Chapter 5 Cast Away

❀ Maeve ❀

District 3 was less populated during the day, but no less intimidating.

It was also easier to be recognized, so I tightened my shawl over my head and briskly walked what I hoped was the same path to the room I’d met my tutor in.

Anyone out at this time was either human or wolf. My weak nose was useless, so I kept my head down and relied on sight alone.

I found the corridor of rooms soon enough, and only after I’d taken a step inside did I stop to think on whether this space belonged to him, or had been leased the previous night.

Only one way to find out.

I stepped in all the way and indeed found out.

A large caramel-skinned man, both arms covered in black ink from the elbows down, stood with his pants around his feet.

A naked woman with red tribal tattoos across her back knelt before him, gagging as he gripped her hair and thrust into her mouth roughly.

I froze.

He grinned.

“Come’re, lass. Want some of this? There’s enough to go round.”

I shook my head frantically, unable to tear my gaze from them.

He scowled.

“Then get the fuck out!”

Regaining control of my limbs, I scrambled out of the room backwards, backtracking past the curtains until I crashed into a hard wall.

Gloved arms grabbed my shoulders.

Not a wall. A body.

My heart slammed against my ribs at the suffocating presence of the person. Terrified, I refused to turn around.

“Maeve.”

That voice.

I spun so fast my neck pulled.

“Hi.” I squeaked, like a child caught in the cookie jar.

A pleasant sensation spread across my chest, warming me up just from his presence.

I couldn’t see his face underneath the long hood of the cloak, but I would recognize his husky voice anywhere.

“You shouldn’t be out during the day… the sun…” I paused, feeling stupid. Of course he knew about the sun. “They killed a vampire…”

“I know.” He began, sounding amused. “It is you who should not be here.”

His voice, like thick honey with granules of sugar, rolled over me and eased my tension.

My shoulders sagged.

“I came to warn you.”

He sighed, low, but I heard it.

Did he think me stupid? Maybe I shouldn’t have come.

“Come.” He said, his arm falling to my lower back. He guided me further down the corridor of rooms.

The sun was high and hot, and I kept stealing glances, wondering how thick his cloak really was.

Ordinary fabric couldn’t shield vampires from the light.

He led us deeper into the corridor where the building disappeared into a rocky cave-like entry point, until the light disappeared and the air grew damp.

We passed two massive stone doors before he slid open the third like it weighed nothing. But I knew better.

It reminded me of a crypt. I shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. It was pitch black, but I knew he could see.

“You shouldn’t be here until nightfall.”

His voice bounced off the stone.

“I know, it’s just…”

“Did you miss me?”

I spun, trying to trace the voice, but it seemed to envelope me from every angle.

“Yes.” I whispered, sucking my bottom lip. “I missed you. I wanted to see you,” I added, louder.

My heartbeat roared in my ears in the absolute silence.

For a moment all I could hear was my own breathing.

Then a flame sparked at the far end of the room.

That face. Those eyes, crimson and utterly beautiful.

I walked up to him as he set the candle holder on the table beside him. I stopped in front of him.

There was a large feather bed, dressed in blood-red sheets and throw pillows. The floor was covered in a dark-colored fur rug.

He shed his cloak, hung it neatly, then opened his arms.

I fell into his embrace. The scent of eucalyptus filled my lungs as I held him tightly. I could get used to this.

“So… warm.” He murmured into my hair. “So sweet.” A sniff.

So hard, against my lower belly, but I said nothing.

“Your blood, it calls to me.”

I stilled at that. Then I remembered when the girls said no vampire would want me because I was pale and bloodless. I relaxed, and I smiled.

“Then answer it.”

He cupped my face with both hands and kissed me, slow. His lips awakened a desire in me like none I’d ever felt before. We took turns sucking each other’s lips, lapping tongues.

Then he bit my lip, hard. I flinched from the shock of not pain, but aching pleasure as I bled into his mouth. I moaned as he greedily sucked everything.

Panting, I barely noticed him sliding my dress down, cold fingers tracing my spine. His eyes glowed with bloodlust, a vein pulsing in his temple.

“I don’t feel your venom.”

