Toma (The Dark Shadows Book 2) (13 page)

“
C
ooper
, you have to let him near her,” the queen said softly to Nadira’s mate.

Phaelyn had called ahead to warn them that Cooper and Teague would be bringing home an unconscious Nadira. Anika didn’t know what to expect, fearing the worst.

The king instantly made phone calls and within minutes a tall, muscular man with long blond hair and pointy ears arrived seemingly out of thin air, much to Anika’s disbelief. His intense blue eyes, showed wisdom of years way past the age he appeared.

“I won’t hurt your mate,” Aven, the powerful fae said gently to Cooper. Cooper’s eyes flashed crimson as he stared at the fae. “She needs my help.”

Cooper looked quickly down at Nadira’s sleeping form before nodding his head in a jerking motion.

Anika chewed on her lip with worry as she looked at her slumbering best friend. Her eyes blurred with tears as she thought of everything they had been through the past few months. She sent up a small prayer that Aven would be able to help her.

The Olaru mansion had been in a state of frenzy with the current events. Vampire dignitaries have arrived, meeting with the king in his office at all times of day and night. Security was at an all time high. She had barely been able to sneeze without someone wanting to confirm her identity.

She watched as Aven moved closer to Nadira, placing his hand on her forehead. His eyes closed as he took slow deep breaths. The king showed up at the door, motioning for the queen and Anika. They quietly crept out of the room to meet with the king in the hallway.

“Any word?” Alin asked Vladimir.

“They have him,” Vladimir nodded. Anika released the breath she hadn’t realized that she had been holding. Her body fell against the wall, as the tears finally fell.

Toma.

They had him and they were bringing him home to her. Her joy was shortly outlived with the king’s next words.

“It’s not good though,” Vladimir said pausing, his worried eyes locked on Anika. “The blood lust has him.”

“What does that mean?” she cried out as tears spilled down her cheeks.

“It means he’s not going to be in his right mind,” Alin said, grabbing Anika by her shoulders. “It’s not going to be pretty. We’re going to have to get blood in him quick. The necromancers have probably starved him causing his body to go into survival mode. Without blood he could either die or –”

“Turn rogue,” the king finished. “He will be in a frenzy to feed and you will not be safe around him. We will have to put him into a secured room,” Vladimir said gravely.

“She’s awake,” Cooper blurted from the door before disappearing back into Nadira’s room. They rushed into the room, finding a pale Nadira propped up amongst a mound of pillows.

“Nadira,” Anika cried out weakly as she rushed to the bedside.

Aven stepped out away from the bed to allow Nadira’s parents to stand on the other side of the bed. Cooper and Aven moved away, speaking quietly to each other.

“Are you okay?” she asked Nadira, grabbing her hand gently.

“I’m okay but I was so worried about you,” Nadira said squeezing Anika’s hand. “I was so afraid of what Xalak had done to you. I thought I failed you.” Tears welled up into Nadira’s clear blue eyes.

“No, you didn’t fail. You saved me,” she whispered as they hugged each other tight. Anika gripped Nadira tighter, thanking the Gods for protecting her friend.

“Did they get Toma?” Nadira asked looking at her parents.

“They got him,” the king answered, kissing Nadira on the forehead. “They’re on their way home with him now. We must go prepare a room in the basement.”

“Father,” Nadira gasped. “The basement?”

“What’s wrong with the basement?” Anika asked wearily.

“It’s for his own good,” Alin said, sitting on the other side of the bed. “Nicu said that they had to sedate him to transport him. We need to prepare for the worst.”

T
he sounds coming
from the room that they were securing Toma in had Anika cringing. Toma’s shouts, growls and threats echoed throughout the hallway. It tore her up that she couldn’t be in there trying to comfort him but they refused to let her in the room.

It’s too dangerous for a human.

Nicu refused to let her even get a look at Toma when they brought him in. The tranquilizer they’d given him before the trip had worn off faster than they had calculated. It took three of them to bring him into the house.

The door opened and out walked Teague pinching the bridge of his nose while holding his head back.

“Shit, that fucker is strong!” he groaned as he tried to stop his nose from bleeding. The rag in his hand was streaked with bright red blood.

“Is there anything I can do?” She watched nervously as he leaned against the wall.

He shook his head. “It’ll stop soon. His fist is as hard as it looks,” he laughed.

“What are they doing to him?”

“They have him secured on the gurney now and they will start transfusing him. They have to get the blood into him and hope it will bring him out of the blood lust.”

