Chapter 55

I opened my eyes to find that it was still dark. The bedside clock read two in the morning. My mouth felt like there was a cotton ball in it. I guess that’s what happens when you fall asleep without brushing your teeth.

I groggily sat up, my head spinning as I did so. I would have to ask Noah later what had gone into that drink. It had been delicious, yes, but it was obviously much too strong. I hoped the baby would be okay.

Go get some water, Lily demanded and I obeyed without hesitation. Water sounded wonderful.

I tiptoed across my room, opening the door slowly. I didn’t want to wake Noah up by accident. As I left my room, I could hear music coming from where Noah and I had just danced hours before. Perhaps I didn’t need to worry about waking him up after all.

Curious, I headed toward the music instead of toward the kitchen. I wondered what was keeping him up and couldn’t help feeling a bit of apprehension that it was because of me. Because I had run out on him without an explanation. After all that he had done for me, I felt like I owed him that much, at least.

However, when I entered the room, I did not find Noah by himself. There were in fact ten people, plus Noah and they were all dancing.

I stood in the doorway, puzzled. Noah was not the dance party type. In fact, he always tried his best to stay away from people as much as possible. If he didn’t have to go out for work, he’d probably be a shut-in.

Noah was the first one to spot me. His violet eyes widened, the fear quickly masking the merriment from just moments before. He stiffly walked toward me as if he was fighting the urge to rush over to me. It was almost like he didn’t want to draw attention to himself.

When he reached me, he put both of his hands on the doorframe, effectively shielding me from the rest of the room. Noah leaned in, putting his lips right next to my ear.

“Almara, listen to me carefully. Do not say a word. Go back to your room and shut the door. Do not come back out until morning,” he whispered, his voice barely had any volume to it. If I were a human, I don’t think I would have been able to hear him.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here? What are you hiding, Noah?” a male voice asked from behind him. Noah dipped his head, closing his eyes in defeat. When he opened them, they were hard, cold and nothing like the man that I had come to know.

“My little pet has come to join us, Axel. Would you like an introduction?” Noah asked, backing away so that I was exposed to the room. All ten pairs of eyes were on me now. I wrapped my arms around myself as if I could protect myself from their stares.

“You know I would,” the man, Axel, said and it brought my attention back to him. His snow white hair fell in waves to his shoulder, but he wasn’t old. He looked very young, maybe my age or younger. But his hair wasn’t the only shocking thing. His eyes were a crimson red and they were looking at me as if I were something yummy to eat.

“Axel, this is Almara, my intended. Almara, Sweetness, this is Axel, a member of the council,” Noah said and I shot him a quick glance. His face was hard, unreadable. I couldn’t even get a hint of what he was thinking. What did he mean by intended? And what council?

Axel pulled in a deep breath, leaning closer as he did so. “Delectable. Have you had a chance to taste her yet? Would you mind if I did? You know that women that are carrying a child are quite the delicacy.”

Noah’s lips thinned, but other than that small movement, nothing else gave away that he was displeased with the question.

“I have not had the pleasure myself, yet, but how could I deny you, dearest?”

Without another word, he grabbed my wrist gently, bringing it up to Axel’s mouth.

I stared wide eyed as two dainty fangs descended. These weren’t the powerful canines of a wolf. No, this definitely looked more like the portraits of vampires that my parents had shown me.

“I do not want to be rude, Noah. Join me. She is to be your intended. You should have the first taste,” Axel said and I watched in horror as Noah’s violet eyes bled into the same crimson as Axel’s and the same fangs appeared in his mouth.

Noah grabbed my other wrist. I couldn’t move. I could scream. I couldn’t do much of anything as both men brought my wrist to their lips, their movement so in sync that it seemed practiced.

Noah placed a gentle kiss on my wrist, a hidden apology in his eyes. As if that would make this situation any better.

I winced as their fangs sank into my skin. I could feel their jaws working as they guzzled down my blood. Axel moaned in delight.

Lily thrashed in my body, trying to get us to shift, but nothing was happening. It was like something was blocking her from getting free. Which told me all that I needed to. I must have been having a nightmare. There had never been a time where I couldn’t shift…except in dreams. I only hoped that I woke up soon.

Axel threw his head back, dropping my wrist as he stuck out his arms to the side. “Ahhh. That was delicious. Thank you for sharing, Noah.” He turned away to address the rest of the room. “Noah has indeed found a worthy match, even if she is a filthy wolf. Come, my brethren, let us celebrate this joyous union.”

The rest of the onlookers went back to their dancing and to their revelry. I was no longer the center of attention. Noah brought both my wrists to his mouth and licked across them. I watched in fascination as the holes closed up, not even leaving a mark behind.

“I apologize, Almara. If I could have kept you from this, I would have. My only consolation is that you will remember none of this in the morning,” Noah said and I nodded. I usually didn’t remember my dreams so that seemed right.

“It’s okay. It didn’t hurt that much,” I said and Noah quirked an eyebrow.

“What do you think is happening right now, Sweetness?”

“I’m dreaming, of course. I know the real you isn’t a vampire. But I had thought for just a second that you might be before I fell asleep. It has obviously turned this into a nightmare that I can’t seem to wake up from,” I told him in case honesty got me out of the dream. I had never lucid dreamed before, that I knew of at least, so this was all new to me.

Noah chuckled. “You’re right. You are dreaming, but why don’t we turn this into a nice dream instead of a nightmare. Would you like that?”

I nodded, wondering what he had in mind. I didn’t have to wonder for long. Noah dipped his head, pressing a rough kiss to my lips, his hand gripping my hair harshly. It was a heady mix of pleasure and pain.

“Noah,” I moaned into his mouth and for the rest of the dream, we made out in the doorway while everything else disappeared.