He brushed a thumb over my jaw, gaze locked on my throat.

“I can choose to not release it.”

“And the first time?” I whispered.

He met my eyes, his jaw ticked like he was holding something back.

“Tell me your name.” I implored.

“Nikolai.”

“Nikolai…” I tasted it. Liked it.

His face buried in my neck, tongue trailing heat, he guided me to the bed.

I shivered, anticipating his addictive bite.

I sat back and watched him like it was my first time. Inch after inch of porcelain skin revealed until his pants hit the floor. When he straightened, I leaned forward to kiss the tip.

He inhaled sharply, fisting my hair.

I slid my mouth over his thick length until my jaw ached, then I released him and lay back, spreading my legs.

He tilted his head. “Not yet.”

“But…”

“There’s no need to rush, little one.” He muttered, leaning forward to palm my hips.

I fisted the bedding under me. “The other girls don’t have to beg to be touched.”

His hands stilled against my skin. For a heartbeat, I thought I’d won.

Then his gaze hardened.

He pulled back, his voice hard as obsidian. “If all you want is what the others have,” he said, “then you don’t want me.”

My breath caught. “That’s not what I…”

“No.” The single word cut deeper than a blade. He turned, dismissing me.

Panic clawed up my throat. Did he not want to make love to me? The other girls had been at it for weeks.

If he didn’t want me, then maybe no one ever would.

Werewolves were rumored to be rough lovers with large parts, and before the ceremony, at the inner court, every girl would be tested for quality and performance.

If they found me lacking, I was out.

When I looked up at Nikolai with teary eyes, his eyes had gone cold. Hard. His lips pressed into a thin line.

“You have no idea how close I am to forgetting every reason why I shouldn’t.” His voice was ragged.

My chest stuttered with hope. “Then…”

He shook his head sharply, stepping back like distance was the only thing keeping him sane.

“You don’t understand,” his voice cracked. “If I take you now, I won’t stop. And you deserve more than being ruined by me.”

“Please… let me show you I’m not just some wolfless nobody. Let me prove I can be enough.”

I hated the way my voice shook, desperation bleeding through every word. But worse, I hated the thought of him walking away from this.

“Maeve…” His voice was strained, almost breaking.

I shook my head, my eyes brimming with tears. “You said I was beautiful. You said I could bring someone to their knees. Then let me bring you.”

“Leave.” He hissed. The air dropped several degrees lower in the already cold room.

My skin puckered with goosebumps and I felt a pinprick of fear.

His back was to me, shoulders taut, his fists clenched so tight his veins popped. For a second, I thought he might shatter the stone table just to stop himself from turning around.

Tears stung my eyes. He didn’t want me. They were right. I couldn’t even hook a vampire, what were my chances at getting into the mating ceremony?

Holding back tears, I picked up my clothes, wore my dress, and slipped through the small opening between the stone.

He did not follow.

“I don’t need him anyway.” I grumbled along the dark corridor. “He can go suck on rats for all I care.”

Bursting out of the dark cave, I inhaled the fresh open air deeply. I smelled smoke, probably from the cooking spits.

Tomorrow night, I’d be examined under the hands of Ironwolf’s Matrons, and if they so much as identified any weaknesses, I was out. Being wolfless already set me back, lacking expertise would be unforgivable.

Resolved to approach Carmela despite any difficulties that would arise from asking her for help, I decided to go home.

I’d never felt so small, so unwanted. I hugged my shawl around me, wishing it could stitch up the hole in my chest.

The wind stung my eyes, then a roar split the sky.

A large brown wolf leapt overhead. Its hind paw struck me, sending me to the ground. As I tried to find my bearings, more people ran past.

What, or who, were they running away from?

Adjusting my shawl, I looked in the direction of the fleeing people.

Ice washed down my spine.

IronWolf soldiers.

Some armed with chains, others with wolfsbane-coated lances for shifters, more shirtless and ready to shift themselves.

I scrambled to my feet, tripping on my shawl as they advanced.

A booming voice reached my ears. “Stop right there!”

My human speed was no match for them.

An iron grip clamped down on my arm.