A Night of Forever (8 page)

The shout of laughter was audible even to human
ears. Mary Ellen turned, her face flushed with horror and
embarrassment. She was providing the entertainment they desired and
expected. He wanted to kill them all merely for laughing at her.
And he would. But first… he had a werewolf to destroy.

“Think about it,” he whispered, biding time while
the beast inside him took control. “Your brother-in-law—”

“What about Grayson?”

His blood began to simmer in his veins as he slowly
released the demon within. “He’s pale, tends to avoid daylight.” He
kept his gaze pinned to the wolf as the monster inside him crawled
and clawed its way to the surface.

“You’re saying…you’re saying Grayson is a
vampire?”

He nodded, feeling his teeth lengthen. He wanted to
scream, to give completely over, but he held tight to what little
humanity remained within.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Will you believe this?” He lifted his lips into a
snarl, his canine teeth long and pointed.

Mary Ellen swallowed hard, staring at his mouth.
“Meg—”

“Knows,” he hissed.

She jumped, startled by the sound of his voice. Yet,
still Mary Ellen shook her head in denial. “She doesn’t! She
wouldn’t marry him!”

Anger fought with control. “She knows, and it
doesn’t matter to her. Some people believe in love, not money and
connections.”

He was being cruel and couldn’t care. She had to
understand, must believe him if they were to survive. Hell, he
didn’t give a shite about his own life but he would not see her
tortured, killed, torn to shreds by some demon mongrel.

She flushed, her lower lip trembling. “Are you
really discussing my ideas on marriage now, of all times?”

“No, merely making an absurd comment so you wouldn’t
notice the werewolf stalking us.”

“How dare…” Her eyes went from narrowed with fury to
wide with shock. “The
what
?”

Aidan pushed Mary Ellen to the side and burst
forward. They met in the middle of the dungeon. He slammed into the
wolf, his fingers curling into the thick, gray fur. They hit the
ground with a thump that would have killed a human. The man had
transformed completely into a dog. He was gone, and the beast
wouldn’t be able to control himself. The battle would be a fight to
the death.

The wolf twisted in his arms, his muzzle snapping at
Aidan’s throat. Lord, the animal was strong, or he was weak.
Shite
, this wasn’t going to be easy. Sweat broke out on
Aidan’s forehead.

“I know your human form is in there,” Aidan tried,
gripping the beast around his thick neck. “Fight it, damn you. We
don’t have to kill each other.”

A sharp sting ripped across his thigh, claws tearing
through is trousers and flesh. Aidan hissed in a breath, the pain
turning to a throbbing ache. It would heal soon enough, he had to
remind himself.

Above, he could hear cheers from the crowd, urging
them onward. They’d placed bets on who would win. He wasn’t about
to lose. Losing would mean Mary Ellen’s death, or worse, she’d be
turned into a werewolf.

Aidan shoved his feet into the animal’s belly and
pushed away. They rolled apart, time to recoup and study the
situation, time to regain their breaths. Aidan stumbled, barely
able to put pressure on his injured leg. Damn it all, why hadn’t he
fed? Why hadn’t he listened to Grayson and accepted who he was? The
wolf leaned back on his haunches, watching him through yellow eyes,
drool slipping from his muzzle and pooling onto the stone floor. He
was preparing to attack, preparing to feed.

He didn’t give a damn about himself. He had to keep
the beast away from Mary Ellen. He might not change with a bite
from the wolf, for vampires were immune, but she wasn’t. They burst
toward each other at the same time, once again slamming together in
the middle of the dungeon. Aidan kicked at the beast’s foreleg and
heard the distinct sound of a bone cracking. A yelp of pain that
told him he’d hit his mark. The beast was lame. Aidan flipped the
animal over. He felt a moment’s remorse as he stared into the
animal’s snarling muzzle, then reached toward it’s thick neck. With
his remaining strength, he turned the large head until he heard the
snap of bones.

The wolf stilled, the large body slumping onto the
ground. Soon, it would turn back into the man he’d once been. He
couldn’t let Mary Ellen see. The group upstairs grew quiet, then
suddenly burst into raucous clapping. Aidan ignored them all. He
didn’t care. Only one person held his interest. Slowly, he turned.
Mary Ellen stood against the far wall, her eyes huge and luminous
with shock and fear. He had to make her understand, she must trust
him once more.

