Shadow's Claim (The Dacians, #1)

by Kresley Cole

That innate sorcery had been like her soul. It’d been so intrinsic that magic would emanate from her body whenever she’d experienced strong emotions. Heated whirls of light had marked her happiness, her excitement.

Trehan had to get it back for her. Or, he thought darkly, help her steal another Sorceri’s. What wouldn’t Trehan do for her?

“What do you know of it?” Trehan demanded, but he feared he knew. The Dacians were observers. . . . Viktor smiled widely. “Your Bride is lovely in mist.” “You watched us?” This shouldn’t surprise him, but, gods, it enraged him.

Trehan didn’t know whom to attack first. Their gazes had been on his Bride’s trembling body; they’d seen her skin kissed with Trehan’s mist. His fangs went sharp.

Your blooding has turned you savage.” “The better to bite your throat out with, Stelian.”

Even if she could deny that she’d missed him, she couldn’t deny that her body hungered for more of what he’d given her.

Recalling how his irises changed as he beheld her—forest green flooding black—made her shiver even now. She could imagine his look said: I’m fighting for you. Soon you’ll be mine. It made her feel like the most desirable woman in the world.

Maybe he’d simply tired of the chase. She replayed his parting words continually. Lest you lose a male who’ll desire only you . . . The idea of losing him brought on a wave of sadness. Which made no sense; if she loved one male, how could she feel things for another?

I mean, who’d want to hurt a nymph? That’s like kicking a rainbow in the nuts.

“Morgana, do you know anything about that weird female who shows up for each night’s fight, the one who wears trashy T-shirts?” Was she a former lover of his? Bettina sniffed to herself. If so, that bitch ooooolllld.

“Your eyes go bright, freakling. Are you jealous of the female? After all, you are the Shadow Prince’s Bride.” “Of course I’m not jealous.” I might be jealous.

Morgana had no idea how sexy that vampire was. I do. Because he was mine for three brief encounters.

“I decided I wanted his tongue on me; I couldn’t decide if I wanted it still attached to his mouth or not. So I held off. Now I’m glad I did, since you’re so possessive of him.”

Morgana together with Daciano? The idea made her ...

“Remember, freakling, the greatest thing about having power is the mere having of power. Use the latter well, and you’ll never have to use the former.”

New ruler or not, the kingdom was no longer Trehan’s mistress. Now he was free to serve another completely, a wide-eyed halfling he would kill to possess. To protect. Zeii mea, I want to protect her forever.

Is this a rational play? Or do I merely want to demonstrate what I alone can give to her? Demonstrate it to the entire realm? Was it ego—or daring?

But what if Daciano had stumbled with his choice? What if her choice made that sword slice through his neck—the neck she’d licked and nuzzled her face against as he’d pleasured her? Never again to see his devilish eyes go black with emotion . . . ?

And it took this realization for her to admit that there was something compelling between them. Maybe it was fate or his blooding or just unparalleled chemistry. Whatever it was, she wanted to explore it. Would they never get the chance?

He’d made a colossal mistake. One that might cost him his life—and, worse, cost him Bettina. He didn’t fear death; he’d lived long enough. No, Trehan feared never seeing her again.

“I’ll assist you with Lothaire,” he’d told the three of them, “if you vow always to safeguard Bettina. . . .”

Trehan and Bettina were indeed connected. Her attack had happened the day he’d had that ominous sense. Had his Bride been calling out through the ether, calling for her male? I answered today.

Face Goürlav, have Bettina take me on a tour? Any night of the week. Trehan might die in the ring. He’d be damned if his Bride didn’t send him off with a smile on his face.

Daciano traced to the grandstand at that moment. The vampire stood silently, gazing at Bettina with concern, a question in his eyes.

To let her go now? Trehan had to clench his fists to keep from reaching for her. Standing this close to his Bride after remaining away so long was punishing. He wanted to hold her, to demand to know her thoughts.

Caspion scowled at Trehan, then followed them. He was considered part of the family? She’s my fucking Bride. Decreed by fate! I am her family, with a tie greater than any of those three.

Would she ever know such devotion from a male? And return it just as fiercely? With the vampire. The thought arose without warning, startling her because it felt like . . . truth.

Daciano’s kisses and caresses had proved so—Bettina could think of little else—so why had no one told her to be wary of those?

She’d fought with all her loved ones, and the guilt was heavy. They were all that she had in the world. Unless she counted the vampire. You are mine . . . we are fated.

“And that’s a shame,” Salem said, “because the vampire’s in it to win it wiv you.”

“Besides giving up his home, he’s interested in your interests, and he’s willing to compromise. I saw him chokin’ down wine for you. He thinks you’re the mutt’s nuts. You could’ve done worse.”

Whenever she imagined marriage, she’d begun to think only of . . . Daciano.

You’re early,” Bettina murmured to Trehan. She’d sensed I’m here? He appeared fully. “And you’re extraordinary,” he bit out, marveling at her.

Her gaze had been one of total focus as her nimble fingers wrought such a formidable weapon. Her eyes were still glowing, her irises sparkling. A thing of beauty to watch.

That turmoil had faded as he’d watched her. She was here, healthy and safe, with him now. The Vrekeners were dead. And she was so fucking beautiful.

His lessening fury had been replaced with lust. The more he’d watched, the more aroused he’d grown, recalling how those delicate fingers had smoothed over his body just as eagerly. Had he ever been so hard?

His lips curled. “No vampire has a more talented Bride than I.”

When she pulled her glossy hair over her shoulder, narrowing her sparkling gaze, he wasn’t even surprised that his heart beat wildly.

Before she started the last one, she closed her eyes and ran her fingertips over each image. Exactly as she’d imagined exploring his shaft. He swallowed hard, and furtively adjusted it now.

When she puckered her lips to blow away any trace shavings, he just stifled a groan. One day soon, he’d take her on this bench, with her eyes alight.

He’d already traced to her, cupping her face. “I’ll die if I don’t kiss you right now.”

How could she be excited when she still felt raw inside? Why was that empty feeling fading as he deepened his kiss?

When he lifted her to the bench and wedged his hips between her legs, she grasped his shoulders, delighted by the way they flexed under her palms.

Even as he kissed her, tears welled in her eyes. When they spilled over, he froze, then drew his head back. His voice grew rough. “What is this, dragă?” As his gaze searched her expression, he grazed his knuckles across a line of tears.

He gently cradled her face, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks, over her tears. “I think about taking you to bed constantly, Bett. But I will never claim you completely, not until I defeat Goürlav. I wouldn’t risk even the slightest chance that you’d be vulnerable to the primordial. Once I leave you this eve, you’ll be a virgin still.”

But understand me, Bettina—we’ll get your power back. I won’t rest until we do. Clearly no one steals from my Bride and lives. I’ve only just begun this endeavor.”

“Every second of it,” he hissed. “Before I took each one’s head, I forced him to say your name.” “Why would you do that?” They’d died with her name upon their lips? “I wanted each to acknowledge why death had come for him, to whom he was paying the ultimate debt.”

“Protecting you is my purpose in life, Bettina. I was born to defend you. To be your shield.”

“After a single dream, I also became your sword, your vengeance.”

“You’re an artist. You see beauty in so much, noting details I never would have seen. You have a sensibility I could only imagine before.” He parted his lips, then paused for a moment, as if he wanted to get his next words exactly right. “I’ve spent my entire life killing. I destroy. You create. You’ve opened my eyes to a new world. I crave more of it. More of you.”