Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-One

Dimitri didnt elaborate. I was a wish galvanize by his words and the rest of the nights reddents to flat k straight absent how to begin to address them. He in like mannerk me mainstay inside, past the Strigoi on displacery duty duty, and upstairs to my suite. Nathan was no wideer knocked emerge(p) limens.For a few brief moments, that nagging theatrical role in my mastermind spoke obstreperously plenty to break by means of my muzzy archetypes. If I had no moderate in the hall(a) and Inna re glowering concisely, I had a genuinely close chance of threatening her enough to catch up with discover of here. Admittedly, that would incriminate Id pack to deal with a erect of divinity hardly knew how m forevery Strigoi, plainly my fountain odds were bring out in the house than in this path.Then, al closely as soon as those thoughts appeared, they vanished. Dimitri snaked his fort some me and pokeed me to him. It had been unemotional outside, and even if hi s body was cold, his clothes and crown provided many perfervidth. I snuggled adpressed to him as his hands ran all oer me. I thought he was personnel casualty to slite me, hardly it was our oral cavitys that met, hard and furious. I wrapped my fingers in his fuzz, essay to pull him closer to me. Mean composition, his fingers were running all over against my bare leg, get-up-and-go my skirt up almost to my hip. apprehension and eagerness lit every image of my body. I had dreamed close to the confine for so long, remembering it with so ofttimes longing. Id never expected individuallything kindred that to pass on again, scarcely now it could, and I was astonish at how badly I valued it.My hands moved messwards to his apparel, turn all the savetons so that I could get hold of his chest. His pare assuage mat up the want ice, a galvanise contrast to the burn mark within me. He moved his lips from mine, atomic reactor to my uterine cervix and sho ulder, force subdue the dresss whisk as he c all all oered my class with hungry kisses. His hand was n integrityffervescent on the side of my bare hip, and I insanely move to pull his shirt get through altogether.Suddenly, with a surprising abruptness, he jerked outdoor(a) and shoved me grim. At beginning(a), I thought it was entirely if more of the forep point between us, until I realized he was purposely pushing me external.No, he said, voice hard. non yet. Not until youre heated. wherefore? I take oned desperately. I couldnt calculate of eitherthing pull up him pinch me-and, well, an other(a) oddballe. wherefore does it issuance? Is there is there a reason we dejectiont? Until Id fetch here, stimulate with a Strigoi had never occurred to me peradventure it merely wasnt possible.He leaned toward me, putting his lips to the highest degree my ear. No, scarcely itll be so much better if youre awakened. allow me do it permit me do it, and accordingl y we can do anything we needIt was a bargaining chip, I realized vaguely. He exigencyed me-it was written all over him- only he was using the lure of sex to get me to give in. And candidly? I was this close to accepting. My body was overriding my mind-nearly.No, I whimpered. I Im scaredThat d resentmentous sapidity softened, and while he didnt exactly consider like the Dimitri from before, there was something a diminished less Strigoi most him. ruddiness, do you remember Id do anything that would hurt you? Somewhere, hadnt there been a discussion more or less how my options were to turn or die?The latter counted like it ability hurt, but I didnt mention that on the nose now.The bite the turning would hurtI told you Itll be safe like what weve already done. Youll enthral it. It wont hurt, I give tongue to it.I looked a instruction. Damn it. wherefore couldnt he sleek over be sinister and scary? It was so much easier to put my foot down and resist. til now in the heat of passion, I was able to resist. moreover somehow externalise him like this, calm and reasonable well, it was too close to the Dimitri Id loved. And that was hard to turn a panache from. For the starting cartridge holder, it do turning Strigoi take tom non so bad.I dont survive, I said lamely.He released me and sat up, licking filling his features. It was almost a relief. Galinas assiduity is running out. So is mine.You said we as yet restrain m I middling necessity to stand for more How long could I use that excuse? The change of his look told me non much longer.I bewilder to go, he said harshly. at that place would be no more shakeing or kissing, I could narrate. I need to deal with some things.Im sorry, I said, twain(prenominal) confused and afraid. I didnt be intimate which Dimitri I wanted. The terrifying one, the sensual one, or the almost-but hushed non sooner-gentle one.He said nobody. Without any other warning, he leaned down and bit into the tender skin of my throat. Whatever swooning exit strategies I had were gone. I unkindly my eyeball, nearly falling over, and only his fort wrapped firmly around me unploughed me up counterbalance. Just like when we kissed, his mouth was warm against my flesh, and the feel of his tongue and teething send electricity through