He stumbled toward her, grimacing every time his
lame leg hit the stone floor. He’d seen it before… that utter look
of terror. He’d sworn he’d never see that look again, but history
did have a habit of repeating itself. She knew the truth now. “Mary
Ellen—”

“Two beasts then!” the man above shouted.

Aidan froze, jerking his gaze toward those windows.
No. He hadn’t the strength for two werewolves.

“Aidan!” Mary Ellen rushed toward him. She didn’t
stop until she hurled her warm body into his arms. Relief was
bitterly sweet. He gripped her tight, breathing in her sweet scent.
She had seen what he was and she didn’t care. For this one moment
he would soak in her essence and pretend all was well. For one
brief moment she would be his.

“You’re hurt!” She pushed back and cupped the sides
of his face, the fear was replaced with worry. Actual tears
trembled on her lower lashes. He’d thought if he could ignore what
he was, the beast would go away. But it was a part of him…a part
she accepted.

Dear God, she cared. The human within him swelled
with hope but the beast had known all along that she belonged to
him. “I…I’ll be well enough in an hour or so.”

Those eyes, those beautiful cornflower blue eyes
watched him with what could only be called affection. How long had
it been since anyone had cared? “Truly?”

He nodded, unable to say more for a lump of emotion
clogged his throat. How ironic that his life had merely just begun
within in the dingy walls of a dungeon. But he suddenly felt whole,
there was a reason to live and by God, he would see that they
did.

She glanced up at the windows, heedless to the
effect she had on him. “Then, I do believe it’s time to
escape.”

Aidan laughed. “Yes.”

But how to escape? The two doors were bolted from
the outside. The windows a good twenty feet above. If he jumped and
made it, could he break the bars? But he knew the answer to his
problems even before the beast inside him whispered the word,
blood.

Aidan swallowed hard and lowered his gaze to the
pulse thumping in Mary Ellen’s neck. That smooth, pale throat. Her
sweet scent. The beast inside him roared to life. It was the only
way.

“What is it?” she asked.

Their gazes clashed and he saw something shift in
her eyes…a knowing. She accepted what he was, but would she go so
far as to accept what he needed? “There’s only one way out of
this.”

She didn’t speak for one long moment. “Tell me.”

“I have to feed.”

Fear and resignation mixed in her gaze. “On
what?”

“You.”

She gave a nervous laugh and took a step back.
“You’re jesting.”

How he wished he was. How he wished this was a joke,
or nightmare. Sadly, it was his life. “They’re bringing in two more
werewolves. I don’t have the energy to fight and kill them. I
haven’t fed in weeks.”

“Fed?” her voice squeaked.

He took a step closer, she took a step back. “I’m
injured.”

She swallowed hard and looked at him exactly as he’d
expected…like he was a monster. He didn’t have time for her human
sensibilities. “Damn it, Mary Ellen, either I feed from you, or we
both die.”

She narrowed her eyes, annoyance flashing in those
heavenly blues. “Well, when you say it that way.” She was furious
and for some odd reason he found her dramatic nature amusing.
“You’ve…you’ve ruined any chance I might have at a decent marriage
with Worthing.”

“I saved you!”

“Oh yes, saved! Because this is so much better than
being chased by a ridiculous man in a garden.” She brushed her hair
over her left shoulder. “You’ve ruined my gown.”

His gaze found the pale column of her throat and his
heart slammed wildly in his chest. He knew how she would taste…like
the finest of brandies. “How, exactly, did I do that?”

“You’re at least responsible! Don’t try to deny it.”
She tilted her head back, closing her eyes like some virgin about
to be sacrificed. “And now you want to drink my blood.” She sighed
long and loud. “Well, fine. Do it. But you better not kill me.”

Aidan wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or shake
her. Instead he gripped her shoulders and jerked her forward. She
squeaked, closing her eyes more tightly. Lord, she smelled
wonderful, like cinnamon and apples.

