Promised in Blood (Broken Bloodlines, #2)

by Sadie Kincaid

“Elementai are the only creature strong enough to bear vampire children. That is why they were hunted to extinction and why no vampire has been born in over five hundred years.”

“Ophelia is staying with me tonight.” I have to force out the next words. “But that does not change what you all have.”

“I do worship you. And I know how good it felt. But there will be plenty of time for all of that. Right now, you need to sleep.”

“I’m a vampire, baby. Standing here in my boxers with a raging boner while I make my elementai girlfriend waffles. Nothing you say could sound crazy to me.”

“You are the most powerful being in this room, Ophelia. Quite possibly the entire world.”

“You remind me so much of someone I used to know, Xavier.” His voice is thick, and his eyes are full of something new. Hurt? Longing?

“And occasionally the government,” Malachi adds with a wink. “Who are the biggest criminals of all.” I snort.

I rest my hand over hers. “I will always be a good man for you, agápi mou, but any kind of goodness in my heart begins and ends with you. I would sacrifice every soul in this world to protect you and not give it a second thought. Every. Single. One.”

“Not for a fraction of a heartbeat. I would choose you in every single lifetime, little one. Every single one.”

And then, before I continue our lesson, I kiss her. Long and hard and deep, pouring everything I am into her and wishing that I could give her so much more. Because she is everything I am, everything I ever was, and all I will ever be.

“I do love having you in this position, little one. Feeling your pulse flutter beneath my hand makes me want to strip you naked right here beneath these trees and sink my cock inside you inch by inch until you are begging me to fuck you.”

I respect you so much, sweet girl. Remember that”—I flip her over and hold her down by the back of her neck before driving my cock inside her with one smooth motion—“when I’m fucking you like I don’t.”

This is so much more than love, Ophelia. More than a bond. More than I have ever felt. Love cannot endure a thousand lifetimes. It forgets and it fades. You and I are eternal. You have conquered my heart and stolen my soul. Do not insult what we have by calling it love.

I will either burn in the light or drag you into the dark, little one. And whenever Death should come for you, I will offer Him one thousand souls in return for yours so that you will remain in this mortal realm with me for the rest of time.

“If we only feed chaos, then there is no hope of finding peace.”

She shakes her head, her eyes brimming with tears. “You never have to hide any part of yourself from me. I love all of you. Your darkness, your shadows, your light. Everything that makes you uniquely you. I feel like I have loved you since the beginning of time.”