Page 48 of Burn for Her

Lucian looked like Dorian stabbed him in the chest with a stake. “I can’t lose you,” he whispered. “And neither can she.”

Lena would be fine without him, Dorian was convinced of it. She’d gotten this far, hadn’t she? And holy shit, just look how strong and confident she was.

But those bruises. Her busted face…

“I’m pretty sure a Savag-Ri was on the other side of the gate,” Victoria said. “I locked it before she could break through the barrier and he had a chance to get to her.”

Lucian rubbed the back of his neck. “They’ll hunt her, Dorian. They know her scent and her face now. That’s all they need, and you know it.”

A vicious hiss ripped from his lips as he held her closer to his chest. They were right. Lena hadn’t been scrubbed before she left, and no precautions were taken to escort her out of the club safely, as protocol dictated, because she’d left before her time was up. If a Savag-Ri happened to be waiting on the other side of the gate, she could have easily walked right into his arms and waiting dagger. That vile piece of shit would have taken her to one of their hidey-holes and tortured her for information about vampires, and most likely done worse, before killing her.

Dorian trembled in fury at the mere thought of someone laying another angry hand on his woman. His next sound was a strangled one. I won’t let them hurt you. The bruises on her face mocked him… warned him… gave him a peek at what her fate was if he didn’t protect her at all costs.

And just like that, the idea of Lena no longer being with him for all eternity became the one thing Dorian could no longer tolerate. If he died, that Savag-Ri still knew what she looked like. What she smelled like. He could track her. And whether she was bound to Dorian or not, whether Dorian died or not, they’d kill her out of spite because she was a fated alakhai.

“I can’t lose her,” he whispered.

Lucian’s voice dropped to a deep whisper, “Then you know what you must do.”

Chapter 17

Lena blinked and tried to figure out what the hell just happened.

“Easy,” a familiar deep voice said. “You’re going to feel a little fuzzy at first.”

Reaper was with her.

Lena hated how her body lit up at the sound of his sexy voice because now wasn’t the time for her lust to take charge. Her anger needed to grab the reins. “What happened?” She couldn’t piece things together as fast as she wanted. Reaper touching her. Reaper leaving. Her leaving. The locked gate. Her coming back inside to demand they unlock it. Then… nothing.

“What did you pump into the vents?” She rolled over, surprised she was still dressed.

“What?”

“I can’t repeat myself. I can’t—” Nauseous, she curled into a ball.

“Nothing’s pumped into the rooms.”

“Then why can’t I think straight?” Her head became a dense fog.

“You’re out of your element.”

Lena would roll her eyes if she thought it wouldn’t make her hurl. “I’m going to be sick.”

“Here.” Reaper moved closer and held out a glass of water. “Drink this.”

She knocked the glass out of his hand. No way was she accepting anything from anyone here. Not after she just blacked out for no good reason. Had that woman hit her? No… definitely not. This wasn’t that kind of knockout. It was more like she’d crashed and gone into a deep sleep. The idea unnerved her.

“I want to leave. Let me out of here.” Lena sat up and damn, she couldn’t pull her gaze away from Reaper. He looked rattled and furious. Lena went into fight or flight mode and for the first time ever, she chose flight. Maybe she could take this guy down if she was at her best, but she wasn’t right now, so flight it was.

They were no longer in the foyer of The Wicked Garden, but back in the bedroom she’d started in. Fuck this. She was getting out of here.

Lena rolled off the bed, and her knees buckled.

Reaper caught her before she slammed to the ground.

How… how did he move that fast?

“Breathe,” he commanded.