“I’m completely in love with you, MagdaleneDoe.”
She blinked back her tears. “I’m in lovewith you too, Aiden Byrne. Also, my name is MagdaleneShea.”
“What?”
She smiled against his throat. “Somethingelse we can discuss later, but I found my grandmother. I have agrandma.”
Aiden held her closer when he heard thehappiness in her voice. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
Lifting his hand, he banged on the door. Theothers had gone quiet, but he knew they were still out there. “Letus out,” he commanded.
There was a minute of silence, then Vickycalled out, “Maggie?”
“I'm all right, but I’d really like to getout of here.”
After another hesitation, the key turned inthe lock and the door swung inward to reveal the others. Aiden’slips skimmed back when he spotted Ethan. He forced his gaze awayfrom Ethan before he put Maggie down and attacked his brother toease some of his pent-up bloodlust.
Vicky and Abby stood next to each other,wearing identical looks of concern as they kept their gazes focusedon Maggie. Brian positioned himself protectively in front of Abby;his red eyes warned Aiden to stay away from her. Saxon leanedagainst a wall with his arms over his chest, but despite his casualposture, Aiden knew Saxon was prepared to take him down.
“Your skin—” Vicky started.
“I’m handling it,” he grated from betweenhis teeth as Maggie rubbed his neck. “I need blood and somewhere wecan be alone.”
“There’s a cottage out back. The guards usedit for breaks and naps. We’ve been crashing there,” Saxon repliedas he walked over to unlock the back door. “There are blood bags inthe fridge and extra clothes in the bedroom closet.”
“Good. Don’t bother us,” Aiden said.
CHAPTER 49
The white cottage was cute and old. Theblack shutters on the front sagged on their hinges and the lopsidedslant of the windows made Maggie smile. The door creaked when Aidenswung it open before ducking to carry her through the doorway. Inthe murky radiance of the moon spilling through the windows, Maggiesaw a sofa and a chair in the living room before Aiden carried herthrough a small dining room and into a kitchen that made herkitchen look huge.
With reluctance, Aiden set her down. Hewalked over, opened the fridge, and removed one of the blood bagsto drink it. After Maggie’s blood, the taste was bitter on hislips, but he consumed it all.
“How exactly does this work?” Maggie asked.“I know you said before, if I lost enough blood and was given theblood of a vampire, I’d change. Is that it?”
Aiden finished the blood, wiped his mouth,and tossed the bag into the trash. “I have to drain you to thepoint where you would never survive the loss before giving you myblood,” he said.
He risked glancing at her to see how shewould react to his words. He’d expected to see terror on her face;there was none.
“And then I’ll become a vampire?” sheasked.
“Yes,” he said and drank another bag ofblood.
“Is the transition painful?”
“I’m told it’s excruciating, but the painfades quickly. Pathways will open between our minds during theexchange, and once the bond is complete, we’ll be able tocommunicate mentally.”
“No more misunderstandings,” she said with asmile.
“No more misunderstandings.”
“If you’re going to take my blood, then whyare you drinking so much now?” Maggie perched on the edge of thetable and kicked off her sneakers as she watched him.
“This blood isn’t for me,” he said and threwanother bag away. “To complete the transition, a newly turnedvampire has to feed soon after. I’m drinking this so you can feedon me. If you choose, after you turn, you’ll only ever have to feedon me to survive.”
Maggie’s clothes suddenly felt too confiningas his words caused her skin to tingle and her body to quicken withdesire. She licked her lips in anticipation of feeding on himagain.
Aiden’s head turned slowly toward her; hisnostrils flared as the scent of her arousal hit him. Maggie slidoff the table, unbuttoned her jeans and tugged them off with herunderwear. She removed the remains of her sweater before unclaspingher bra and tossing it aside to stand before him with her nipplesthrusting proudly forward.