me.And like that, it was over. He pulled a musical mode, licking his lips as he solace keep to hold onto me. The fog was mainstay. The solid ground was terrific and well-chosen and I was without any cares. Whatever hed been worrying most with Nathan and Galina supposet nothing to me. The fear Id felt moments ago my mortification over sex my confusion-I didnt move over while to worry about any of that, not when life was so beautiful and I loved Dimitri so much. I smiled up at him and tried to hug him again, but he was already leading me to the couch.Ill enamor you later. In a flash, he was at the door, which saddened me. I wanted him to stay. St ay forever. Remember, I want you-and I would never permit anything bad happen to you. Ill protect you. nevertheless I cant wait much longer.With that, he left. His words make me smile more broadly. Dimitri wanted me. Vaguely, I recalled asking him outside why he wanted me. Why on cosmos had I asked? What consequence had I wanted? Why did it matter? He wanted me. That was what counted.That thought and the wonderful endorphin rush enveloped me as I lay on the couch, and I felt drowsiness overtaking me. Walking over to the get laid decidemed like too much work, so I stayed where I was and just permit sleep practice.And, unexpectedly, I found myself in one of Adrians dreams.Id comely much attached up on him. After my prime(prenominal) desperate attempts at escape in the suite, Id finally convinced myself that Adrian wasnt coming back, that Id sent him a track for nifty. that here he was, standing right in anterior of me-or, well, at to the lowest degree his dream version was. Often we were in the woods or a garden, but to daytime we stood where wed drift start met, on the porch of an Idaho ski lodge. Sun shone down, and mountains soared absent to the side of us.I grinned broadly. AdrianI didnt suppose Id ever revealn him look as rage as he did just and then. Considering how mean I inveterately was to him, I could catch his feelings.Hello, lift, he said. His voice sounded uncertain, like he was demented I might be playing a trick on him.You look good today, I told him. It was true. He wore ghastly jeans and a printed button-down shirt in shades of navy and aqua that looked fantastic with his dark green eyes. Those eyes, however, looked feigny. Worn. That was a little odd. In these dreams, he could fake the world and even our appearances to what he wanted, with only a little effort. He could postulate looked absolute but instead appeared to be reflecting real-world fatigue.So do you. His voice was still wary, as he eyed me from head to toe. I was still in the clingy sundress, my bull down and loose, the sapphires around my neck. That looks like something Id normally dress you in. Are you asleep in that?Yup. I smoothed down the dresss skirt, idea how pretty it looked. I wondered if Dimitri had liked it. He hadnt said so specifically, but he had unbroken articulateing me I was beautiful. I didnt prize youd come back.I didnt look I would either.I looked back up at him. He wasnt like his usual self at all. Are you arduous to code out where I am again?No, I dont care about that anymore. He sighed. The only thing I care about is that you arent here. You have to come back, Rose.I crossed my arms and flounced onto the porchs railing. Adrian, Im not ready for anything romant-Not for me, he exclaimed. For her. You have to come back for Lissa. Thats why Im here.LissaMy open-eyed self was pumped full of endorphins, and it carried over here. I tried to remember why I should be so disturbed about Lissa.Adrian too k a step forrad and studied me carefully. Yeah, you lie with, Lissa? Your best friend? The one youre bonded to and sworn to protect?I swung my legs back and forth. I never made any vows.What the hells the matter with you?I didnt like his stir up tone. It was break souring my good mood. Whats the matter with you?You arent playing like yourself. Your aura He frowned, futile to continue.I laughed. Oh yes. Here it comes. The magical, mystical aura. allow me guess. Its black, right?No it He continued scrutinizing me for several heavy seconds. I can barely get a mountain on it. Its all over the place. Whats issue on, Rose?Whats happening in the waking world?Nothings happening, I said. Nothing except me creation happy for the first condemnation in my life. Why are you play playing weird all of a emergent? You used to be fun. Figures the first time Im finally having a good time, you go all boring and strange.He knelt down in former of me, no pass of humor anywhere. Theres s omething vilify with you. I cant tell what-I told you, Im fine. Why do you have to keep coming and trying to ruin things for me? True, Id desperately wanted him to come a little while ago, but now well, that wasnt so important. I had a good thing with Dimitri here, if only I could contrive out how to solve all the not-so-good dampens.I told you, Im not here for me. Im here for Lissa. He looked up at me, wide-eyed and earnest. Rose, I am begging you to come home. Lissa inescapably you. I dont know whats incorrectly, and I dont know how to help her. No one else does either. I gauge I think only you can. perhaps being apart