18. Jessa

18

JESSA

“ I might as well drag a cot into the temple,” I mutter to myself as I pull at the pins keeping my hair up. The locks fall down around my face as I descend the steps of the temple, done with all my work for the night.

It’s easier to help with the farm and temple work when it’s out of my face, but it's been a long day. I almost moan as I massage the tension in my scalp out but keep quiet. The base is still active at night, but I don’t wnat to draw attention to myself as I cross the nearly empty courtyard.

After seeing Alina, I feel a little guilty for always slipping in late at night and early in the morning while she sleeps. It’s not that I don’t like her. I’ve just dove into making myself useful at the base.

I think a part of me doesn’t know how to sit still. I’ve always worked, since I was brought to that farm at two. And I also want to prove my worth. I don’t want them to decide I’m no longer needed.

Still lost in thought, I’m not paying enough attention to my surroundings. And that’s evident when rough hands grab me violently from behind, dragging me into the pitch black shadows near the edge of the woods. Terror seizes me and I open my mouth to scream, but a hand clamps down, stifling any sound.

I struggle in vain, heart pounding wildly, as three hulking young male vrakken surround me, their eyes glinting with sadistic excitement in the darkness.

There’s another standing a little farther off, and he looks almost human. He’s not as pale and he’s shifting in rapid bursts like he’s not used to the speed at which he can move now.

And I don’t like it at all. Whatever is about to happen cannot be good with someone so newly Made.

"Well, well, look what we caught wandering all alone," one of them sneers, baring his fangs.

"Pretty little thing isn't she? So soft and breakable," another says with a dark chuckle, trailing a finger down my cheek almost gently before his grip turns brutal, his hands bruising my arms.

I try to wrench away, shaking my head frantically, but escape is impossible. "Let me go!" I try to yell against the hand still crushing my mouth.

The largest vrakken shakes me roughly, making my head spin. "Not a chance. You see Nathan here was just Made and he needs to get his…energy out."

The other chimes in. “I think you’re just the little human to help him with that.”

The young vrakken – Nathan – twitches and shifts again, crossing five feet in the blink of an eye. It’s clear he does have pent up energy, and there is only one way he can be imagining getting that out.

Not to mention he probably won’t be able to resist sinking his teeth into my neck. Lev told me that any scent of blood will drive a newly Made vrakken wild. He’s going to fuck me and kill me and no one here will help.

Anger and fear burns up my throat. This is why I need to be Made! I’ve worked to prove myself to the vrakken and now I’m still at their mercy. I don’t want to be human.

“Let’s see what we’re working with.”

The vrakken steps forward, fisting the front of my tunic and pulling as his friend holds me still. Tears blur my vision as cool air brushes over my now exposed skin and his eyes shine as they rake over me. It makes me feel sick, but I can do nothing as the vrakken behind me wrenches my head back, making my back arch.

“She’ll do quite nicely…” the large vrakken says with a sadistic smirk. “Maybe after Nathan’s done, we can let out a little energy of our own.”

“But we have to make sure that we do right by him,” the one holding me muses, pulling my head back further until it feels like my neck is going to snap. “Make sure she doesn’t just look good. How does she taste?”

His breath brushes over my neck, and a renewed sense of panic takes over. I buck and fight, trying hard to get free. He only laughs, and nausea churns my stomach as he gets closer.

“Hold still,” he taunts in a sing-song voice that sends chills down my body. “Or it might go wr–”

The silence and their laughter is shattered with a loud roar. A thunderous roar splits the night air. Nikolai drops from the sky, massive wings flared, and slams into the vrakken holding me. He goes flying back from the impact.

Nikolai crouchs protectively in front of me, eyes blazing, lips peeled back to reveal vicious fangs. Moonlight glints off his muscles exposed in his sleeveless tunic as he faces my attackers.

The vrakken quickly leap to their feet, unfazed. The largest spits on the ground. "Well, if it isn't the temple boy come to play hero. This doesn't concern you."

Nikolai lets out a vicious snarl. "You made a fucking mistake by touching her."

The vrakken laugh mockingly. "Who are you to claim a girl? You think those pretty wings give you special privileges? We aren’t scared of someone like you." One darts in, raking his hand across Nikolai's chest, strength and magic mixing to draw blood.

With lightning speed, Nikolai grabs the vrakken’s wrist before he can withdraw and hurls him into a tree with a sickening crack. But the others are on him in an instant. Still, he makes sure that he keeps his body between me and them.

Nikolai meets them head on, a whirlwind of fists and wings. Blood sprays as he catches one's face with his hand. The vrakken howls in pain and stumbles back.

