13. Lorna

Chapter 13

Lorna

I slumped on the sofa in Nathan's living room while Damon took care of his wounded and unconscious friend. I probably should've helped clean Nathan's wounds, but he'd started to heal. His blood called to me, getting stronger with each beat of his heart. My desire for him was worse now than the first time I saw him. Probably because my blood raced through his veins, and my dhampir's natural instinct was kicking in full force.

The temptation to taste him was too great. So I'd taken a shower and put on some of the extra clothes that Nathan kept for Elliott in his guest room. The shorts and t-shirt were way too big for me, but I didn't care. They were clean.

And I was exhausted. I couldn't even tell that I'd slept like a baby and woken up completely refreshed and satisfied just a few hours ago. It seemed like days had passed since I'd claimed Elliott and snuggled into his warm embrace. I longed for his comforting magic to wrap around me. I needed to know that everything would be okay. That everyone would be okay .

Elliott promised that he would bring Kenrid home. Shouldn't they be here already? Or would he have taken Kenrid to Damon's part of the fortress? My eyes popped open; when had they closed? I needed to tell Elliott to come here!

I searched for my phone but couldn't find it. When had I lost it? I mentally ran back through the last couple of hours. When did I have it last? At the house where Alyssa kidnapped me. I must have dropped it when she jerked me into that portal.

"Shit," I mumbled. My mind felt like a whirlwind had run through one ear and out the other, taking everything with it. As hard as I tried to concentrate, nothing stuck. I pressed my palms against my eyes and drew in a deep breath. I let it out slowly, then took another breath. Time to sort my shit and get my thoughts back in order. I used to be so good at it.

"What's wrong?" Damon asked.

I abandoned my unsuccessful efforts to meditate. Damon emerged from Nathan's room in his human form. His dark eyes found mine and my lip trembled.

My voice wavered as I said, "I need to call Elliott." I blinked away the tears blurring my vision. So much for trying to sort my shit. "I need to tell him to bring Kenrid here. I need to see him. I need to know he's okay. That they're both okay."

I searched Damon's body for signs of injury. He'd been hit with so many spells. How was he not injured? He seemed fine. No blood, no cuts, no bruises, nothing. Demons had to be immune to fae magic. It was the only explanation.

Damon sat down next to me and pulled me into his lap, cradling me like a child. I threw my arms around him and buried my face in his neck. The tears I'd been trying to keep away finally broke through.

"Are you okay?" I asked between silent sobs. "Please tell me you're not hurt. "

"I'm not hurt," he replied, rubbing my back in slow circles. "You are the only one who can hurt me, little d'laej."

"Never," I mumbled. "I …"

I paused, realizing that I was about to admit my love for him. I'd avoided thinking about the depth of my emotions for my guys until now. I would hate myself forever if Kenrid had died not knowing how I felt. He didn't hesitate to say he loved me, that his heart and soul belonged to me. Fae couldn't lie, so there was no doubting his truth.

I couldn't imagine someone actually being able to hurt Damon, but he needed to know how I felt.

I lifted my head and wiped at my tears. He looked back at me with concern.

"I love you," I said. "I'm pretty sure I can't live without you."

"You'll never have to." His hand slid up my back and his fingers threaded into my hair. "I'm angry with you for letting Alyssa take you, but I understand why you did. I'm also concerned that you entranced Nathan."

"He wouldn't take my blood," I said, more than a little defensive and very emotional. "I couldn't let him die."

"I agree, we could not let him die, but there might have been a different way," he said. "Now that Nathan has had you, it will be far more difficult for him to resist the call of your blood. He may very well blame you for his new dependence because you coerced him into taking the first sip."

My eyes widened. "You mean he'll be addicted to my blood? Like a drug?"

"Why do you think Conrad looked like a walking skeleton?" he asked in response.

I didn't want to remember the morbid vampire who'd tried to enslave me, but it was impossible to forget his bony features. He was incredibly gaunt. Was it withdrawals from his last dhampir? Hadn't the guys said it'd been one hundred years or more since his dhampir were taken away ?

"I didn't know," I whispered. "Why did you let me give him my blood, knowing he'd end up an addict?"

"The alternative would have been to let him drain a few humans. He would've hated us and himself if we'd kidnapped Alyssa's neighbors to save him," Damon replied. "He would've died before we made it back to his supply of blood at the fortress. Had I known what Brance had planned for Nathan, I would've brought blood with us. I should've anticipated it, though. I should've been prepared, and I wasn't."

I dropped my forehead onto Damon's wide shoulder and sighed. He blamed himself, which was stupid. "It takes more than once, right? He shouldn't be addicted because of one little taste."

Damon tugged at my hair, and I lifted my head. He stared back at me with an indecipherable look.

