KASH.
Two more days have passed, and we have. been travelling mostly by car since then, without stopping, but today something wasnât right and Ziahra was adamant weâll be stopping at a place to stay for the night.
The decision was abrupt, but no one. questioned her and I didnât manage to get her alone to ask her what was going on either.
It was actually the last of my concerns, especially since Evelyn was no longer eating and she was refusing to speak, simply nodding when spoken to, almost as if she didnât want to communicate with anyone.
Zerachiel was as arrogant as ever, but didnât seem bothered by her silence.
Ragnar had said she had been crying after Zerachiel had talked to her, and it makes me wonder if he had said something to make her end up like this.
Iâve been watching him, and the more I see of him, the less I like him. To me, it feels as if heâs the only bad thing about Zedkiel himself.
âAre you alright?â I ask Evelyn as she settles down onto the bed in her motel room.
She nods but says nothing.
âWant to talk about whateverâs bothering you?â I ask.
âNothing.â She says, glancing at the door and then at the floor.
âAlright⦠Adonis will watch you for the night, or until Ziahra gets back, you two are sharing a room.â I say, glancing at my brother. We barely talk, but often I find him watching me.
But if he thinks Iâm going to bother with him, then heâs extremely delusional.
âKash.â He says when I get up to leave the room.
âWhat?â I ask.
âMaybe we should ask Alpha Godric Astorath for help, he is from our motherâs-â
âNo.â I snarl, my eyes blazing as I glare at him. He frowns slightly and nods.
âIt was just a suggestion.â
âA stupid one.â I say, that man hurt my sister. I will never ask for his help.
I walk out, shutting the door behind me.
We had stopped at a motel for the night per Ziahraâs command and I now head to the room next door and take a quick shower.
I open the front door, glancing up at the cloudy, starless sky, when I hear the sound of hushed talking and the smell of cherries and chocolate.
Ziahra?
She is meant to be on look out here with Blade tonight⦠and I f*****g hate that guy but heâs nowhere in sightâ¦
Theyâre this relaxed thinking weâre drugged, but sheâs stopped giving me for a while now ⦠Ragnar too and Evelyn.
â⦠please. I know what I am doing. Tell Lord Exodus I will not disappoint him.â Ziahraâs voice comes.
Since when does she address him as Lord?
Unease fills me and I slip back inside, not wanting to be seen out by anyone else.
I keep the door slightly ajar, listening silently to whatâs been said.
I canât hear who sheâs talking to, or what theyâre saying, but her voice comes back soft yet clear. I can hear the urgency in it too.
âThree nights, and he will have him. How is my mother?â She asks.
âAlive.â I hear the deep voice.
Silence falls and only when I hear the sound of her heels approaching do I step back from the door.
âI can smell you.â She says quietly.
âI just showered, never knew I still stink. Do I need to go have another shower?â I say, sliding the door open.
Sheâs worried, even as her eyes trail over me, or the quick swipe of her tongue along her lips when her gaze dips to the front of my sweatpants. She inhales deeply before she closes her eyes.
âYeah you do, this time do a better job.â She says haughtily.
âWell, since I donât seem to know how, want to help?â the words are out before I can even f*****g stop them.
Iâm expecting her to hit back with a sassy reply, but she simply sighs and crosses her arms.
âMaybe another time.â She replies, surprising me.
âWhatâs wrong?â I ask, my smirk vanishing as I observe her.
âHeâs watching us, and I think he doesnât trust me anymore.â She says.
I frown, as I slide the door shut. Taking hold of her elbows I turn her to face me.
âWhy do you think that?â I ask, trying to hide the unease that Iâm feeling.
If sheâs worried, then it must be serious.
âI know. He sent someone to me today, one of the Dark Crows, that is in itself a symbol of his distrust. Look, we need to change the plan. I know Zedkiel said to continue and act as if everything is ok, but we canât. You will all die.â
âThen what should we do?â I ask.
âYou need to get away from here. Iâll say there was a clash, and we ended up killing you all. Iâll bring a head back and say that we managed to kill Zedkiel and that the throne. is his.â She says, placing her hand on her forehead for a second.
Sheâs far more worried than sheâs letting on, meaning whoever is out there really is bad news.
