Page 129 of Burn for Her
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Lucian grumbled. “Come on, Lena.”
“I’m not going anywhere without Dorian.”
Damn, he loved how she said that.
Lucian cocked a brow at Dorian, waiting for him to act like a gentleman instead of an overprotective psycho. Easing back from Marius, Dorian tugged his sleeves down and pulled his shit together. “Come on,” he said briskly, grabbing Lena’s hand. They headed for the stairs with Lucian at their backs.
“You’re going to start a war today,” Lucian hissed behind them.
Dorian looked over his shoulder. “Stryx’s scent was all over the dead wolf. We suspect he also followed us to Lena’s. He was in her home, and mine.”
Lena jerked out of Dorian’s hold. “Wait, what? You never said you found someone in my house.”
“I didn’t,” Dorian snarled as they hit the top step. “But I thought I saw something in the backyard while I was in your kitchen and your cleaver was out on the chopping block when nothing else was out of place.”
“I… I don’t own a cleaver.”
Well shit.
“Come on,” Lucian stormed down the hall. “Let’s get this over with. Marius needs to leave… preferably with his son in a pine box.” He grabbed the double door handles and ripped them open.
Malachi was dead ahead.
“Come here, Lena. Let me look at you.”
She practically marched over to him. Dorian bit his lip, falling deeper in love with her with every angry step she took towards the king. “What have I done wrong?”
Dorian was gob smacked. He started forward, but Lucian stopped him.
“What makes you think you’ve done anything wrong?” the king purred.
“He’s not cured.” She went down on her knees. “Please… what more do we do? How can I save him?”
Dorian wiped his mouth to stifle his groan. His heart dragged itself into a hole and cried. The sight of his mate on her knees, begging the king to save him was too much to bear.
“Do you pledge fealty to the House of Death, Lena?” Malachi’s tone was all business. “If so, give me your arm.”
Lucian slammed his hands down on Dorian, holding him back. His protective instincts weren’t triggered, his possessive one ruled the roost now. An uncontrolled hiss tore from his teeth when the king bit into her skin and drank from her.
Between the fierce burn under his skin, the ache in his chest, and the sight of his woman in the arms of another male vampire, Dorian unraveled. He fought to get to her, forcing Lucian to use every ounce of strength he possessed to hold him back.
The king pulled away from her arm and licked his wound closed with a flick of his tongue. “It is an honor to have you as one of our own.” Malachi looked at Dorian’s reflection. “It’s time to hunt,” he said cautiously. “Come find me once you’ve secured Stryx.”
Lena slammed her palm on her thigh. “Tell me how to save him!” she screamed.
“That’s an order, Lena. I’ll not repeat myself.”
Lucian let go of Dorian on that note. He stormed over to be closer to her. “Come on.” He kissed her forehead. “This ends now.” The kings bite marks had vanished from her arm already, which was a relief. Dorian didn’t think he could stand seeing another male’s teeth marks on his mate–for any reason.
She didn’t say another word until they left the mansion and drove back to Dorian’s house. Before they left, Victoria handed Lena a duffel bag, “These are about your size. Keep them till we go shopping.”
Lena snagged the damn thing and mumbled a thank you.
She didn’t get it, Dorian realized. Lena had her own set of priorities, but once a vampire is in a House, those things get rearranged. Even with Dorian close to death, House business came first. Finding Stryx took precedence over Dorian.
It might as well though, right? One could be handled, the other just had to ride its course.
They pulled up to Dorian’s house and the instant he went through his front door, he could finally breathe again. He might not have cushions and colors and bowls of fruit, but it was loaded to the brim with weapons. This was his safe space. His comfort zone.