"He had more than a little taste," Damon said. "We'll deal with the consequences this evening when he wakes up. In the meantime, you need to eat. I've asked Elliott to bring us food. And yes, he's bringing Kenrid with him."

His mention of food made my stomach growl. Mir also perked up. After the stress of the last few hours, and my blood donation, we were both hungry.

"Yes, I was talking about feeding your dhampir," Damon said.

The smile he gave me eased some of the tension between us. I remembered how rude Mir had been to him in the truck. I winced. He was still willing to take care of her, despite her attitude.

He was being unreasonable, Mir said.

You should still apologize, I countered.

She huffed, but we both knew I was right.

"Are you two done talking about it?" Damon asked.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Talking about what? "

His smile widened. "You're very easy to read, Lorna. Your dhampir behaved exactly as I expected. She was protecting Nathan, as she should, even though she doesn't truly understand the threat she poses to him."

"What do you mean?" I asked, fearing he implied that Nathan was also my soulmate. He'd mentioned it before, but I refused to acknowledge it. Besides, Nathan didn't want me. He'd done his best to avoid me ever since I arrived.

But … Nathan had also made me a promise just before the clan meeting. He'd promised that he'd find a way to have me.

I didn't know what to think anymore.

"We'll discuss it later," Damon said. "Let's get your dhampir fed before Elliott shows up."

He didn't have to explain his comment to me. Elliott and I had just sealed our bond last night. I didn't want him to walk in and see me sucking on Damon. I always ended up aroused. Even the thought of pressing my lips against Damon's skin had me squirming.

"Exactly," Damon whispered, grabbing my waist and lifting me so I could straddle his lap. All the guys knew the moment my desire for them flared. It was irritating.

"That doesn't help," I grumbled, while grinding against his quickly growing erection.

"Yes, it does," he countered. "Stop delaying."

We'd already done this—the feeding part—so many times, but I still felt incredibly awkward. Damon insisted it was natural, but I still wasn't okay with chewing on him.

Then get out of the way, Mir said. My willpower is toast after this morning.

I chuckled and mentally moved to the back seat. She wouldn't hurt Damon—probably couldn't. He seemed indestructible, which was exactly what we needed.

Thank you, Fate !

Mir leaned down and softly kissed that hard line of muscles Damon had running from his shoulder to his neck. He groaned softly, and my desire kicked up another notch. So did his. I squirmed on his lap, and his fingers dug into my hips.

I didn't mind at all.

Mir left another trail of kisses before sinking her teeth in. I moaned as my demon's chocolatey essence hit my tongue. He shouldn't taste so damned good. We swallowed several mouthfuls before his skin closed, healing within moments. Just like every other time, Mir huffed in frustration. I appreciated the failsafe. It ensured we couldn't really hurt him.

Mir moved up Damon's neck and bit again. Damon's hands slid off my hips, and his large palms grabbed my ass. He pulled me forward, creating even more friction between his hard cock and my desperate lady parts. I wanted him so bad!

Just fuck him already, Mir whined, moving to another spot on Damon's neck.

He chuckled. I hoped it was because of Mir's whining, not because he heard her comment.

When Damon healed again, Mir sat back and frowned at him. He smiled, and I could feel her frustration drain away immediately.

"Hello, little d'laej," he whispered.

I was still happily camping out in the back seat , so I knew he was talking to my dhampir.

Mir's frown returned, and Damon raised an eyebrow.

"My name is Mir," she said, surprising me once again that she revealed her name. "Lorna is the little demon, not me."

"Mir."

Shivers ran through my body. Mir loved the sound of her name coming from him.

"Peace in many languages," Damon continued. "It's fitting. I like it. "

My dhampir smiled before mentally trading places with me. It felt so good to be accepted.

I reached out, sliding my hands around the back of Damon's neck and into his hair. He pulled me closer, and I pressed my lips against his. He returned my kiss without hesitation and with the tenderness that I loved from him. He always amazed me with his soft touches and gentle caresses.

"I love you," Damon whispered. "Both of you."

Those words made my heart swell—not that I didn't already know. Damon wasn't shy about claiming me. I hadn't expected him to say ‘I love you' after I'd spilled my guts earlier. It hadn't even crossed my mind that he should, but hearing those words from him felt amazing.

Before I could come up with a response, my bond with Kenrid flared to life. His worry and desperation hit me like a brick. I opened the bond to him and flooded it with relief and excitement. I switched to my connection with Elliott. He was a little apprehensive but not worried. I added him to the welcome party.

My guys were home!

Damon lifted me off his lap and stood, easily putting me on my own two feet. "Let's meet them at the door."

He leaned down and kissed my forehead before pushing me toward the elevator. I didn't need to ask how he knew the guys were here. I had no doubts that my face said it all. Or maybe I projected my emotions to him.

The elevator doors slid open a moment later, and I rushed to meet my guys.