AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You all need to stop. I’m not worth this,” I gesture to them both. “I…I can’t watch you suffer. Just have me if that’s what you want. I’m right here, I’ll mate with either one of you. Just…stop.” My stomach churns as tears spill down my cheeks.
I have seen a man I considered my father reject me in a blink of an eye. I lost my mother, never being able to say goodbye. I have been thrown into exile, outcasted from the only home I knew, ridiculed, and hated. But never have I experienced such strong feelings for not just one but four individuals so quickly and profoundly, only to witness them unravel right before my eyes, all due to a warped sense of duty and honor. I understood that our worlds were vastly different, supernatural’s had to follow a distinct set of rules than humans, but duty and honor should never amount tothis.To hollowed-out, tortured shells of men who just days ago were formidable, strong, and charming.
I force myself to look away, fighting back the wracking sobs stealing my ability to breathe. Because even armed with the knowledge of my history and the battle scars of my torrid past,nothingprepared me for how my soul is tearing itself apart just by looking at the two figures in my bed, starved, pale, andbroken.
I turn as the bed shifts slightly, and this time when Torsten moves, almost as if in slow motion, I realize why I didn’t hear him beyond the door. His body is weak and depleted, his movements clunky and robotic, as though his life force was slipping away with each step he took. His heartbeat was faint but discernible, with infrequent thumps echoing through the air.
“Shifter blood, and those of other species, hold potent markers vampires can’t produce. He’ll heal far quicker by your vein than with the human blood bags.” A thin hand touches my shoulder, and I steel myself.Don’t flinch. Don’t gag.“Please, Aspen. Do this, and I’ll withdraw.” Turning to look into Torsten’s pale eyes, my lip wobbles.
“I…” I can’t say that. Can’t tell him I don’t want him to withdraw because then comes the knowledge that we will never be together. I understand only one can win, but until that day, I can live within a pretty fantasy where nothing has to change. Jaxon can return to his past lover while I lustfully hate him from a distance, while Torst, Chase, and I remain in limbo. But that’s not rational. Not even logical.
Without another word, I crawl up the bed, angling my body towards Chase. He’s so still. At the very least, I know I need to do this to repay this debt. I never wanted any of them to suffer, but they did in my honor, and now the guilt is tearing me apart. I’d do next to anything to put the easy smirk back on his face. Cupping his face, Torsten helps as much as he is able, maneuvering Chase towards my exposed neck. It takes a painstaking amount of time to rouse him enough, but upon feeling the flutter of my pulse against his lips, primal instincts take over.
Holy shit.
Chase’s fangs spear my neck, a rough growl drawn from him at the taste of my blood. Given his weakened state, I wasn’t prepared for him to latch on so hard. He sucks with coarse desperation, greedily gulping down mouthfuls of blood. It takes too much effort not to let myself reveal how good it feels, especially when my nipples are rubbing against the cotton of my t-shirt. Becoming aroused by a decayed vampire wasn’t on today’s agenda, but it’s not just some underfed beast. It’s Chase.
He takes long drags, consuming the very life from my body. Torsten becomes agitated at some point, his grumbles lost to the haze claiming me. I can’t focus, my entire being centered on the assault on my neck. Each pull on my vein makes a beeline to my G-spot, and I’m losing myself, adrift in a tide of ecstasy.
“Enough, asshole,” Torst argues, and my eyes snap open. He’s right, Chase is taking too much. And I need to save some to aid them both. Pushing back on Chase, his strength increases with each drop he consumes. My wolf whines inside my ears, hiking up a sense of anxiety. Losing control isn’t a position we are comfortable in, regardless of the reason.
Shoving at Chase more forcefully this time, he falls back, tearing a chunk of flesh from my neck. A burst of glimmering green eyes zero on the mess he’s made, his lip pulled back on a snarl. When he lunges for me again, I punch him in the face and shoot away in a blur of speed. Grabbing Torsten’s wrist on the way passed, I rush us into the bathroom and flick the lock as Chase collides on the other side. Banging, roaring like a monster possessed.
“Well, this is fun,” I roll my eyes. Lowering Torsten into the bathroom, I straddle him and hang the dripping wound over his mouth before it heals. It’s safe to say that I need to tread carefully until these males have their full senses back. Torsten is much calmer, though, laying patiently while drops of crimson patter over his mouth, chin, and chest.
