Blood and Snow 5: Prey and Magic (5 page)

I jumped off the bed. “What about Kenmei and Professor Pops?” I didn’t add Christopher
, but his body in the glass coffin
crossed my mind.

“They were human before they became vampires.” He gingerly moved toward me. “Though they did much evil in their time, they’ve
atoned, and
dedicated their lives to destroying the Vampire Queen.”

I backed up, somehow feeling like a caged animal. “What about me?” I asked between rapid breaths.

He shrugged. “
I’m supposed to—
” He stopped, walked over to my dresser and began fiddling with the bottles
.
He took off each lid and brought the bottle to his nose. Then crinkled his face like the bottles contained skunk spray. If the situation hadn’t been so serious I would’ve laughed. Instead I waited. Filled with apprehension at what he would say next.

He sighed
, turned back to me,
and said, “
That’s why I’ve come. My father is the first chayot. When the war broke out between the vampires and the other creatures, he
stayed out of it.
He and the other chayot didn’t get
involved.
Until later.
When
vampire
s
started using humans.”

Frustrated
tears filled my eyes, but I forcefully wiped them away. “
You aren’t making sen
se. Why did humans matter to them
?
”

“The reason is simple. My father fell in love with a human girl. They had many children together. The Vampire Queen made an extra eff
ort to capture and change his offspring into vampires.
Sons and daughters with chayot blood are more exceptional than a regular human. The Vampire Queen favored them over all others.”

I thought about the vampires I’d seen in the castle. Were they descendants of the chayot?

Gabe continued, “The Queen started the war.
It’s
my father’s life’s work to finish it. Kill them all. Destroy her. End the suffering.” A regal arrogance shifted his features.

My breathing was ragged.
How dare he? I hadn’t asked for this. Yet somehow I was evil.
A
thing
to be destroyed.
“Well then, what are you waiting for?
If that’s why you’ve come.
Do it. Kill the evil vampire you just made out with.
”
My words came out harsh, laced with spite.
I closed my eyes and lifted my chest. If he wanted me dead, so be it. I wasn’t sure how one would kill a newly created vampire. Was I considered a drone, or something else because
I was Marked and
Chosen? I didn’t know. And it didn’t matter.

Several minutes passed and nothing happened. I blinked open my lids. Tears
crowded
Gabe’s
lashes
and streaked his cheeks. The haughtiness was gone, replaced by a desolate sadness.

I lowered my chest. He was
so annoyingly
complicated. “What? Am I making it too easy? Do you want me to run?” I asked, turning the palms of my hands toward him in supplication.

He shook his head, a strangled moan leaving h
is throat. Sinking to his knees, he bowed his head. “Why did you have to turn?”

Lowering myself to my knees in front of him, I said, “You offered yourself to me. I was there, I remember.” My cheeks flushed at the memory of our kissing. “You wanted me to bite you.”

“No,” he growled. “I didn’t. But…” His voice trailed off. “You-you tricked me. I wasn’t strong enough t
o resist you, and you used your—
” He paused.

“I used my what? Womanly wiles?” I snorted in disgust. “I wasn’t a vampire until after you let me drink from you. I didn’t use any kind of spell, or magic, or whatever you want to call it.” I got off my knees and walked over to the window. The slivered moon glowed through wispy clouds. Frogs croaked, and the wind whistled lightly through the trees. “If you’d like I can show you the
difference. I
have the power to persuade you to do anything now.” I didn’t look at him, but heard
his
slight intake of breath. “Is that what you want?”

“Snowflake,” he whispered.

I turn
ed to face him
. “Is that why you didn’t die?
Because you’re a chayot?
If your father has been alive as long as the Vampi
re Queen, it must be the reason,” I stated, wrapping my arms around myself. “I
s that why you act
like you like me one minute and hate me the next
? Because we are meant to be enemies.”

He nodded.

My anger returned. I walked over and slapped his face. “This is all your fault. You know that, right?”

He flinched, surprised.

“If you had just told me what
you were, instead of acting weird
. I wouldn’t have bitten you. I would’ve resis
ted,” I said, fighting the trembling of my
lower
lip.
Thinking back I wondered if I could have, but I had to believe it was true.

“You’re right. But I was afraid,” he said quietly.

“Afraid of what? That I’d bite you.
” I exhaled, and turned away. “
Guess you
had that right
.”

He swallowed, and
turned me to him, taking
my hands in his. “No. I was afraid you wouldn’t talk to me anymore. That you would hate me.” He
hesitated
, and closed his eyes
. “I hate myself.”

I yanked my hands from his, frustrated. He was still doing it. Acting all kind and sweet one second, and like a total jerk-face vampire killer the next. “Why? Why even care?” I went to my bedroom door, and pushed it wide open. “Let me make it
easy on you. Either kill me
or leave. This doesn’t have to be difficult. Now that I understand what you are, just get it over with!” Fury made my canines grow, but I didn’t care. I let him see the monster in me.

Tears filled h
is eyes. “I can’t,” he seethed. “Don’t you get that?” His body teemed with desperation
, shook with emotion
.

“No. I don’t,” I
said
, my body moving toward him on its own. When I was inches from him, I continued, “Why can’t you kill me, Gabe?” I asked, my voice low, my breathing erratic.