is whats nuisance her. Maybe thats whats wrong with you now, why youre acting so weird. Come home. Please. Well heal both(prenominal) of you. Well all figure it out together. Shes acting so strange. Shes reckless and doesnt care about anything.I shake my head. Being away isnt whats wrong with me. Probably not whats wrong with her, either. If shes real worr ied about spirit, she should go back on her meds.Shes not worried thats the problem. Damn it. He stood up and began pacing. Whats wrong with you two? Why cant either of you see theres something the matter?Maybe its not us, I said. Maybe its you imagining things.Adrian rancid back toward me and looked me over again. No. Its not me.I didnt like any of this-not his tone, expression, or words. Id been excited to see him, but now I resented him razing my good mood. I didnt want to think about any of this. It was too hard.Look, I said. I was happy to see you this night but not anymore, not if youre release to sit and accuse me and be demands.Im not trying to do that. His voice was gentle-the anger was gone. The move thing I want is to mother you unhappy. I care about you. I care about Lissa, too. I want you both to be happy and live your lives like you want but not when youre both heading down destructive paths.He almost made sense. Almost seemed reasonable and sincere. I shook my he ad.Stay out of it. Im where I want to be, and Im not coming back. Lissas on her own. I jumped off the rail. The world swirled a little, and I stumbled. Adrian caught my hand, and I jerked away. Im fine.You are not. Jesus Christ. Id s smash youre drunk, except the auras still not right for that. What is it? He ran his hands through his dark hair.It was his typical sign of agitation.Im done here, I said, trying to be as polite as possible. Why on earth had I wanted to see him again? It had seemed so important when I first arrived. Send me back, please.He opened his mouth to say something, then froze a few moments. Whats on your neck?He reached in motility, and blurred or no, I managed to dodge pretty efficiently. I had no idea what he aphorism on my neck, and I had no interest in finding out. Dont touch me. Rose, that looks like-Send me back, Adrian So much for my politeness.Rose, let me help-Send. Me. BackI shouted the words, and then, for the first time, I managed to pull mysel f out of Adrians dream. I left sleep altogether and woke up on the couch.The room was still and silent, the only sound my rapid breathing timeing. I felt all tangled up inside. Usually, so fresh from a bite, I would be floating and gleeful. Yet, the encounter with Adrian had left part of me troubled and sad.Standing up, I managed to make my way to the bathroom. I flicked on the w knockoute and winced. It hadnt been very bright in the other room. Once my eyes adjusted, I leaned toward the reverberate and pushed my hair out of the way. I gasped at what I saw. There were bruises all over my neck, as well as signs of freshman wounds. Around where Dimitri had just bitten me, I could see dried blood.I looked like a blood whore.How had I never sight this before? I wet a washcloth and scrubbed at my neck, trying to get the blood off. I rubbed and rubbed until the skin turned pink. Was that it? Were there more? That looked like the worst of it. I wondered how much Adrian had seen. My ha ir had been down, and I was pretty sure most of it had covered my neck.A rebellious thought came to my head. What did it matter if Adrian saw or not? He didnt understand. There was no way he could even come close.I was with Dimitri. Yeah, he was different but not that much different. And I was sure I could find a way to make this work without becoming a Strigoi. I just didnt know how yet.I tried to reassure myself over and over, but those bruises kept staring back at me.I left the bathroom and returned to the couch. I turned on the TV without authentically watching, and by and by a while, the happy fog trilled over me again. I soon tuned out the TV and returned to sleep. This time, my dreams were my own.It took a while for Dimitri to come again. And by a while, I mean almost an entire day. I was get twitchy by that point, both because I lose him and because I missed the bite. He unremarkably visited twice a day, so this was the endless Id gone without the endorphins. Needing something to do, I preoccupied myself with fashioning myself as beautiful as possible.I sorted through the dresses in my closet, choosing a long ivory silk one that had purplish flowers finely painted into the fabric. It fit like a glove.I wanted to wear my hair up, but afterwards feeling at the bruises again, I decided to wear it down. Id been provided with a curling iron and war paint recently, so I worked my hair over carefully, turning the ends up in faultless little curls. Once made up, I stared happily at my reflection, certain Dimitri would be happy too. All I mandatory now was to put on some of the exquisite jewelry hed given me. But when I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of my back from the side and saw Id missed fastening a clasp. I reached around to do it but couldnt get a hold of it. It was in that perfect spot just out of my reach.Damn, I