He lowered his head to her neck, breathed deeply and
savored the moment. The murmured conversation above was barely
noticeable over the rapid thump of her heart. They were curious
there, above, wondering what he was planning. They’d know soon
enough. Aidan flicked his tongue over his pointed teeth, testing
their sharpness. Taking in a deep breath, he lowered his head to
her neck. His teeth pierced the flesh easily.

Mary Ellen gasped, stiffening in his arms.

Her warm, sweet blood flooded his mouth, danced
across his tongue. Complete euphoria washed over him, through him,
pulsing in his veins. He’d dreamt of her taste, he’d stayed up at
night thinking about her, but never had he imagined this.
Everything and everyone faded. He no longer heard the excited
murmurs of the crowd above them. No longer cared that they were
trapped in a dungeon. He only cared about Mary Ellen…having her
completely and utterly. The loud thump of her heart, his heart… as
one.

The beast inside him erupted. Took control of his
body, his emotions and needs. He wanted more. Had to have more.
Vaguely he was aware of Mary Ellen sinking into him, her body going
limp. The human part of him knew he needed to stop… she couldn’t
take much more blood loss. But he was hungry… so damn hungry.

Her blood rushed through his body, filling his form
with warm life, giving him strength. And then she sighed… a soft
sigh that pierced his cold heart. It was what he needed. Aidan
jerked back. The tiny holes in her neck stood out in stark contrast
to her pale skin. Guilt and relief struggled for dominance. The
strength that rushed through him on a heated waved pulsed in time
with his heartbeat…her heartbeat, he wasn’t sure who the pulse
belonged to. Mary Ellen’s lashes fluttered up, her hazy gaze so
completely trusting of him that the guilt he felt was almost
unbearable.

Shite
, he’d fed too long. “Easy now,” he
said, his voice catching with an emotion he didn’t dare
contemplate.

She nodded. “Did it work?”

“Yes.” He hated himself more at that moment than he
ever had before. This woman hadn’t been disgusted by him, she
hadn’t shied away. She’d been a warrior, offering herself for the
greater good. And he’d practically taken her soul. Gently, he
settled her against the stone wall. “You stay put.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I’ll just sit here.” She slid
down the wall, landing in a heap of lavender silk. Seeing her small
body huddled on the floor left him aching and desperate.

“Mary Ellen,” he whispered, kneeling. “I’m so—”

The door across the room screeched open. Aidan
jumped to his feet and spun around. Through the black pit, two
werewolves sauntered inside, their noses to the ground, scenting
out their prey.

The door fell back into place with a thud that
stirred the dust on the floor. As one they lifted their heads,
finding Mary Ellen’s scent almost immediately. Their eerie yellow
eyes locked on her. They were prime, ready to mate and she was
their target.

Aidan’s gaze narrowed. The man in charge who watched
them from above like some god had made one stupid mistake. Two
werewolves in their prime would kill each other for a mate. Aidan
wouldn’t have to do a bloody thing but sit back and wait for the
winner, who would no doubt be tired and injured.

The wolves turned on each other quicker than he’d
expected, their snarls and cries of pain vibrating through the
stone room. Not bothered by their fight, Aidan turned his attention
to the windows above. The people were in clear focus now that he’d
fed. His body no longer ached, the injury healed. They looked so
utterly normal. Who knew they were a mad, blood thirsty lot? Not
even the women in their fine silk clothes looked horrified by the
violence. Their excitement was practically tangible.

Twenty feet above. The steel bars would be easy
enough to break now that he’d fed. The jump… he narrowed his eyes…
he should be able to make the distance.

He didn’t need to look back at Mary Ellen to check
her welfare. He could sense her, feel her breath, hear her
heartbeat…slow…so slow. Panic urged him into action.

Aidan ran directly at the far corner, so fast he
knew he was a blur, and was for once thankful for his abilities.
His foot hit the corner, about five feet up. Aidan pushed off and
focused on those iron bars covering the windows.

He gripped the bars and looked directly into their
pale English faces…each and every one. For a moment they were too
shocked to make a sound. Quickly enough the women screamed, the
small group of silk dresses and suits stumbling back in their haste
to escape. The sound of shattering glass resonated through the cell
as they dropped their flutes of wine.

“No need to retreat. Don’t worry.” The man in charge
tried to calm their fears. “There is no possible way he can escape.
The bars have been tested.”