Oh, just sit on his face already, the voice in my head tuts. I shove her aside. Horny bitch. Instead, I watch Torsten’s features restoring at a rapid rate. Pewter gray eyes blink up at me, his jaw appearing sharper. The muscles beneath me expand like a balloon, filling his chest and biceps. Hips thicken beneath me, as does the cock, which is immediately erect and pushing against my center. The wound on my neck heals, ending the spell we’d become captured in, drowning in each other’s eyes.
On the other side of the door, the noise has ceased. Much to my vampire’s disgust, I peel myself from Torsten, leaving him to finish healing. When I don’t hear any movement on the other side, I poke my head into the bedroom. Chase has crashed on the bed, his face smeared with blood against the pillow. A snore leaks from his gaping mouth, his body taking longer to repair than Torsten’s did. Stubby, thick brown hair now coats his head, his limbs twitching every so often. A shudder runs through my own spine, preceding a pair of arms wrapping around my middle. Torsten holds me tightly, his chin on my shoulder.
“You’re angry.”
“Yeah, I’m pissed as all hell.” I agree. Testing if he can handle my weight, I lean back into his chest, chewing on the inside of my cheek. “What’s the point in winning me if you’re all dead, and apparently, you don’t even need to be unmated to participate.” I throw my arms up in the air. Torsten’s hold doesn’t ease, his comforting presence washing over me like a balm to my soul.
“Let’s leave him to rest. I have an idea that may relax you.” My inner vampire perks up her ears, and somehow, I think she’ll eventually get her way.
Chapter18
Torsten
We are walking down one of the long, stone corridors towards the castle's west wing, hand in hand. This will be the first time Aspen meets other members of the army, and I want them to know she is spoken for immediately. We found suitable workout gear in her wardrobe, and both knew the female’s version of a gym wouldn’t be enough for her needs. Now we just need to get to the main gymnasium because I can’t stop peering back at her plump ass swaying in purple leggings or how her vest hangs loosely over a black sports bra.
We turn the corner and pass through the open double doors into the gym. An ambush of chatter and sweat hits us tenfold, her clench on my hand tightening. Checking she’s okay, Aspen juts out her chin and continues inside. Upon smelling her delectable scent, every male inside stops dead and stares at us in the doorway. No turning back now.
“I’d like to introduce you all to Princess Aspen.” I wince at her glare in my peripheral vision, but to introduce her simply by her first name would be considered offensive. Turning to look into Aspen’s doe eyes, I smile reassuringly. “Aspen, this is most of our army. They’ll serve and protect you to the ends of the earth. You can trust everyone in here with your life.” She half smiles, looking slightly uncomfortable, and waves out at the Vamps subconsciously shuffling towards her. Clicking my fingers on a growl, reminding them of their manners, everyone in attendance falls to one knee, bowing their heads in unison and causing Aspen to flinch. I chuckle, waving a hand through the air.
“Everyone return to what you were doing. Aspen and I will be working out in here together.” The Vamps stand and return to their equipment, although I don’t miss the shifty side-eyes they give each other. I can practically hear their thoughts. ‘Lorcan won’t like this,’ but does Lorcan really like anything these days?
“Seeing you all authoritative is kind of hot,” Aspen says softly, leaning into my side. Lifting a hand to my chest, I gasp in mock offense.
“Kind of?” A giggle is pulled from her luscious lips, capturing more than a bit of attention from the Vamps pretending to work out around us. Moonlight illuminates the space from above the glass roof. I lead Aspen to the other side of the gymnasium, pointing out modernized exercise machines to the left. On the other, the dumbbells and weight benches live, with multiple pull-up bars in the surrounding area. In the space before open electronic doors leading to a running track, Vamps are sparring on large foam mats, and I see her interest fully piqued.
I had intended to take her outside, away from the crowds, until Aspen abruptly stops and pulls back on my hand. Entranced by the fight currently taking place, her eyes track the sprays of blood, teasing her thumb over her fingertips. There’s no protection here, our quick healing allowing us to beat the shit out of one another and still walk out of the room laughing.
“Would you like to join us, Princess?” A cocky Finnian asks, noticing Aspen’s intrigued gaze. Fucking Finnian. The other Vamps drop their raised fists and turn to face us, brows quirked. On instinct, I put my arm around Aspen’s shoulders and drag her into me.
“No fucking way,” I say at the same time she yells, “Hell yes!” Spinning her and blocking out the muttering vampires by crowding her.
“I don’t think this is a good idea. Despite being complete cocks, these are some of my most elite soldiers. You will get hurt.”
