Chapter 60

ELEANOR

“Eloise? Your cousin? Is she so bad?” I asked.

Aric had stopped running. We were standing on a rooftop balcony. I had no idea which part of the city he had taken me to. His hand was placed on my hip, holding me against him.

He nodded his head.

“She’s looking for me, tracking me. Fucking Eloise, can’t she take a hint?” he growled.

“Aric, what’s the problem?” I asked, curious to see the cousin who had always been nice to me.

“Remember when I said to never trust Eloise. I don’t trust her. If she finds out you’re alive, Eleanor, everyone will know.”

“Ah,” I glanced out at the darkness. My blood was suddenly running cold. Aric pursed his lips. “So, where is she now?”

“Not far from the restaurant. I hope she won’t recognize your scent,” he breathed. “Eleanor,” he turned to me, his eyes wide. “I’m going to try to distract her. Stay here.”

“What? No, you can’t dump me here,” I growled. He was scanning the horizon.

“Fuck, she’s headed straight here,” he growled. “Stay down, don’t make a sound.” He pushed me into a corner of the balcony, his eyes blazing crimson. “Stay here, Eleanor. I’m serious.”

He placed his lips against mine for a second, then drew back. I watched as he leapt from the balcony, flew five meters through the air to the next building, and took off again into the night.

I stayed down, hiding behind a potted plant. I could feel my heart racing, but I wasn’t afraid. I just wanted him to come back.

I leaned back against the wall, running my fingers through my hair and scowling in the direction Aric had jumped in.

Suddenly I heard a whooshing sound above my head, and a dark shape landed on the balcony in front of me.

She was taller and more beautiful than I remembered: a fine heart-shaped face and full, red lips, dressed in a bright red sari.

Her cascading ebony hair was pulled back in a long braid, her blue eyes swiveled toward me, sweeping to red.

A slow grin spread across her face as she took me in, crouching behind a plant like an idiot.

“Hello there, little one,” she murmured, cocking her head to one side. “I thought that it was you I smelled.” She smiled sweetly.

I stood up and stepped around the plant. “Eloise,” I breathed. She grinned at me.

“You have grown up, haven’t you, little one?” She stepped toward me, and I automatically stepped back. I felt my body tensing. She let out a light giggle, flashing her fangs.

“What are you doing here, Eloise?” I asked. My heart was racing in my chest. No matter how tough I tried to look, I knew she could hear it.

“Well, I was looking for my cousin. But I found something much more interesting. You still smell ~mouthwatering~,~ Eleanor,” she growled, her eyes blazing.

“Tell me, how did you survive this long? Was it Aric?” She was moving toward me, pacing in a semi-circle. I was backed up against the wall, my heart racing in my chest. I pursed my lips.

“Fluke,” I breathed. “It was a fluke. I survived the—”

“I know when I’m being lied to, pet,” she snarled, stepping toward me, her sari flowing around her in the light summer breeze.

I lifted my chin. “Eloise, you wouldn’t hurt me. Aric would never forgive you,” I snapped. She let her head fall back and roared with laughter.

“Oh, pet, he would most definitely forgive me. I have eternity to spend by his side. You’ll be forgotten in a couple of decades,” she scoffed. I felt my hands clutching by my side.

“Actually, I’d never forgive it.” Aric’s cool voice spoke from above, and suddenly he was standing behind Eloise and me. He reached out his hand for me, and I ran to him, grasping his hand.

He pushed me behind his body, holding me close. I held on tight to his strong arm, gazing at Eloise. She was snarling at him.

“Aric, nice of you to show up. I’ve been looking for you.”

“I told you not to come here, Eloise,” he snapped.

She scowled at him.

“Now I know why.” She arched her brows. “So, are we going to share her, Aric? Should we take her to bed with us? Drain her together? That would be nice, wouldn’t it? Like last time?”

“There was never a last time, Eloise,” Aric snarled. I felt my heart racing. “And I won’t let you touch a hair on her head.”

“Still an overprotective big brother, I see.” Eloise rolled her eyes.

“Walk away now, Eloise. You’re not getting past me,” Aric replied sternly.

“Maybe not tonight.” She cocked her head, her eyes boring into mine. “But maybe tomorrow night? Or next weekend? Are you going to spend all your time by her side, Aric?”

She was grinning again, her red eyes twinkling.

“If necessary, yes,” Aric growled at her.

“Did you do it, Aric? Did you fake her death? Lie to the king? For what? So, some blood bag can live?” she scoffed.

“She was never a blood bag, Eloise,” Aric replied. “She means a lot more to me and my family than you ever did,” he snarled.

She glared back at him. “You’ll regret that, Aric,” she spat at him. She moved in a flash of red, her sari billowing around her.

She was suddenly behind me, grabbing my wrist, her hand on my throat and her fangs digging into my skin. I barely had time to compute the pain before Aric was ripping me out of her arms.

He kicked her in the stomach, and she went sprawling onto the ground. He held me against him, plastered to his back. I felt his chest rising.

Blood dripped down my throat. I placed my hand over my wound, wincing at the pain. Eloise wiped my blood from her face, her red eyes glinting.

“Delicious,” she taunted. “I’ll see you again, pet.” Giving Aric one more glare, she threw herself off the balcony and disappeared into the night.

I let out a deep sigh and stepped away from Aric. My heart was still racing, and I could feel my body trembling.

“Eleanor, are you okay?” Aric turned to me, cupping my face in his hand.

“Aric,” I pulled back my hand, staring at the blood dripping on the floor. Aric’s body was very tense, and I could see his eyes blazing crimson. His fangs were bared and his eyes focused on my wound.

