Bound by Blood (9 page)

“Let her go!”

Jace. His roar. Relief had her feeling light-headed. Or maybe that dizziness was from the pain.

Jace leapt forward. He was naked and blood poured from a gash on his cheeks. His eyes glowed as he raised his claws and ran toward them.

Devon had her nearly over the pit. This was what she’d planned. To enter hell. To close the door from the inside out.

Only…well, in the original plan,
Jace
had been the one to go through the doorway. She was supposed to stay back and then pull him out.

I won’t sacrifice him.

The rules had indeed changed. Jace didn’t realize it. She did. If demons were all about sacrifice, then she’d give them a sacrifice all right.

But she wouldn’t give them Jace.

“Watch her burn, wolf!” Devon shouted. “
Watch. Her. Burn!”

Morgan stopped fighting. Instead of slicing her nails against Devon, she twisted her hands and locked tight to him. Her gaze met Jace’s. He yelled her name.

“Bring me back,” she whispered. Then Morgan heaved toward the pit, and she yanked Devon with her.

He tried to wrench back his arms, but she wouldn’t let go. His yells filled her ears as he fought and twisted, but Morgan
wouldn’t let go.

No more dead humans. No more tortured wolves. This was it.

They fell into the pit, and the screams from the demons drowned out her voice as she told them, “I’ve got a sacrifice for you, assholes…”

The fire burned, blasting at her skin and she refused to cry out. Even when the demons reached for her.

***

Jace’s heart stopped when Morgan jumped into that fiery pit. “No!”

Not her.
She wasn’t supposed to go in.
Not. Her.
He flew forward, and his body slammed into the ground even as his arms snaked into that hole in a desperate bid to grab her.

He’d moved fast, faster than he’d ever moved in his life, and when he shoved his hands into that hot furnace, he touched…

Flames.

The fire lanced his skin, but he didn’t let go. He could feel a body in the middle of that wild heat. He could smell the acrid scent of burning flesh.

Morgan.

He didn’t let go. He pulled even as he felt another force tugging his prize back down.

“No! You can’t have her!” He yelled as the fire licked him.

His upper body fell into the pit as he struggled.

“
Fuck, Jace!”
Louis’s yell from behind him. Then suddenly Jace felt other hands on his body, trying to haul him back.

But he wasn’t going back without Morgan“Keep him!” He roared the words in the fire.

“Choke on him—but give her to me!”

A breath of flames blew against him and blisters immediately covered his flesh.

“
Give her to me!”
He bellowed.

“
Pull him up!”
Louis snarled at the same instant. “Get him out of there,
now!”

They yanked him back, but he didn’t let go of the fiery prize he held.
Be Morgan. Be…

He broke from the pit and fire raced along his body. Louis shoved at him and Jace fell to the ground. He rolled, battling the flames on him and—
on her.
Sweet fuck, he’d pulled her out.

The others immediately joined him and battled the flames that covered her flesh. Red, swollen, every inch of her body had felt the kiss of the fire.
Should have been me.

Her eyes weren’t open. “Morgan?” Now, he was afraid to touch her. He didn’t want to hurt her, and he knew his touch would. She was injured so badly, even a breath on her skin would hurt.

His touch would pain her, but his blood wouldn’t. Jace lifted his hand to his mouth and bit his wrist. He tore with his teeth and put his hand over her mouth. “Princess,
please…”

The blood trickled into her mouth. Her lips moved the faintest bit against his skin.

“
Take more.”
She could take everything if she needed it.

“Alpha.” Louis’s quiet voice had his head lifting. His friend stared at him with a tense face. “You’re weak, too. Let me help you.”

Jace shook his head. “No, she’s—”

“I know she’s yours, but she’s also pack.” Louis offered his bleeding wrist. “If the blood of one wolf makes her strong, how fast do you think she’ll heal when she drinks from six?”

And the others who’d survived the battle crowded behind him. All had their wrists open. All were ready to sacrifice for the vampire who’d seen hell.

As she fed from him, her lips like a whisper on his skin, Jace’s gaze tracked back to the pit. Only the entrance wasn’t there any longer. Dirt had filled in, totally blocking the gaping hole. The ground was blackened, cracked, but no smoke drifted into the air. The doorway was closed.

