Opening my eyes, I see Thorin kneeling in front of me. I would gasp, but I know it will hurt. Thorin Blackwood does not go to his knees for anyone.
“Baby, what happened? Where are you hurt?”
“Fuck. My head.” His hands go to the back of my head, feeling for the goose egg that is forming.
A deep, menacing growl slips from him when I see blood on his hand.
“Shit.”
“I’ve got her, brother.” Halen steps forward, offering me a gentle smile.
With his hand on the back of my head, he does his thing, and suddenly the pain and the nausea are gone.
“I love you, Halen,” I mutter, keeping my eyes closed.
Chuckles can be heard mixed with another deep resounding growl from the man kneeling in front of me.
“I get it, brother. Backing off,” I hear Halen say, humor cutting his tone.
“Delaney, what happened?”
“Where the fuck are the prospects?” Thorin growls. “They should have been protecting my—” He stops himself, and I sigh.
He will never claim me, never admit to what I am to him.
Feeling super tired, I try to push to my feet, but Thorin is there, helping me. I push his hands away, but he grunts, keeping a hold on my waist.
“Delaney?” Winger tries again.
“She is hurt, Pres; give her time,” Thorin growls.
“Damn, you are growly today,” I huff.
More chuckles go up around me, making me smile. I wink at Camo, and he dips his head with a smile of his own.
“It was four vampires. They must have been waiting for me. I have not seen the prospects since I came out of the store.”
“You should have waited for them,” Thorin grunts, and I huff, not bothering with a reply.
He can fuck off for all I care.
“Found them. Both behind the dumpster, drained,” is all Shift says.
“Well, fuck.” My heart hurts for two young men who lost their lives protecting me and wanting to be a part of a brotherhood.
“How were they out in the daylight?” Shift asks. “They must have some kind of amulet like you do, Thorin,” he adds.
“Witches will do anything if you give them what they want, and some have zero morals,” Camo spits out.
“Did the vampires say anything?”
I nod to Winger’s question, finding myself leaning into Thorin, who is still holding me.
“They said that I am a target because I am important to the club and...”
“And?” Winger prompts, but I can see in his eyes that he knows what I am going to say next.
“Thorin,” I whisper. “They also said somethings that only someone from within the club would know about.”