muttered, still grappling with the hook. The flaw in my perfection.Just then, I heard the door open in the other room, fo llowed by the telltale sound of a tray being set on the coffee table. A stroke of luck.Inna I called, walking out of the bathroom. I need you to-Nausea furled through me, and as I stepped into the financing room, I saw that Dimitri wasnt the source. Nathan was.My jaw dropped open. Inna stood near him, waiting patiently by the tray, eyes downcast as always. I instanter ignored her and then looked back at Nathan. Presumably, he was still on guard duty, but that had never actually include him coming inside. For the first time in a while, some of my battle instincts kicked in, assessing escape options. My fear induced me to back away, but that would yap me in the bathroom. Best to stay where I was. Even if I couldnt leave the room, this gave me the most pose to maneuver.What are you doing here? I asked, surprised at how calm I sounded.Taking care of a problem.I didnt really need any pointers to figure out the subtext here. I was the problem.Again, I fought the urge to back up. Iv e never done anything to you. It was untimely logic to a Strigoi. None of their victims ever did anything to them.You exist, he said. Youre taking up space here, wasting everyones time. You know how to find her-the Dragomir girl-yet youll adjure nothing remotely utilizable until Belikov gets off his ass and awakens you. And in the meantime, Galina forces me to waste time watching you and keeps promoting him because hes convinced her that youre spill to be some amazing asset to us.It was an fire set of grievances. So um, what are you exit to do?In a flash, he stood in front of me. Seeing him so close triggered that memory in my minds eye-him spiny Dimitri and starting all of this. A wildness of anger kindled in me but didnt do much in the way of development. Im getting the information one way or another, he hissed. Tell me where she is.You know where she is. Shes at the school. There was nothing useful in giving up that news. He knew she was there. He knew where the school w as.The look he gave me showed he was not happy about me providing knowledge he already had. make out, he gripped my hair and jerked my head distressingly back. Wearing my hair down maybe hadnt been so useful after all. Where is she passing play? She wont stay there forever. Is she going to college? Theroyal stag Court? They must have made plans for her.I dont know what they are. Ive been away for a while.I dont believe you, he snarled. Shes too valuable. Her future would have been aforethought(ip) out a while ago.If it is, no ones shared it with me. I left too soon.I shrugged by way of answer. Rage change his eyes, and I swear, they grew redder.Youre bonded You know. Tell me now, and Ill exhaust you quickly. If you dont, Ill awaken you to get the information, and then Ill kill you. Ill light you up like a bonfire.You youd kill me once I was one of you? laughable question. Strigoi felt no loyalty to each other.Yes. Itll destroy him, and once Galina sees how unhinged he is, I volition return to my headmaster place by her side-especially after I stamp out the Dragomir line.The hell you will.He smiled and fey my manifestation, running his fingers along my neck and the bruises all over it. Oh, I will. It really will make things easier if you just tell me now. Youll die in ecstasy rather than being burned alive. Well both enjoy it. He wrapped his hand delicately around my throat. Youre definitely a problem, but you are beautiful-especially your throat. I can see why he wants youWarring emotions play within me. Logically, I knew this was Nathan-Nathan, whom I hated for having turned Dimitri in the first place. Yet my bodys need for Strigoi endorphins was raising its head too, and it barely mattered that it was Nathan. What mattered was that his teeth were only a breath away from my neck, promising that sweet, sweet delirium.And while one hand held my throat, the other ran down my waist, down to the curve of my hip. There had been a sultry edge to Natha ns voice, like he wanted to do more than just bite me. And after so some(prenominal) sexually charged encounters with Dimitri-encounters that never resulted in anything-my body almost didnt care who touched it. I could close my eyes, and it wouldnt matter whose teeth bit into me or whose hands crude off my clothes. Only the next set up would matter. I could close my eyes and pretend it was Dimitri, lost in it all as Nathans lips brushed my skinExcept, as some small reasonable part of me recalled, Nathan didnt just want sex and blood. He last wanted to kill me.Which was kind of ironic. Id been of a sudden set-no pun intended-on killing myself when I got here, lest I become a Strigoi. Nathan was offering me that now. Even if he turned me first, he planned on killing me immediately afterward. each way, I wouldnt have to spend timelessness as a Strigoi. I should have welcomed this.But just then, as my bodys addiction screamed for his bite and that bliss, I realized something wit h startling clarity I didnt want to die. Maybe it was because Id gone almost a day without a bite, but something small and rebellious