Micaela's Big Bad

The vampires were sucked dry by both of us, and when a fire was started, Kieran ushered me outside right away. I was bundled into his vehicle, and his driver took off. I watched Kieran the whole time, feeling his dragon still with me, but a block away from Nikki’s apartment, I also felt Kieran call his dragon back to him.

He hadn’t wanted to go. He did it, reluctantly and slowly, and it felt like he’d been peeled off me. It hurt, both of us. I could feel his pain, and I was feeling his loss now too.

No, returning to what Nikki just said.

Kieran wouldn’t be there. He was already gone.

I didn’t know why he bought Bass, what he was doing in our hemisphere, and I tried telling myself that it was none of my business.

The only problem after Nikki and I went back inside, after I tried curling up in bed for a nap, and even later into the week was that I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was my business.

I just wasn’t sure why.15RakonTwo weeks later.“Hey.”

I jerked upright in bed.

It was dark out, and I glanced at the clock. Three in the morning.

My pulse was fast, and I was sweating a little.

A breeze came in through the open window. Looking over, a street light was shining right into my bedroom. Well, Nikki’s guest bedroom, but it was mine since it looked like I was her roommate for a bit.

Hey.

I jerked again. That voice was…

Kieran?

No. Well. Yes. Kinda.

It was a deep voice and growling, but not growling at the same time.

My heart started to pound harder, more insistent.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

It was Kieran’s dragon.

Is Kieran okay? Is he hurt?

Why did I care so much?

He’s fine. He’s busy right now.

So busy he wouldn’t know his dragon was reaching out?

What’s he doing?

He’s busy.

Busy?

Busy.

Understanding flooded me.

He was having sex.

I wanted to growl, but damn. My body got heated, and why was I caring about that either?

He was hot, rich, super freaking powerful so of course he could get some. Easy.

Not caring.

Nope.

That wasn’t me.

We were now a few weeks past Halloween, and my creature was getting restless. Hungry. She was missing Kieran. She was. Not me. Nada.

I rolled my eyes at myself. One would think the breakup had been with Kieran and not a guy who I’d been with for four years.

Are you okay?

I am.

He sounded good. Happy.

Why are you reaching out?

I missed you guys.

Guys? Me and—

Her. She’s my mate.

Shock seized me for a second.

Mate.

He said that, right?

She’s your what?

My creature didn’t speak. At least, not that I knew of, but I felt her. She was moving in me, wanting to take over, and I knew what she wanted. She wanted to have creature spirit sex with Kieran’s dragon.

My mate. It’s why Kieran was compelled to help you that night. I’ve been missing you and he won’t listen to me.

She was railing inside of me, wanting, needing to get out. I was struggling to keep her in, especially because I’ve not been eating—

You’ve not been eating?

I froze again. That wasn’t his dragon anymore.

Kieran?

You’ve not been eating?

Funny. He sounded a lot like his dragon with that growl.

I’ve been eating.

I heard him growl from his end. Energy, Micaela. Have you been eating energy?

I wasn’t swooning at hearing him say my name.

I normally hated hearing people say my full name, and I wasn’t swooning when he said it. I wasn’t light-headed. Not one bit.

I sighed, melting back down onto my pillow and I curled up into the blankets.

I was swooning. I needed to energist-up and admit it.

Yes. Got it. Swoon. Get your shit together. You haven’t been eating?

I forgot he could read my thoughts.

Micaela!

It’s CALE, dude!

I could hear his growl in my head. Nope. Correction: I could feel his growl, it was echoing through my body.

I wasn’t so swoony anymore.

Micaela, you need to eat energy.

I’m fine.

Micaela—

I said I’m fine.

You woke her—

No, you woke her. I didn’t do that. You did. She’ll go right back—

No. She won’t. Not with the level that you woke her up. You were with my dragon. She was with my dragon, and you raised her strength level by taking five hundred vampires.

Five hundred?

There were two hundred vampires at Quessadiline’s compound.

If I’d been sitting upright, I would’ve fallen back. I was floored at that.

Two hundred?

Yes.

You went from amateur hour to the pros in one night. If you haven’t been eating energy, you are a danger to people you love.

Oh, come on.

I’m not joking with you. You need to eat now.

I rubbed at my forehead. I’d been sleeping just fine—

You’re lying to yourself. You’re lying to me. You’re lying to both our creatures. Stop insulting everyone’s intelligence here.

He said I’m his mate.

Kieran was silent on his end.

Knock, knock.

A growl. Don’t be funny.

I’m not. He said we’re mates.

We’re not mates.

I waited.

He was silent. Again.

Kieran!

I could hear his sigh from his end. Yes, he’s told me the same.