But Nikolai is outnumbered. Blows rain down on him from all sides. He endures the hits stoically even as skin tears and blood drips from his knuckles. Worry builds within me, but I keep quiet and out of the way so I don’t make this worse.

"Not so tough now, are you, temple boy?" one vrakken jeers as the others continue their assault. “And when we’re done with you, we’ll make your girl pay for this.”

That seems to unleash something deeper within Nikolai. With a scream, he dives forward like a feral beast unleashed, refusing to yield under the rain of blows.

With a savage roar, he grabs the largest vrakken by the throat and hurls him headfirst into a thick tree trunk. The vrakken's skull connects with a sickening crack before he crumples motionless to the forest floor. I shouldn’t find that as hot as I do…

But seeing him fight for me is making my stomach flip.

I watch as Nikolai whirls and unleashes a devastating series of lightning-fast punches against the next closest attacker. His fists are merciless as they drive repeatedly into the vrakken's stomach and chest, magic and his strength caving in bones that I can hear snap from where I stand.

The vrakken tries desperately to defend himself, but Nikolai is relentless. With a guttural yell, Nikolai drives a brutal uppercut into the vrakken's exposed jaw, lifting him clear off his feet before he crashes down, out cold.

The two remaining vrakken exchange an uncertain, fearful look on their face at seeing two of their group so quickly dispatched. Nikolai turns on them, chest heaving, muscles coiled tight and ready. He is a sight to behold and I want to drop to my knees and worship him right now.

Blood drips freely from his torn knuckles to the ground below. He fixes them with a menacing glare. "Who's next?" he growls through bared fangs.

The vrakken immediately backpedal away slowly. But one suddenly breaks and sprints wildly for the treeline, hoping to escape Nikolai's wrath. In a blur, Nikolai snatches up a loose rock and whips it forcefully, striking the fleeing vrakken's leg and sending him sprawling face-first with a howl of pain.

The last vrakken is left alone against Nikolai. The wrath on his face should be terrifying…if it wasn’t in defense of me.

The vrakken glances between his unmoving companions and Nikolai's hulking, bloodied frame standing between him and me. The vrakken's eyes go wide with fear. With a faint whimper, he turns and runs into the dark woods.

As the last vrakken disappears into the dark forest, Nikolai's gaze follows him, eyes still burning with rage. Then with blinding speed, he takes off after him before I can even react.

His massive wings propel him between the trees with predatory grace, the moonlight flashing on his skin as he rapidly gains on his prey. I can only stare in awe at the raw power displayed as Nikolai hunts them down.

He's nearly invisible, just a dark blur darting through the woods. But the vrakken’s panicked cries echo back to me as Nikolai closes in for the kill.

"No, please, have mercy!" the vrakken pleads desperately. Then his voice dissolves into shrill screams of pure terror. The sounds chill my blood, but I can't tear my eyes away, trying to make out where he went.

I have to know that he’s not hurt.

The screams are cut short, replaced by eerie silence. The forest seems to hold its breath, no creature daring to make a sound. After agonizing minutes of quiet, Nikolai emerges from the darkness.

He moves slowly, eyes downcast. Fresh blood drips from his hands and chest, adding to his existing wounds. Nikolai won't meet my gaze as he stops before me. I sense a dark turmoil roiling within him.

His massive shoulders heave as he catches his breath, wings settling back into a relaxed position. After a long moment, the savagery melts from his eyes. He turns to me, expression now filled with gentle concern.

"Did they hurt you?" He looks me over carefully for injuries, eyebrows creased with worry. Past the lingering anger, I can see only tenderness in his gaze. His touch is incredibly gentle as he helps me up and checks me over, so at odds with the brutality he just displayed against my attackers.

Nikolai's gaze sweeps over me, checking for any signs of harm. His fingers brush my arms and face so lightly, as if I'm made of glass that could shatter.

I shake my head, still in shock over the attack and Nikolai's swift violence in my defense.

He lets out a breath, shoulders losing some tension. "Thank the First." Nikolai frowns at the lingering tear stains on my cheeks and the developing bruises on my arms where they grabbed me. "Let's get you cleaned up."

He sweeps me effortlessly into his arms before I can protest – even if I’m not the one who needs tending to. Nikolai starts toward the base, and I curl up against him, reveling in how good it feels to be pressed against him.

I don’t even ask where he’s taking me. I don’t care. All I want is him right now. To make me feel safe and wanted and protected.

I’d give him anything right now.

Because even if I don’t want to admit it…

I think I’ve already given him my heart.