Page 72 of Bound By Love
Still, there was no reaction, even when he bit his wrist and his blood welled up. The scent of blood was enough to attract any vampire’s attention; the smell of a mate’s blood could drive a vamp insane.
Not so much as a flicker crossed her face.
“Caro,” he breathed again.
He didn’t care that the others gathered around to watch them. He’d never been more vulnerable in his life, they were watching him lose his mind, would kill him if this failed, and none of it mattered.
Gently pulling her blue lips apart, he pressed his wrist to her mouth. He was starved and beaten, but he’d give her every last drop of his blood if it could save her.
Some of his blood trickled down her chin, but some got into her mouth.
Please,he pleaded as his blood filled her mouth, and she remained unmoving.
* * *
Ronan shiftedhis grip on his sword as he looked at the others. He nodded his head for them to leave.
If Saber had to die, he would do it, but it didn’t have to be in front of everyone. Saber deserved for this to be handled privately, and Ronan would ensure it.
The others all hesitated before moving away to funnel down the tunnel. Brie remained unmoving at the entrance, her chin raised and her eyes defiant as they held his. She didn’t have to say it; he knew she wouldn’t leave. Asher stayed with her, but the others left.
Kadence also remained, standing slightly behind him with her hand on his arm as she watched Saber and Caro with tears in her eyes. He almost told her to leave too, she didn’t need to see this, but the words stuck in his throat. She wouldn’t go, and was this any worse than what she’d already witnessed?
All he’d ever wanted was to keep her safe, but she was determined to do the same for him. Because of that, his queen would always be in the thick of things.
When his attention returned to Saber, with Caro cradled in his arms, he stretched his hand out to Kadence. Their fingers brushed against each other before falling away.
Ronan didn’t know what he would do without her, and he hoped never to find out. He couldn’t imagine losing her without pain stabbing through his chest, so he never dared to venture into such treacherous territories.
Now, Saber was experiencing the loss no mate should ever endure as he held his bleeding wrist against his mate’s mouth, kissed her forehead, and pleaded with her to return. Ronan silently begged for her to return too.
There was a chance, however small, she would somehow survive thisifshe was one of those vampires who had shut down to go into a hibernation state. And if she was, a mate’s blood would be the thing to save her.
The problem was he didn’t know how much blood Saber had to give her. He didn’t want to lose Saber or Caro, but he couldn’t have Saber attacking what remained of the Alliance.
If worst came to worst, he would give Caro some of his blood. Saber wouldn’t want to witness it, but he might not have a choice.
CHAPTERSIXTY
Brie heldher breath and bit her lip while she watched her brother. She’djustgotten him back into her life, they were making steady progress on their relationship, and she couldn’t stand the idea of losing him again.
Andnoone should ever die this way. Her heart clenched as she looked at Asher. A vampire should never lose their mate, the other half of their soul, and the one they loved.
She closed her eyes against the anguish that washed over her at the idea of losing Asher. She’d seen his death in her visions, and it devastated her. To actuallywitnessit unfolding before her, like her brother, was a nightmare she couldn’t imagine.
But as she silently implored Caro to wake up, the woman remained unmoving. Her body was so broken, and her clothes so soaked with blood, Brie didn’t see how Saber could save her.
However, if anyone could bring Caro back, it was her brother. She recalled Milo, the little mouse, nestled in Saber’s pocket and the way its head would pop up in search of food or some other treat he had to offer.
He hadn’t been Saber then, but Gabriel—a kind man with a heart of gold and an uncanny knack for rescuing things on the verge of death.
The smile on her brother’s face while he fed the mouse was impossible to forget. It lit the room with its warmth, and his eyes twinkled when the little mouse nibbled bits of food from his fingers. But before then, Milo was a tiny, barely alive creature she didn’t think could be saved.
How did someone save a creature who required its mother’s milk and was maybe a day old? But somehow, her brother did it on little more than goat’s milk and love.
If anyone could save Caro, it was him. Beneath his far gruffer, exceptionally more cynical, and often callous exterior, Brieknewthat big heart still existed. She saw it every time he looked at Caro and how he held her so tenderly now.
When they were younger and he was saving countless wounded animals with his unique ability to heal, she would sometimes ponder if her brother had received a gift too. But, unlike her gift, his wasn’t so blatantly obvious or something that would get their family killed.
