Page 98 of Bound by Vengeance
“Nathan, you would also have to become avampire to complete the bond.”
His gaze fell on her shoulder as he recalledthe delicious taste of her blood on his tongue. Could he become oneof the things he’d spent his whole life fighting to destroy?
But how could he give her up? And how couldhe give her up while knowing it would destroy her?
Yes, he loved his people. He’d been born torule, it was bred into the fabric of his DNA, but he loved hertoo.
“It’s okay,” she said again. “I understand.For years, I’ve suspected I would be mateless, or that my matewould be the death of me; when I saw you, I knew I was right. Iwalked into this knowing you have far too many lives resting onyour shoulders to be with me. I may pull off an Oscar-worthy,self-centered diva, but I understand.”
“I don’t know how, but I’ll figure this out.I’m not giving you up, and I won’t let you die because of me. Ilove you, Victoria.”
She smiled as she bent to kiss him while shestarted to rise and fall over him again. “I love you too,” sheadmitted. “We can worry about the future tomorrow. For tonight,let’s pretend there’s no one outside this house.”
“Your wish is my command,” he murmured andgroaned when she sank her fangs into his neck.
CHAPTER 42
Saxon and Lucien took Jordan from him whenhe returned to the hotel the next morning. They would keep himhidden and guarded until Nathan was ready to present him to theother hunters.
Ronan glanced at Vicky, who stood slightlybehind Nathan. They’d all come outside of the hotel, away from thehunters, to meet him, but his followers would soon learn of hisreturn.
“Are Duncan and Sister okay?” Vicky inquiredof Ronan.
“Yes. I had Declan take them and thechildren to our place earlier; he made sure they were settled andleft them under the care of some trainees before returning here.They’ll be safe there, and we’ve altered the children’smemories.”
“Good.” Vicky spotted Abby and Brian whenthey stepped outside. “There’s Abby. I’ll see you later.”
Before Nathan could stop her, she hurriedaway to join the couple. Nathan clamped his teeth together as heresisted going after her. Ronan’s gaze followed her before hefocused on Nathan again. Nathan braced himself for Ronan to saysomething about her.
“Are you sure this is the way you want tohandle Jordan?” Ronan inquired instead of broaching the subject ofVicky.
“Yes,” Nathan replied. They’d discussed thislast night, but Nathan’s plans had changed slightly since then.“Our old way of life is done. They either accept that or theychoose a new leader. I need to speak to you about somethingelse.”
• • •
“Are you okay?” Abby anxiously asked.
“I’m fine,” Vicky said.
She resolved not to look back at Nathan, buther gaze was unwillingly pulled to him as he spoke with Ronan.Ronan nodded and strode away, Nathan hesitated, but when Vickyreturned her attention to Abby, from the corner of her eye, she sawhim walk away.
A knife seemed to slice through her heart,but she forced a smile. “Is there an indoor pool here?” sheinquired as she looped her arm through Abby’s. “Or maybe we can layoutside and work on our tans or something.”
“Vicky,” Abby said sadly. “Talk to me.”
“I am talking to you about the things I wantto talk to you about, okay?”
“Okay,” Abby whispered.
“The pool is empty, but you can alwaysreturn to Ronan’s and use the pool there,” Brian suggested.
Leave here?Panic constricted Vicky’schest.Yes, you idiot, leave here, leave Nathan, get somedistance between you.
“Or my hotel,” she replied. “There’s aspa.”
“You’re better somewhere secure untilwhatever this is with the hunters settles down,” Brian said. “I’mstill needed to guard here, but I can have someone take you back toRonan’s.”
“No, we’ll wait for you,” Vicky said beforeAbby could reply. Distance from Nathan wouldn’t be bad, but she’dseen the flustered look that crossed Abby’s face before she hid it.Truce or not, Abby didn’t want to leave her mate with a bunch ofhunters, and Vicky didn’t blame her.