âNo. You are not going to risk that. You said he has your mother hostage. What if he does something to you?â I growl.
Iâm not sending her into the lair of that monster alone and especially without the real deal, because if he were to find out itâs not Zedâs headâ¦. Sheâll face the consequences.
She looks up at me, and I see the longing in her eyes, before she slowly shakes her head.
âIâm not your problem to deal with Kash.â
âWhether you like it or not, you are still my mate.â I warn her, my eyes flashing.
âThereâs no other option.â She replies. âIâm going to be fine. You donât need to pretend to care.â
âWant me to say I donât care?â I ask, trying to hide my anger.
âIâm not trying to anger you, Kash⦠but for this to work, you need to be healed. You need to pretend to escape, I will have everything ready and a head for Vadam, I just need you to be strong enough to lead your people away.â
âIs the vampire princess actually concerned for a pack of mutts â Those are your words, right?â I reply softly.
She rolls her eyes.
âKeep wishing.â She tosses her hair before her gaze dips to my shoulder. âMark me, Kash⦠when you do⦠my b***d will heal you.â
Itâs not that simpleâ¦
âAnd if I do⦠Iâll be forced to turn.â
âThat or you die, Zedkiel is a hybrid. Is it that bad?â She counters.
âNo, but tell me⦠will you then allow yourself to mark me?â I growl.
âNo, because this is vital, you need to mark me so you can heal.â
And then sheâs pretending she doesnât care.
âDo you know the meaning of a mark Ziahra?â I ask quietly letting go of her elbow and wrapping my hand around her throat.
âI do.â She says unphased.
âYet you think I will simply mark you and let you go? A mark means Iâm claiming you as mine and once I do, it means youâre mine. Completely.â I growl huskily my gaze dipping to those lips. âI will expect you to mark me too.â
âI know, but I wonât because if Iâm to die, I donât want that to impact you in any way.â She says, pulling away as if only now realising how close we are standing.
My eyes flash as I look at her. âDonât talk about dying so easily.â
âIâm a vampire. Iâm born to die.â She says. quietly.
âZiahra.â I begin, but she raises her hand.
âDonât Kash, this is bigger than you and I⦠It will buy us some time⦠But if you die⦠you will fail Zedkiel. That girl out there, she also needs you. Sheâs not herself and sheâs become so withdrawn Iâm beginning to worry for her.â She says quietly.
She isnât wrong⦠I have been worried too.
âSo, you expect me to simply mark you so I can live?â
She turns her head sharply to me and raises her fist before cursing and lowering her hand. âStop being such an irritating prick! You are Zedkielâs next in command, right?!? So act like it, do this for your people! God, you are so annoying!â She turns her back on me, wringing her hands.
âNo, if Iâm going to mark you, itâs because I want to.â I growl.
âThen do you want to?â She counters, with a challenging look over the shoulder. A look that only makes her look even more seductive.
I feel my resolve breaking. She may be a vampire but even my wolf wants her.
I step forward, snaking my arm around her waist and yank her back against me.
Her heart races, but she doesnât fight me, and I canât stop myself from wrapping my free hand around her jaw and neck, tilting her head up, my gaze falling on that gorgeous neck.
I donât need to answer her because I plan to show her, once sheâs marked, she will one day want to mark me. Iâll make sure of it.
Leaning down, my canines elongate and I sink them straight into her neck.
She gasps as my grip on her neck tightens as I let them sink into her neck. I feel the bond strengthen and the delicious taste of her b***d enters my mouth.
Iâm not a b***d drinker, but thereâs something about hers⦠a salacious m**n leaves her lips making my c**k throb against her a*s as I extract my teeth and suck hard on her neck.
âThatâs it Kash, harder.â She m***s, and although I know she means to drink her b***d to allow me to heal, itâs still a f*****g turn-on.
I can feel the area on my shoulder burn painfully, reacting to her b***d, but it does nothing to me in comparison to how this feels. My hand runs down her taut stomach.
F**k, sheâs sexy as hellâ¦.
I stop sucking her b***d when I feel the pain easing, instead running my tongue along her wound.
âNow the hard part.â She whispers,
âWhat do-â Iâm unable to finish, when she turns as fast as lightning, grabbing my head with both hands and snapping it to the left.
Pain slams through me and then- everything goes black.