He leaned close to her. “You did it,” he whispered. Her vampires were safe. The battle was over.

Now, his princess just had to survive.

The vampiress walked into the werewolf bar as if she owned the place. Since she was mated to the alpha, Jace figured that, well, she pretty much did. Her skin was pale and perfect, not even a blister left from the fire that had nearly stolen her from him. Her lips were red, full, and he’d soon feel them beneath his mouth. She was wearing a new pair of fuck-me boots that showed off the long length of her legs. And her eyes—they were on him.

When the others became aware of her, they stopped talking. Heads swiveled toward her. Toward him. The bar waited.

He didn’t move. Jace wanted to jump up, run to her,
grab
her, but he was also enjoying the sexy picture she made as she crossed the bar.

Morgan smiled at him, flashing fangs. “The Miami Vampire Council would like to officially extend its appreciation to you,” she said, her voice clear and her eyes bright. “And if there is anything that the Council can do for the pack…” She stopped just a foot away from him. “You have only to ask,” Morgan finished, her voice softer.

She’d spent two days healing. Even with all the wolf blood, she’d had to battle to stay alive. He’d been by her side, determined to keep death away.

He’d succeeded.

When she’d woken, the vampires had made her the head of their Council. He knew she’d weeded out the vamps who’d been secretly working with Devon. The bastard hadn’t been implementing his plan alone.

She’d cut the head off the snake when she sent Devon to hell, and now Jace knew that she’d cut up the body, too.

Still, he didn’t touch her, not yet. “Glad the
Council
approves,” he said, his own voice mild.Understanding flared in her eyes. She lifted her hand and put her palm against his chest.

“And you have my personal gratitude…” Her lips curved. “For pulling my ass out of hell.”

He caught her hand. Pressed it harder against his chest. “Leaving you there wasn’t exactly an option for me.”

Jace saw the delicate movement of her throat as she swallowed.

“What was it like?” Louis called out. “What did you see,
cher
?”

She glanced back at him. “It was damn hot.”

Some of the wolves laughed.

“As for what I saw…” Morgan shook her head. “Some things are better not said.”

When she turned back to him, memories were in her eyes. While her body might have healed, Jace knew she’d carry the scars inside. Some memories couldn’t be forgotten.

“Is the gateway closed for good?” Because he didn’t want any more demons coming after her.

“Yes.” He still held her hand. She didn’t pull away. She inched closer as she said, “It closed when the demons killed Devon.
He
was the sacrifice I gave to them. He opened the pit, so it only seemed fitting that he close it.”

Jace waited. He knew there was more.

“I made a deal while I burned.” Her lashes lowered as she stared at their hands. His dark, hers so light. After a moment, she glanced back up at him. “I told those demon assholes that if they accepted Devon and shut the door, I wouldn’t send my wolf down to tear hell apart.”

And he would have. If they’d kept her…

“When you yanked me out of their hands, they realized I was serious. You were ready for hell. But hell wasn’t ready for you.” Her hand fisted beneath his. “Besides, I don’t think the guy in charge down there really liked for his demons to escape.”

No, Jace bet he hadn’t been eager to lose those bastards. “So it’s over,” he said.

“No.” Now her body brushed against his. “The demons are gone, but things are far from
over.”
Her head tilted back. Her lips were inches from his. “In fact, I think you promised me that things would just be getting started…”

They would be.

“You locked me in a cage,” she told him, a faint frown pulling between her eyes. He brought his hands up to curl around her shoulders. “But I also pulled you out of hell. Makes us even, doesn’t it?”

Her soft laughter put an ache in his chest.

“I don’t know,” she told him, “I think that might put you ahead.”

His lips took hers because his control broke. The kiss was too rough, too wild, but that was his way.

And she kissed him back just as wildly and with just as much desperate need. He lifted his mouth from hers long enough to growl, “There’s no score between mates. You don’t owe me anything.” He wanted her out of the bar and naked beneath him.

“I owe you forever,” she told him as she rose onto her toes and kissed him again. “And that’s what I’m giving you.”

Forever with his vampiress…it was the only thing he wanted.