“Aric?”

He moved suddenly, his arm wrapping around my body, pulling hard against his chest. His lips descended on my wound, his tongue darting out and lapping at the blood.

My body was suddenly awash with tingling pleasure. I let out a small moan as I felt his hands tightening around me, his leg pressing against my core that simmered with need.

I gasped as he picked me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. He pressed me against the side of the building, his lips never leaving my throat.

His fingers slipped down my body, under my skirt, where he ripped my panties off, dumping them in a little pile of torn lace.

His head tore away from my throat, his lips and chin coated in my blood. His crimson eyes met mine. I gave him the smallest nod. He didn’t need more encouragement.

He thrust into me with one movement, and I let out a moan of pleasure. His head dipped back down to my throat, giving me time to adjust to his size.

He started running his tongue along my collarbone, his fingers pulling my dress down, freeing my breast from my bra. His lips latched onto my nipple, and he began sucking.

I gasped in pleasure as he started thrusting into me, swift, hard, relentlessly slamming against me.

“I love you, Eleanor,” he breathed in my ear, his lips moving to mine. I tasted my iron blood as he plunged his tongue into my mouth.

His hands wrapped around my bottom, holding me in place as he pounded into me. I cried out his name as the first wave of pleasure rippled through my body.

He held me still, thrusting against me as I rode out my orgasm. I felt his lips move back to my wound, and he thrust into me one more time, letting out a primal growl as he came.

He kept me pinned against the wall. He bit down onto his wrist and applied his blood to my wound. It pulled together quickly, the slight ache numbing.

He stepped back and allowed my feet to slip back to the ground. He kept his hand on my waist, holding me as I fixed my dress. I glanced up at him when I was organized again.

His eyes were hooded, his lips pursed.

“Eleanor, was that okay? I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable with me. Did I drink too much?” he asked, his eyes boring into mine.

I felt the blush rising on my cheeks. “Aric, that was amazing,” I breathed. “I don’t think you drank too much. I feel fine.”

“When you get home, I’ll give you a lot of water to drink and food.” He nodded to himself.

“Aric, Eloise is going to tell everyone I’m here, isn’t she? My life is over, isn’t it?” Aric stroked my face and looked into my eyes.

“I won’t let them win, Eleanor. I promised to protect you. I plan on keeping my promise.”

He lifted me in his arms and leapt to the next rooftop.

***

When we arrived at my apartment, the air was sizzling, and the sun was barely visible on the horizon. Aric moved quickly and shut all the blinds in my apartment. He then vanished into my room.

I went to my kitchen and switched on my coffee machine. I was still breathing heavily, and my heart was unable to calm down.

I sat down on my couch with a big glass of water and listened to Aric on his phone in the other room.

Eventually, he appeared, his eyes wide.

“I spoke to Mother,” he murmured.

“Eleanor, you have to take advantage of the day. No one can touch you. It’s nature’s balance. You are safe during the day. You have to use that to get ahead of everyone.”

“You want me to run?”

“Yes. Go to the airport, get the first flight out of here. Get as far as you can. I will follow you. I’ll be right behind you.”

“No, Aric, you guys are not dumping me again!” I jumped up to face him. “You can’t just send me away every time I’m in danger. What about us? What about us being together?”

“I have to make sure you’re safe, Eleanor. We don’t have a choice here.”

“So what? You’re just going to wait until I’m safe? I’ll be geriatric by then! If ever!” I was shouting now. Aric shook his head.

“I’ve packed you a bag, Eleanor. Mother and I agreed, this is the only way to keep you safe. So go, now,” he was pushing me toward my suitcase, which I hadn’t noticed him pack.

“You can’t ship me off, Aric. I’m not a child anymore. What about my life, my job? I cannot spend my life running around the globe.”

“You can find a new job,” he answered.

“Aric, I want to be with you.”

“Please, Eleanor, don’t fight me. Get on a plane, get far away, and I will find you when things have calmed down.” He was pushing me out the door. “There’s a taxi downstairs.”

“Aric! You’re not listening to me! I don’t want to go!”

“I’m trying to keep you safe, Eleanor. You have to go!” he snapped back at me, pushing me down the stairs. He stepped back into the apartment, his eyes fixed on mine, imploring me to go.

“Aric, I don’t want to leave you,” I breathed.

“Baby, neither do I. I’m so sorry I put you in danger. I should have controlled myself. I should have stayed away from you. Because I was weak, you’re in this situation again. I’m sorry, Eleanor.”

I stared up at him with wide eyes. “Aric, what are you saying?”

“I’m saying I’ll do better. I won’t put you in this situation again. My father was right.”

“But I love you,” I whispered.

He pursed his lips. “I love you too, beautiful. But I want you to have a happy, safe life. I need to stay away from you.

“But I’ll always be around. You’ll feel me with the Infinity. I’ll always be there to protect you. Now go, the taxi is honking.”

I glanced down the stairs, then back up at him, my lips pressed in a firm line.

“I really thought you would fight for me more,” I whispered before turning on my heel and stomping downstairs with my bag.

***

It was late evening as I dragged my bag through the bustling streets. I was exhausted. I buzzed the door open and dragged my bag up the stairs.

I twisted the key in the door and pushed it open just as the sun set. I closed the door behind me, glancing around the room.

“What are you doing here?” he growled, appearing from the bedroom, his eyes blazing red. “Do you have a death wish? You’re supposed to be on the other side of the world, Eleanor!”

I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze. “I had all day to think about it, Aric. And I’ve made up my mind. Now take me where you can really keep me safe. Take me home, Aric.”