We have to meet with the King.” Lena went right into business mode.
Xin cracked a laugh, “She’s just like you, man. Workaholic.”
Dorian flipped him the bird and smiled. More and more vampires came out to see their newest addition.
“Reaper.”
At the sound of Marius’s pompous tone, Dorian rolled his shoulders back and glowered at the sonofabitch.
“It’s about time you showed up.” The House of Bone’s pain in the ass king swaggered right over. “My, my.” He walked circles around the two of them, slowly. “She’s not what I imagined.”
“I don’t give a shit what you imagined. If I were you, I’d keep my mate out of your imagination.” Dorian leaned in and unsheathed his karambit. “Unless you’d like to also see what I use my imagination for.” He held the blade to Marius’s throat and pressed forward, causing Marius to take a few steps back. “You will not come within fifteen feet of my alakhai again.”
“Dorian!” Malachi thundered from his private quarters upstairs.
Shoving his blade further into Marius’s neck, Dorian hissed, “Lucian, escort my girl upstairs.”