“You’re mine, wolf,” she told him. “And I’m not letting you go.”

Enough.
He grabbed her and hoisted her high into his arms. The pack shouted and laughed as he passed them, but he didn’t slow down. He wanted her alone. Wanted
in
her.

Jace took her upstairs. Since his house had burned, he’d taken over Howling Moon. The apartment above the bar had a bed, and that was all he needed. He kicked the door shut behind them and lowered her in front of him. Morgan smiled at him. “When are you going to say that you love me?”

He blinked. “But…you already know.” She had to know.

“A woman still likes to hear the words.”

He yanked off his shirt and kicked off his boots. Then he reached for her. If she needed the words, he’d damn well give them to her. He’d give her anything. “I love you.”

Her fangs glinted. “And I love you, wolf.”

Enemies no more. Lovers.

Mates.

Forever.

They’d told the devil to screw off, and now they had eternity waiting. Sometimes, it was good to be an alpha wolf…

Very fucking good.

###

Enjoy paranormal romance? Then turn the page to check out Cynthia
Eden’s sexy werewolf romance novel, NEVER CRY WOLF, available from
Kensington Brava in July of 2011.

Excerpt from NEVER CRY WOLF by Cynthia Eden (Kensington Brava, July
2011):

Lucas Simone definitely wouldn’t classify as handsome, but Sarah really wasn’t the type to be swayed by a pretty face.

She was much more the I-need-a-freaking-badass-to-save-my-ass right then type.

“I should explain…” She began, clearing her throat.

“Yeah, you should.” An order.

Her eyes narrowed. “Uh, I think it’s important to note that I saved your hide back there.” Very, very important to note. In fact, she was wagering on the old wolf pack code to help her out. The
I-Scratch-Your-Back, You-Protect-Mine
code. He grunted. “I didn’t need saving, babe.”

“Yes, you did.” The wolf would still be caged if it hadn’t been for her—and the folks she’d bribed.
Using the last of my cash.

She needed shelter. Her growling stomach reminded her that she also needed food. And she desperately needed some serious muscle.

Her gaze dropped down to his chest.

Muscle, check.

“We haven’t had sex,
lover.”
He drew the last out, more like a growl instead of a word. Sarah couldn’t help it, she flushed. She felt her face heat and knew she had to be beat red. The curse of her fair skin. She always blushed too fast. “You were in
jail
. They were penning a murder rap on you.” Facts that really shouldn’t have to be pointed out to the ungrateful wolf. Come on. Where was her thank you?

“I remember every woman I’ve had sex with,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. His eyes, hooded, swept over her, making her cheeks burn all the more. She’d dressed, deliberately provocative, before going down to the station. Her red blouse plunged to reveal the swell of her breasts. The short, black skirt revealed a long expanse of leg. Her sandals were small, curved and designed more to be sexy than serviceable. He whistled slowly. “I don’t remember you.”

Right, and she didn’t buy for a minute that the guy remembered every woman he’d—

“Some women like to take things slow. They like to kiss, they like to stroke. Others like to strip, to fuck, as fast as possible.” A pause as his eyes rose back to hers. “They like it rough because they like the rush of being with a monster.”

She swallowed and took a quick step back, unable to help herself because Lucas looked very, very threatening.

“Are you one of those women?” He moved forward, closing that distance. His hand lifted and traced her cheek. “Do you like the thrill of walking on the wild side?”

Her heart was racing. Her knees were knocking again—well, okay, they’d never stopped. She licked her lips and managed, “No.”

His nostrils flared and the grin that curved his lips was grim. “Liar.”

Oh, hell.
Shifter senses.
Some said their senses were acute enough to catch a lie. Not to actually smell a lie, but to hear the jerk of an increased heartbeat, to scent the sweat that broke through the skin at a lie.

“You’re turned on right now,” he told her, voice so rough that she almost shivered, “just like you were when we kissed outside that damn cage.”

Now what was she supposed to say to that? Especially since the guy was right?

His hand slid down her face and his fingers curled over her throat. His palm pushed against her pulse. He didn’t hurt her, not like he’d hurt the cop, but Sarah tensed, knowing just how dangerous he could be.