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“Nick claimed me, but I haven’t claimed him yet,” she hissed, frustration and sorrow warring with each other. “I can’t, until he’s free of his demons and can allow me to claim him freely, and share my joy.”
“Share your joy?” he repeated, voice rising even though she tried to shush him. “Does he realize that by being claimed you can no longer feed from anyone else, vampire or human? That you’ll fucking starve if he doesn’t allow you to claim him?”
“No, and you’re not going to tell him,” she ordered furiously. “So help me, I won’t speak to you again if you do!”
“Why the hell not?” he yelled. “This is your life we’re talking about!”
“I won’t have my mate coerced into Bonding!” Bolting to her feet, she slammed a palm on the table, making the dishes j
ump. A couple of other coven members who’d been dining on the other side of the room quickly cleared out. “You will not interfere in this. Do you understand me?”
“Calla.” He was gutted; she could tell.
“I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to help, but I need you to stay out of my mating. He’ll come around under his own steam, or not at all.”
“But if he doesn’t, you could— No, you will die.”
“It won’t come to that.” She hoped. Tarron appeared so lost, she relented some and went around the table. Putting her arms around his neck, she gave him a hug and was immediately enveloped in his embrace.
“I love you, sis,” he said hoarsely. “Don’t let this go too long. You and Adrian are my only family, and you’re everything to me.”
She kissed his cheek, love swelling in her heart. “I won’t. And I love you, too.”
A twinge of hunger gnawed her belly as she made her way back to the infirmary.
* * *
Nick awoke the next morning, restless and irritated with the constant pain in his injured leg. To hell with this.
Seeing that he was alone for the moment, he made quick work of yanking out his IV line and ripping off every one of those damned itchy little stick-on circles connected to the heart monitor. Then he shucked his ugly gown and let his wolf free.
The shift was fast, due to centuries of practice. His wolf circled around on the bed, then flopped down with a sigh of contentment. Just when he got settled, a nurse rushed in, followed by Dr. Archer.
“You could’ve waited instead of scaring my nurse,” the doc scolded. Then he smiled. “But I’m glad to see you’re on the mend. I’ll check on you in an hour or so; then most likely you’ll be ready to go.”
The doctor left. Nick dozed for a bit, letting his shifter’s system heal the rest of his injury. He didn’t sleep very well, though, because he kept jerking awake and wondering where Calla had gone. Was she upset with him for leaving the way he did before they were called to Dallas? She didn’t seem as though she was when he last saw her, but his heart still ached at the thought.
The door opened and his mate pushed into the room. He raised his head and caught the full force of her smile, and the sight of her went straight to his soul. His wolf let out a happy chuff as she sat beside him and began to scratch his ears.
“Viktor told me you were sort of naughty,” she said.
Not as naughty as I’d like to be, he thought.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “You really spoke in my head! I almost thought I’d imagined that before, when I heard you tell me you had to go out on a call.”
Nope. All shifters can communicate with their mates once they’ve Bonded. It’s a nice perk.
“But I’m not a shifter. Will I be able to talk back to you?” She looked intrigued, and somewhat worried she wouldn’t be able to.
I don’t know, he admitted. I’ve never known a mated shifter-and-vampire couple. Try.
Furrowing her brow, she concentrated on what he guessed was sending a message. When he didn’t receive one, he shook his head.
It might develop later on your end, after you claim me.
Her tired eyes widened slightly. “Oh, Nick, are you ready for me to claim you? I’m not pressuring you. It’s just that I want you so much. It’ll be so wonderful, honey; you’ll see—”
I want it, too. I do. Soon. I promise it won’t be much longer.