He grabbed my arms, and pulled me so that our chests touched. I had to look up to see his face. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt his pounded
with mine. Beat for beat. I was furious, scared, and angry. Worst of all,
I wanted him.
To kiss me.
And keep his promise to never leave me.

His
mouth covered mine
suddenly, his lips warm. Without hesitatio
n I responded. Filling my kiss
with all of the
rage, confusion, and hunger pent up inside
.

He seemed to be doing the same, and before I knew it we were back on my bed, his hands roaming under my shirt. I did the same, exploring the muscles on his back, his shoulders, and his chest. Our lips parted momentarily when I lifted his shirt over his head. Our eyes met. His were clouded with confusion, and something else.
I guessed they were similar to mine. I wasn’t sure what we were doing or how we would solve our problems, but in that moment I didn’t care.

I grabbed
his shoulders and
whispered
, “Why? It’s who you are, so why?”

He groaned in response, pressing kisses into
my neck, along my jaw. “I love
you
,
Snow White.
I’ve loved you since the day Professor Pops brought me home, and I saw your inquisitive, beautiful face
in my driveway
.
”

Chapter 9

I searched his eyes for any hint of a lie. My heart beat faster. “You love me?” I asked, hesitant.

He wrapped his arms around me, his elbows
on either side
, holding me a willing captive. “So much it hurts,” he said softly, a smirk splaying across his lips.

I realized he was thinking about our first kiss, down in the training room, when I drank from him, and thought I killed him. “Won’t your dad be mad? He knows what I did, right?”

He nodded, the smirk turning into a smile. “I’ve decided I don’t care. The past several months I’ve tried to be the obedient son. Do what my father expects. Take on
the family business
. But where you’re concerned, I can’t.” His face grew dark, full of
determination. “I won’t.”

At his words, my heart melted. But I wanted to be sure, to be clear. “Is that really feasible though? Isn’t it your sacred duty or some
thing to destroy me and my kind?
”

He
pulled his arms from beneath me and brushed his fingers through my hair. We were so close our noses
almost touched
.
The smell of toothpaste
tinged his breath, and manly body wash surrounded his body. The muscles on his arms rippled and he flexed. I took in his dark lashes, thick like a girl
’s, but on him, they only increased the perfectness of his face. There was a slight arch in his brows.
His dark hair swirled in disarray, and his bottom lip…

“Together, we’ll figure it out.” He kissed me tenderly. “I won’t lose
you. I made a promise didn’t I?
That is my sacred duty now. To make sure you’re kept safe.”

I smiled
. M
y cheeks grew hot. “What if I want to
…
”
My eyes found the pulsing vein in his neck.

He inhaled. Worried I scared him; I caught hold of his gaze.
They were dark and filled with need.

See, he did want you to drink from him, my inner voice cheered.

“Well, the damage is done. You’ve already discovered you can’t kill me
, and,” Gabe’s eyes went to my mouth.

“You liked it,” I said hoarsely, finishing his sentence. The idea of drinking from him again pushed against my canines.

“Yes,” he whispered. “I liked it.” He cleared his throat. “Well, up until you broke my neck. That really did hurt. At least for a few minutes.”

Our eyes met, and we both laughed. “I’m really sorry about that.” I touched his neck with my fingers. “It’s
gorgeous
,” I added, my fingers finding his pulse. “And I’ve had some practice since the first time.”

His eyes widened. “But you haven’t killed anyone.”

“No. I’ve been careful.” My fingers trailed down his back, making goose bumps rise on his skin.

“That feels good,
”
he said, kissing my nose. “I know what would feel better.” He rolled us so that I was on top and lifted his chin
, his pulsing vein
in full view.

It was my turn to be surprised. “Are you sure,” I asked, checking his face.

His eyes were closed and he nodded.

I moved so that I could have better access. My canines grew, and I lowered my head. I took it slow, allowing each canine to prick his neck gradually, knowing that with the pain came pleasure. His breath hitched as I steadily sank them into his vein. When they were fully inside, I begun sucking. Pulling his blood from his body. He groaned, and I sucked harder. This time though I counted. Wh
en I reached eight, I stopped.

He flipped us, placing me
under him again, my canines still embedded in his neck. Pressing his body into mine he said, “Don’t stop, Snow.”

I sucked again, counting to fifteen this time. Way past my limit, but I was almost too far-gone to stop. Surely if I drained him dry he would die. Wouldn’t he? I had to stop. I pulled out, my canines retracting. His eyes were hooded, heavy with lust.

Gabe’s lips found mine, and I froze, worried he would be disgusted by the blood on my mouth. But he didn’t seem to mind. His tongue dove into my mouth and circled mine.
My hands roamed along his back
, down to the waist of his jeans
, and along his butt. He groaned, his breathing coming faster.

Our lips parted and we looked at each other. I wanted more and I could tell he did too. Without a word he lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it onto the floor.
One hand hovered above
one of my
breast
s
and he
gave me a questioning gaze. I
nodded;
surprised I wasn’t embarrassed about him seeing me without a
shirt
. He touched me tenderly
over my red bra
. I pressed upward, my back arching.