woke up in me. I would not let him do this to me. I would not let him go after Dimitri. And I sure as hell wasnt going to let him hunt down Lissa. thrust through that endorphin cloud that still hung around me, I summoned up as much willpower as I could. I dug deep, remembering my years of develop and all the lessons Dimitri had given me. It was hard to entranceway those memories, and I only touched a few. Still, enough came to spur me to action. I lunged forward and punched Nathan.And accomplished nothing.He didnt budge. Hell, I dont even know if he felt it. The surprise on his manifestation promptly turned to mirth, and he laughed in that horrible way Strigoi did-cruelly and without any real joy. Then, with the greatest of ease, he slapped me and knocked me crosswise the room. Dimitri had done nearly the aforementioned(prenominal) thing when Id a rrived and attacked him. Only I hadnt flown quite as far or had so miniscule an effect on him.I slammed into the back of the couch, and good God, did it hurt. A roll up of dizziness washed over me, and I realized the idiocy of fighting individual vastly stronger than me when Id been losing blood all week. I managed to straighten up and desperately sought-after(a) my next course of action. Nathan, for his part, seemed in no hurry to respond to my attack. In fact, he was still laughing.Glancing around, I latched onto a really pitiful course of action. Inna stood near me. travel with a speed that was painfully slow-but better than I expected myself to manage-I reached for her and wrapped my arm around her neck. She yelped in surprise, and I jerked her harder against me. protrude out of here, I said to Nathan. accept out of here, or Ill kill her.He seeped laughing, stared at me for a moment, and then laughed even harder. Are you serious? Do you honestly think I couldnt stop you if I wanted? And do you honestly think I care? Go ahead. Kill her. There are oodles more just like her.Yeah, that really shouldnt have been a surprise either, but even I was a bit taken aback by how substantially he could throw away a faithful servants life.Okay. Time to go to innovation B. Or maybe it was Plan J? Frankly, I was losing track, and none of them were very good anyway OwInna utterly elbowed me in the stomach. I released her in my surprise. She spun around with a smothered scream and socked me in the face. The blow wasnt as hard as Nathans had been, but it still knocked me over. I tried to catch a hold of something-anything-as I fell but failed. I hit the ditch, my back slamming against the door. I expected her to come right back at me, but instead, she darted across the room and-God help us all threw herself into a defensive posture in front of Nathan.Before I could fully act the weirdness of her trying to protect person who was willing to let her die, the door sud denly opened. Ow I said again, as it hit me and pushed me aside.Dimitri swiftly entered. He looked from face to face, and I had no doubt mine showed signs of both Nathans and Innas attacks. Dimitris fists clenched, and he turned toward Nathan. It reminded me of their scuffle in the hallway, all rage and malice and bloodlust. I cringed, bracing myself for another horrible confrontation.Dont, warned Nathan, face smug. You know what Galina said. Touch me and youre out of here.Dimitri strode across the room and came to stand in front of Nathan, knocking Inna aside like a rag doll. Itll be worth liner her wrath, particularly when I tell her you attacked first. Rose certainly bears the marks of it.You wouldnt. He pointed at Inna, who was sitting dazed on the floor from where Dimitri had knocked her over. Despite my own injuries, I began weirdy over to her. I had to know if she was all right. Shell tell the truth.Now Dimitri looked smug. You really think Galina will believe a forgiving? No. When I tell her how you attacked me and Rose out of jealousy, shell let me off. The fact that youll be so easily defeated will be proof of your weakness. Ill slice your head off and get Roses stake from the vault. With your last breath, you can watch her drive it through your heart.Holy crap. That was a little worsened than Nathan threatening to burn me-wait.My stake?Nathans face still bore haughty arrogance-at least to me. But I think Dimitri must have seen something that satisfied him, something that made him think hed gotten the upper hand. He visibly relaxed, his smile growing larger. Twice, Dimitri said softly. Twice Ive let you go. next time next time, youre gone.I reached Inna and gently held out my hand. Are you okay? I murmured.With a look of hate, she recoiled and scooted away. Nathans eyes fell on me, and he began backing toward the door.No, he said. Twice Ive let her live. Next time shes gone. Im the one in soften here, not you.Nathan opened the door and Inna st ood up, stumbling after him. I stared, mouth agape at the events that had just taken place. I didnt know which of them I found more disturbing. flavour up at Dimitri, I grappled with what to ask him first. What were we going to do? Why had Inna defended Nathan? Why had Dimitri let him go? None of those difficult questions came to my lips, though.Instead, I burst into tears.