Page 22 of Knight’s Absolution

She stirred, making little desperate sounds, trying to reach his neck again. He lifted her higher as he walked out of the house and onto the now darkened front lawn.

She struck on her own this time, her small fangs sinking into his skin.

He groaned as his wings snapped out from his back, and making sure he didn’t dislodge her hold on his throat, took to the sky. Rocco stayed with him, cursing when Gunner dipped and swayed. The more she drank, the more light-headed he got. But his arms, his wings, they stayed strong and sure.

His brother dropped so he was flying below, more than likely so he could catch Gunner’s female if he needed to. But there was no way he’d drop her. Now that he had her, he was never letting her go.

The compound finally came into view, and somehow he managed to land on the balcony.

His female unlatched from his throat and went limp again. Her head fell back, and he looked down at her as he stumbled through the doors and into the control room. He swayed, hitting a desk, but managed to stay upright.

The other females were there waiting.

“You found her.” Grace rushed closer and gasped when she got a good look at her. “Oh god. I’ll call Jack, she needs a doctor. Bring her through, there’s an empty room upstairs…”

Gunner shook his head. “She’ll be in my room. No doctor.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Hang on a minute.”

Rocco called her name, and Gunner ignored them all as Rocco explained who she was—what she was—to the females gathered around him, and why she didn’t need a doctor.

Gunner carried her through the doors and somehow made it down a flight of stairs to where the knights had their apartments. She latched on to him again, this time his shoulder, and moaned as she drew deep.

Somehow, he got the door open and kicked it closed, stumbling to his bedroom.

Lying back on the bed with her still in his arms, he let her have at him. Let her feed.

He could regenerate blood fairly quickly. And if she took it all, it wouldn’t kill him. Her skin that had been ice cold when he first lifted her was warmer. She released him again, her head resting on his chest. He brushed her tangled hair back and tilted his head to look down at her.

Her eyes were open, staring up at him, and they were a deeper violet now. She opened her mouth to talk but nothing came out.

He shook his head. “Don’t try to speak, not yet.” She did another of those slow blinks, and his heart clenched in his chest. “It’s okay, take what you need, love. Take everything you need.”

A bloody tear slid down her cheek and her gaze moved to his wrist. He offered it to her immediately, and another tear slid down her face. This time, she managed to lightly hold his forearm with shaky hands as she sunk her little fangs deep into his vein.

Gunner reached down and brushed the tears away. “Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry. You’re safe now. I promise I’ll keep you safe.”

The dizziness became too much, and Gunner couldn’t fight the weight of his eyelids any longer. He let them drift shut as his female fed from him, each deep pull on his vein soothing something inside him. For the first time since he felt her and lost her, there was no pain.

Luna was warm. A warmth that sunk comfortingly into her bones, leaving her drowsy, her limbs heavy. She let her hand drift over her hips, down to her thigh. Not skin over bones, not anymore. There was flesh and muscle as well. She moved her leg, no pain seared through it. She touched it, slid her hand lower. It wasn’t twisted at an odd angle anymore.

She tried to blink, and instead of being stuck shut, her eyes slid open.

That’s when it all came flooding back—where she was and how she got here.

She gasped, taking in the male beneath her and catching her scream before it could escape.

Lying motionless, skin pale, bite marks all over his body, was Gunner. Oh god, she’d killed him. She’d fed on him until he had nothing left. She scrambled back—

His hands shot out, wrapping around her wrist. His eyes were still closed, she wasn’t sure if he was even awake, but one of his heavily tattooed arms slid around her waist and pulled her into his side, tucking her there securely.

Like he didn’t want her to leave.

Why would he want her there after what she’d done to him?

He’s delirious from lack of blood, he doesn’t know what he wants.

She needed to move, to get out of there, now, but Gunner was so warm and smelled so good. She breathed deeply and winced. Unlike her. How could he bear it? He must be disgusted by how she’d looked when he found her, how she probably still looked. He’d walked in after breaking down the door to rescue her, because that’s what he’d done, hadn’t he? And how had she thanked him? She’d drained him of nearly all of his blood.