“So he’ll be okay?” Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for an answer.

“He has to be,” Teague sighed as he released his nose, wiping it a couple more times with the cloth. “He’s the toughest vampire I know. If anyone can break through this, he can.”

“Will he turn, um…” she paused, unsure if she could even say the word.

“Rogue?” he finished. “I don’t know. I pray to the Gods above he doesn’t.”

She let loose of the breath she held, leaning against the opposite wall. “Is he in pain?”

“Nothing he can’t handle,” Teague’s eyes, so much like Toma’s gazed at her. A brief emotion passed through his eyes as he glanced back at the door. “Here, follow me.”

He motioned for her to follow him as he pushed off the wall.

She trailed him down the hallway and into the neighboring room. He flipped the light switch, bathing the room in a soft light. The room held a few scattered computer stations, a couch, and an oversized recliner. She took in a wall with dark window drapes that stood out as odd. She watched as he walked over to the curtains, pushing a button. A soft winding noise filled the air as the curtains separated showcasing a large tinted window. Teague motioned for her to come close to the window.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she made her way to the window, not knowing what to expect. Tears poured down her cheeks as her eyes rested on a shirtless Toma strapped down to a table. A couple of the vampire physicians that the king had called on were in the room with him. Wires and tubes ran from him. Nicu and Adrian each stood on one side of Toma holding him still as he continued to struggle against the restraints.

“You can stay in here to keep an eye on him. I’ll have Tabitha send some food down for you,” Teague said from the doorway. She nodded her head before turning her eyes back to watch her mate.

“
W
elcome back to
the land of the living,” Nicu said as he released Toma from the restraints. He sat up grimacing, rubbing his wrist as he looked at his older brother.

“How long have I been out?”

“A week and a half,” Nicu said, folding his arms across his chest. “How do you feel?”

“Like shit,” he said, his heart pounded in his chest at the thought that he may have failed them both. “Where are Nadira and Anika?”

“They are both safe. Nadira is with Cooper. He hasn’t let her out of his sight since we brought you all home.”

“Anika?” he asked, his heart stuttered a few beats, thinking of his mate.

“We wouldn’t allow her to come in here,” Nicu waved his hand around the room. “You weren’t stable and we weren’t sure if you would go rogue or not.”

“Thank you,” Toma said relief filling his chest. He prayed that Anika had not seen him while he had been consumed by the blood lust. He had vague memories of things that had transpired while he was under Xalak’s control and none of them were pretty.

He always knew that he could count on his brother and just knowing that Nicu and everyone else had been there for her when he couldn’t be, meant the world to him.

“She means the world to me.” He got up to shake his brother’s hand but Nicu pulled him in for a tight brotherly hug.

“Anytime, I’m just glad we were able to get you back,” Nicu’s voice was gruff as he pulled back.

“All of these emotions are enough to make me vomit,” Teague joked from the door. He and Adrian rushed into the room, hugging and slapping Toma on the back. “Next time any of you are captured, can you please make sure it’s by a band of sexy nymphs?”

“Shut up Teague,” Toma said, grimacing. He hoped for all of their sakes that no one would get captured after this.

“Good to have you back,” Adrian said smiling, ignoring Teague’s joke. “We need to get you caught up on everything.”

“Sure,” he said looking around at his brothers. “But first, I need to speak to Anika.”

“Of course,” Nicu said. “But before you do, you may want to shower first.”

A
nika’s eyes
flew open as something in the observation room woke her from her slumber. It had been over a week and a half since Toma and Nadira was brought home. The doctors had said that he would not be turning rogue. He had to wake up from the coma like state that he had drifted off into on his own. They had explained to her that this was natural for a vampire who was severely injured to drift off into this state in order to heal. That had been a few days ago.

She had taken up residence in the observation room next to where Toma was being kept. Tabitha continued to send food down to her so that she would have some nourishment. Each member of the Olaru family would come down and check in on her while she waited for Toma to wake up.

She would spend hours, just watching him through the observation room as medical personnel came and went, doing their jobs. His brothers promised that Toma would not remain alone in the room and that one of them would always be there.

They each took turns staying by his side. Each brother, both parents and even members of their unit would come and sit with him. They didn’t want him waking alone and didn’t want to risk her safety in the room, so she remained in the observation room day and night.

