Mated Enemies

I was hot and sticky by the time I reached the first storefront almost an hour later and stopped to buy a bottle of water. A whole hour had gone by and I was still no closer to a solution. It wasn’t time to shield yet since I had a few more hours and I would need all my strength to stay hidden from him. But I need to find a place to hole up in the meantime.

The mark on my neck had stopped throbbing the closer I got to town and was pretty much placid now. The sneak had done this on purpose I’m sure. So much for him being caring and understanding. I ought to punch his lights out the next time I see him. Uh-oh!

Not now Natalia! My nymph’s sudden appearance reminded me of what he’d said about my egg and I tripped over my feet as I came to a standstill on the sidewalk. I counted the days on my fingers and real panic kicked in. Oh hell no!

I started running with nowhere to run to, but just knowing I needed to get out of sight. Realistically I knew he couldn’t be out and about for a few more hours but it felt as if he were dogging my every step. I had a real new fear and worry now as I looked at the buildings for an inn or hotel. If mating with a vampyre doesn’t kill me, carrying his child would be the next thing to death.

LUCIEN

What the hell is she doing now? Damn! We’re not even married yet and she’s already giving me fits. ‘Can I sleep Natalia?’ I’d followed her in my half sleep state to the town limits since her frantic shit had awakened me at just before noon.

I wasn’t too worried since I knew her every move and I knew by now that the mark I’d left on her would do its job. Though I hadn’t intentionally marked her that night, I was beginning to see it as the best move I could’ve made. Providence had stepped in where my dumb ass had almost dropped the ball.

Now she can run as fast as she wants to, she just can’t go too far. I watched as she checked in at the front desk of the cute little boutique hotel and sighed before settling down in the bed again. I still have a few hours left before I have to go hunt her down and I have a feeling that after tonight my peace and quiet will come to a sudden end.

My eyes were at half-mast when she dragged herself up the short flight of stairs to the room she’d rented and once she locked herself inside and dropped down on the bed I knew it was safe to sleep again. I smirked at her thoughts of what to do, where to go…

Damn little fool! My mark had brought her closer to me.

Natalia

I fell asleep, how the hell did that happen? One minute I was sitting on the side of the bed trying to come up with something that would thwart him and the next…I was waking up from what must’ve been a very deep sleep because I have no recollection of anything between then and now.

I got my bearings and left the bed, heading for the bathroom to relieve my bladder. As I washed my hands over the sink I looked at the mark that was no longer as dark as it had been just a few hours ago. I didn’t fool myself that I was out of the woods yet, but that was a good sign wasn’t it?

My body felt a bit strange but I put that off to the time of the month. I usually get lethargic one moment and full of sexual angst the next; hormones! And though there was an added edge to what I felt this time around, I didn’t think too much of it. With all that’s been going on these past few days it’s no wonder my body is feeling part of the strain.

Outside the windows the sun was still up so I’d only lost a few hours. Now it was time to really get myself in gear. There was a lot I could do, but because I’m not too familiar with my opponent I felt a bit limited. Shielding is something that can be done from almost anyone when done right, but how would that work with this thing on my neck?

I rubbed it beneath my fingers as I’ve been doing but nothing happened. There was no burning sensation like before, though I did feel a strange tingling just beneath the surface of my skin.

“You’re just spooking yourself Nat.” I paced from one end of the room to the next until the growling of my stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten all day. I’d been too nervous this morning to enjoy breakfast, all of us had been.