Page 28 of Quintus

Every muscle in her body tensed at the mention of another woman on his lips. Jealousy flared but she smothered the negative thought while remaining on alert.

“She was a special creature. A pixiu. It doesn’t matter to say much more but she…well, I suppose she was somewhat of a shifter as well. Not in its true sense of the word like you, but she wasn’t human. I’m not sure if you realize but, although there’re certainly exceptions, vampires typically feed off of humans.”

Gabriella recalled the humans at the club, aware he’d fed off of them, most likely using them for sex as well. She loathed the blood clubs, donors desperate for an experience and shifters seeking more of the same. Although she’d felt like a whore selling her blood, she’d never let them have more, not her flesh. The temptation of the orgasm incited by their bite lingered in her thoughts but she’d never been willing to give herself to anyone…until Quintus.

“Humans have never been anything more than food, a simple necessary means to an end. Perhaps some more enjoyable than others. But there has been no one in my life like Mao…no one who I’ve bonded with…until…” He sighed, and turned toward Gabriella. “You’re an unexpected complication. I keep saying that there’s something about you, but you see, I’ve suspected it’s so much more.”

Quintus approached the bed, drawing closer to his wolf. “Easy, bella. I’m just going to sit down here. No fighting. Just talking. Now, I’m not sure what made you shift before the moon or if this is something you can just do on demand, but you can’t stay that way forever.”

Gabriella gave a soft whine as he sat gently on the mattress, coming within inches of her lupine form. The scent of her vampire called to her, tempting her to shift.

“What happened back there?” He gave a loud sigh. “Your blood saved me in New Orleans. But I suspect that when I bite you…there is no going back once I do it. You’re a virgin, si? Never been bitten?”

Her wide eyes blinked, acknowledging his statement. Never allowing the vampires who bought her blood to feed directly had been essential to her survival. Mostly working through third parties, she remained anonymous. Her magical blood was a rare commodity. Permitting them to bite would have relegated her to the ranks of a donor. Gabriella didn’t seek the rush of being bitten by strangers, or the sex that would have followed.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. But this connection between us…”

She refused to change, although she desperately yearned to touch him.

“On an average day, when I bite someone, there’s sometimes a slight tie to the human. For at least that moment in time, I can feel their emotions, but it ends there. With you, you must understand, this is not something I can take back. If I bite you and we bond, it could be permanent. I can’t be sure if you’re the one until I bite you, but instinct tells me…”

Mate. The word danced in her thoughts. Although aware that wolves mated, she never suspected it could happen to her. Not being of pack, it’d been unlikely she’d meet anyone.

“I know what you’re thinking. Wolves mate with wolves. And this is true. It’s crossed my mind that although we have this connection, perhaps your mate is out there somewhere waiting for you. And if that’s so, that you have a mate, someone other than me, then I suppose I’m simply just enamored with you.” He took a sip of his wine, gently setting the glass on the night table. “The only way to test this is for me to bite you. To see if the bond is there. Of course it sounds easy enough, but bella, you’ve never been bitten. This is not a choice to be made lightly. I could not allow myself to bite you, no matter how much I wanted to. It would not be wise or honorable.”

Gabriella’s heart squeezed at his words. As he reached for her, she stilled in anticipation of his touch. Her body sizzled with magick as his palm ran over her head and down her flank.

“You’re beautiful, Gabriella. As a wolf. As a witch. This coven, these people who called you impure, they’re wrong. You’re unique. Any pack would have been privileged to have you.”

As Quintus shifted off the bed and crossed the room, the loss of his warmth saddened her. She’d never been told she was beautiful.

“You must be hungry,” he said, reaching for a tray. “I apologize but with all my travel as of late, I’m not fully stocked. But apples and cheese do stay well.”

She whined, not for food but for his touch. As if he’d read her mind, he returned to the bed, setting the tray next to his wine.

“I can feel you, Gabby. Even as wolf, I feel you inside me. This isn’t natural for me. I don’t want to hurt you. I won’t hurt you. So I’m sorry, but we cannot do this.”

Anger burned hot inside of her. Why did he get to make the decision about whether she was bitten? The magick blistered bright, forcing the transformation. She gasped for breath as her shift completed, her eyes set on his.

“I’m no different than the other donors. I wanted this. Do you have any idea what I offered you?” she stated, her voice raised.

“You are different than the others,” he challenged.

“So what is this between us? You fuck me but you feed from humans. You tell me we’re connected but you won’t bite me to find out if I’m supposed to be with you because I’m a…haven’t ever been bitten.” Gabriella shoved up to sit, fury in her eyes. “Jesus, I should have never asked you for help.”

“I told you I would help you and I will. I helped you right now. Don’t you understand what could happen if I bite you?” Quintus’ intense stare held hers as if daring her to move.

“I get that you bite thousands of women. Fuck them too. That’s what I get. But me, what? I’m good enough to save you but not good enough to drink from. And your reasoning is that we might be bonded? You don’t want to risk doing that with someone like me.” Gabriella blew out a breath, and shook her head, averting her gaze. “Nope, you know what? I shouldn’t have had sex with you. I shouldn’t have asked you for help. And I shouldn’t be here.”

“Do you want a bond with someone who will need to feed from you? Let’s say I’m right. You’re my mate. That somehow, the Goddess sees fit for me to bond with a witch, a shifter, never a human. Do you know what it means to be food? Because I can tell you this, feeding off others, it’s intimate. If you don’t like it, I still need to eat. Would you want to bond with a male who feeds off strangers? Is that what you want? Because that’s where this is headed.”

Gabriella leapt off the bed, running towards the door. Naked, she hadn’t given a thought to where she was going. She only knew she needed to escape the pain of rejection. Craving Quintus, wanting him to bite her wasn’t rational, yet the obsession grew by the second. All the other women had been good enough. Not me.

Within seconds, he flew across the room. Firm hands spun her shoulders around, pinning her naked form to the wall. The heat of his body emanated onto her skin as he caged her with his palms planted firmly to her sides.

“Let me go,” she demanded, releasing her magick. His body brushed hers and her traitorous nipples stood erect in arousal.

“If we’re bonded, this is not something I can undo. I’m powerful. Lethal. Ruthless. You don’t even know me, Gabriella. It would be hard but I could let you walk away now. But if I bite you…once this starts…”