She finally was beginning to feel safe knowing that Nicu had killed Xalak. She knew the necromancer could no longer hurt her. Nightmares from her time in captivity still plagued her dreams and would cause her to wake up screaming, but tonight was different.

She turned over on the couch where she had taken to sleeping. Pulling the covers off her face, she peered around the room. The lamp on the side table gave off enough light for her to see the tall figure standing in the doorway. A gasp escaped her. She would know that figure anywhere!

“Toma!” she cried out, scrambling off of the couch as he strode into the room scooping her up in his arms and crushing his mouth to hers. She gripped him tight as he ravished her mouth. Tears flowed down her face. He was finally awake.

“I’m sorry,” he said pulling back. “I’m sorry for everything. For not telling you that you were my mate, for trying to keep what we had a secret—”

“It’s okay,” she said half laughing and half crying, gripping his face in her hands.

“It’s not okay,” he said fiercely with a scowl. “I love you,” he said looking deep into her eyes. His face softened and she knew he meant every word he said. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure it would thump its way out of her chest.

“I love you too,” she whispered softly to him, not breaking eye contact. He ran his hands through her hair, grasping the back of her neck.

“You’re mine,” he growled softly. She could see his fangs peeking under his lip. “And I don’t give a damn about the council.”

“Make me yours,” she said as he backed her towards the couch.

The glint in his eyes caused a shiver to slide down her spine. He gripped the bottom of her shirt pulling it over her head. Her nipples instantly hardened, aching as her bra rubbed against the tips.

She leaned into him, nipping the base of his neck eliciting a growl from him. She breathed in his scent, taking in the aroma of fresh cedar wood and eucalyptus. She ran her hands up his solid chest, stepping closer to him. Her hands gripped his hair as he nuzzled the crook of her neck. His hard erection strained through his jeans, pressing against her stomach. She gasped as he in turn nipped her. His hands traveled up her back, undoing her bra, releasing her heavy mounds.

They continued to undress each other, sharing tender kisses in between the removal of each item. He gently laid her down on the couch, and settled himself in between her legs. She sighed, loving the feel of him on top of her. She couldn’t keep her hands off of him, running her fingertips through his hair.

“This will hurt for a quick second,” he murmured, brushing her hair away from her neck.

“Will I turn into a vampire?” she asked, watching him shake his head.

“No,” he said. “But once you start taking blood from me, your aging will slow down. You will be able to live a long life with me.”

“Forever?”

“Yes,” he breathed. “I have to ask, are you sure? Your family will age and eventually die before you.”

She stared up into his ice blue eyes, witnessing love for her and even vulnerability. Toma, this big strong vampire, was scared that she wouldn’t want to take the ultimate step with him. She knew he was laying his cards on the table and was going against what his society called for.

Just for her.

She knew that forever would never be enough with him.

Her decision was easy enough to make. She slowly turned her head, presenting her neck to him, giving him her trust and love. She heard a quick intake of breath from Toma before he settled more into her. She could feel his hardness press against her moistened core as she held her breath in anticipation.

He slowly licked her neck, eliciting a moan from her as her pussy muscles began to pulsate. She felt a sharp sting as his fangs pierced her skin at the same time his cock invaded her slick core. She gasped as he pushed fully into her as he drank from her artery. His hands tightened in her hair, holding her in place as his hips began to move.

The sensation of his thrusts inside of her while he suckled from her neck was just too overwhelming. Her muscles tightened causing her to cry out as one of the strongest orgasms she had ever had, slammed into her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as she rode out the waves of her orgasm.

Tears flowed from her eyes, as he licked her neck again. His now crimson eyes locked on her. She watched him slowly bring his wrist to his mouth. He pierced his own artery, placing his wrist to her lips gently. Without hesitation or breaking eye contact she placed her lips over the puncture site on his wrist, immediately tasting the warm coppery fluid.

Calmness settled over her as she continued to drink from her mate. They continued to stare into each other’s eyes until he pulled his wrist from her mouth, licking his own puncture wounds closed. His hips began moving again as he crushed his mouth to hers.

He grabbed her wrist pinning her hands above her head as he pushed deeper inside of her. He shifted pushing her legs wide causing him to delve deeper into her. She gasped as he quickened his pace causing her to cry out in ecstasy.

“Anika,” he gasped into her ear. “You are mine for eternity.”

“And you are mine,” she responded automatically. “Forever.”

Their hearts joined as one, both beating to the same rhythm, as fate smiled down upon them, linking them together for all eternity.