Page 21 of Knight’s Absolution

His gaze moved over her, and his heart cracked down the middle.

She should be dead. The condition she was in, she should already be dead.

Rocco cursed behind him.

Gunner ignored his brother and lifted his hands in surrender, somehow managing to shift back to human form despite the turmoil whipping through him. She whimpered, and tiny little fangs slid down.

Dhampir.

His female was half vampire.

“It’s okay, love,” he said as softly as he could and gently scooped her up.

Her head was on his shoulder, her face in the crook of his neck, and she whimpered again. He tilted his head to the side for her immediately, giving her the room she needed to feed.

He felt her fangs scrape his skin lightly, but she was too weak to break through. Cradling her head, he gently moved her away, brought up his blade, and nicked the side of his throat, then led her mouth to the cut.

Her lips latched on immediately, taking what he offered. She made soft mewing sounds, but she was still limp in his arms. Each pull on his vein, though, got stronger and sent shockwaves through his body.

His knees gave out, and he fell against the wall, sliding down.

“That’s it, love, take what you need. I’m here now. I’m here.” He cradled her to him, offering her everything. She could take it all, every last drop of his blood.

Moisture hit his cheeks. He was crying, and he didn’t give a fuck. Tears of joy, of relief, of agony for what she’d been through were streaking down his face.

He looked up at the door, to his brothers gathered there, big boots shuffling, pained expressions on their faces.

“She’s alive,” he rasped.

Chaos cursed. Zenon and Kryos looked down, stepping back to give him privacy.

He cupped the back of her head, but his frail female stopped sucking, going completely limp again. He panicked, feeling for her heartbeat. Nothing.

“She’s not breathing,” Gunner cried out.

Rocco crouched down in front of him. “Dhampir don’t need to.”

That’s right. He knew that. He’d panicked. Still, Gunner quickly shifted her so he could look down at her. Her eyes were open, lids heavy.

Then she blinked, painfully slow.

Gunner squeezed his eyes closed with relief. She was weak, that was all. He held her to him, but not too tight. She was so fragile, he was afraid he’d break her. She needed to feed but could only handle a little at a time right now.

He needed to get her home.

He looked around, wanting to cover her nakedness. He had nothing. His clothes had disintegrated when he’d shifted. Rocco tugged his shirt from the back of his jeans and handed it to him as if reading his mind. Gunner took it and carefully pulled the T-shirt over her head, covering her. His demon didn’t like another male’s clothes on their female, but wanting her covered won out over the possessiveness roaring inside him.

Naked, he stood with her in his arms.

Laz appeared at the door. He’d obviously taken Eve back to the compound and had just returned because his eyes widened as he took in Gunner’s female.

“Who is that?” he asked as his brothers stepped back, letting him through.

“My mate.” Gunner stared down at her to reassure himself he wasn’t dreaming, then back at Laz. “I felt her after you brought Eve home that first time, after I asked to be locked away, and then she was gone.” Gunner held her closer. “All this time I thought she was dead.”

He ignored his brothers’ stunned looks and walked out. Rocco led the way, sword drawn, Zen at his back, both protecting them as Chaos, Kryos, and Laz tore the place apart, searching for anyone who could still be there.

Gunner didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was the female in his arms. His female.