Page 35 of Protected by the Vampire

Just for a second, I told myself.

I just needed a second to breathe.

To rest.

Sorry, Soren.

I didn’t even get the chance to tell him I loved him.

My heart clenched at the thought of Soren’s sorrow.

Darkness edged closer. I went to close my eyes, but there was a sudden burst of light that was soft and warm against my skin.

I blinked.

A man knelt over me. He was another otherworldly creation. Had to be.

He had long black hair, golden eyes, and sharp beauty.

“Stay with me,” he murmured.

“Dashiel,” Riker said urgently. “Fix him!”

“P-Patrick?”

“The shifters have him subdued. Relax. Let me help.”

Hands pressed against my chest.

Heat and light poured into me. I arched off the floor, groaning, burning up until there was nothing.

The pain vanished.

Air rushed back into my lungs, and I sucked in a breath like I’d been underwater.

“You are not dying today,” Dashiel said softly.

Good.

Because I had someone I needed to tell I love them.

CHAPTER TEN

Soren

As soon as I’d felt Theo’s fear and anger fill the bond, I started for the compound. My dedicated guards, who usually stayed unseen when I was outside my domain, followed at my side as I flew through the damage of the front gate.

I spared a glance at the door that lay off to the side on the dirt ground.

Upon entering, I could feel the rage—Theo’s and mine mixing and growing. The fury screamed at me for justice. Vengeance for my mate. Whoever had made him scared would pay.

Theo stood with Dashiel off to the side, clothes rumpled and caked in blood.

Inhaling deeply, I snarled.

His blood.

They’d spilled my mate’s blood.