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“I know the Chinese vampires kidnapped Melli and you went after her. How did you get past that?” The next words were the hardest. “How can you let her out of your sight?”
“I won’t lie. It’s not as easy as it looks.” Stephen’s arm around Melli tightened, his tone haunted. Felix understood where Stephen’s head was at, imagining the worst situation possible for his mate. Melli leaned into Stephen to remind him she was safe and sound. “But her strength, her resilience, is why I fell in love with her. I trust her to take care of herself, and she trusts me to ask for my help if she needs it. I’ll always be there to support her, but I won’t smother her light.
I know it’s not the same with you and Gabby. Gabby wasn’t immortal or strong, but she’s not the same as before. Let go of the past. Start over. Treat her as if you’ve only known her as a vampire.”
Felix had already seen how much Gabby had changed. Treat her as a vampire? How? How could he when he still woke up in terror and soaked in sweat from dreams of her death?
Stephen sighed when he stayed quiet. “When Gabby told me why she ran away, I hated you. She’s descended from a line of warriors and turning into a vampire only amplified her protective and stubborn traits. She needed to grow strong and learn; her nature demanded it. Instead of helping her, you confined and controlled her. But now, with Melli, I can empathize. Some days would be easier if I can lock her up.”
“Do it and see what happens.” Melli’s glower didn’t lessen the adoration on her mate’s face.
“She cares for you, no matter what she says.” Stephen gave him a conspiratorial grin. “Gabby’ll skin me alive for telling you this, but I think a part of her wants you back. That’s all the opening you need.”
Felix nodded and hid the hope flaring within. She still wanted him. And hadn’t he proved that last night? Gabby was still his. Only his. Despite the fraying edges of the mating bond, their connection remained as strong as ever.
“Thank you.” Felix inclined his head. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“Good luck. I wish you and Gabby the best. Remember, if you do anything stupid, I’m ready to kick your ass anytime.”
“If what you said is true, then Gabby won’t thank you for it. She’ll kick my ass herself.”
Stephen laughed, even Melli grinned. “I’ll see you later.”
As Felix made his way back to his rooms, he felt lighter than usual. Stephen was right. It wouldn’t do to kidnap Gabby.
It was time he re-thought his strategy.
Chapter Eleven
GabbytrackeddownAlistairwith ease, even with the numerous other power signatures from the Ancients congregating in the same building.
Being the First, his blood flowed in every vampire, but it was more than the normal connection between a vampire and its sire. While a sire could influence the vampires they’d turned, and even control the progeny, at a certain point, the progeny could grow strong enough to snap that connection and influence.
But she didn’t think any of them could break the tie with Alistair.
Her awareness of Alistair was like white noise. It was constantly there, yet the brain tuned it out until you consciously focused on it.
She found him lounging at the pool on a beach chair under a wide umbrella. He was shirtless, revealing golden skin and hard, sculpted muscles. Dark ink, a swirling mix of runic designs, curving lines, and monsters, so chaotic it was difficult to pick out individual images, covered his right side.
The tattoos, along with the way he sprawled in the chair, utterly relaxed while soaking in the sun, were such a contradiction to the King who instilled primal fear in every living being. Gabby stopped and stared longer than polite. A drink, a mixture of blood and orange flavors, heavy on the orange, stood on the table next to him with a colorful straw sticking out of it.
“From the way you’re gaping, one’d think you’ve never seen a half-naked man before.” Alistair’s lazy drawl snapped her out of her daze. He sat up, a rippling of muscle, the movement lazy and powerful. Gabby’s heart stuttered when his midnight eyes landed on her and his lips curved in a sensual smile she wasn’t immune to, even though she was mated. “Maybe you left Felix for reasons other than his control issues?”
He was taunting her. Never in a million years had she expected the Vampire King to taunt her, especially regarding Felix.
This might not be a smart idea after all. She could deal with Felix without involving a being of immeasurable power.
No, she’d just told Felix she wasn’t human anymore. She’d avoided Felix for six hundred years and the mating bond was still there, drawing her back to him.
Alistair might be her only chance to be free once and for all.
Gabby clenched her fists, forced her feet to move, and sat in the chair a few feet away from him. This was the closest she could get to him before his immense aura muddled her brain.
“If you are implying Felix has trouble performing his duties, that’s between Felix and me,” she gritted out.
Alistair’s smile didn’t waver. It took all of Gabby’s strength to hold his unsettling gaze. He took a sip of his drink and sighed.
“Would you like one?” He gestured to the glass.
