“My blood?” Gaby offered.

  She made a noise like a buzzer. “Wrong. Who else? Come on Sebastian take a guess.”

  “My blood,” he suggested.

  “Ding ding ding, we have a winner!”

  “It wasn’t just his blood she needed though,” I stated. “It was part of a potion she made, and what does this have to do with Gaby?”

  “Angelic blood is the key to several spells. It’s powerful. It’s why Gaby won’t be killed by this poison even though your standard vampire would,” Ethan replied.

  “But you just said…” Gaby began.

  “I know,” he nodded. “Yours isn’t pure to begin with. It’s why the poison taints you. Had you been pure angel, your blood would have eradicated the poison before it even became an issue, but because you’re only half…”

  Gaby groaned. “What are you saying? No more beating around the bush. Please tell me you have a solution to get me through the end of my pregnancy with my baby alive?”

  “I do,” Ethan sighed. “You need a pure source to feed from.”

  His words didn’t sink in immediately. A pure angelic source? My eyes shot towards Sebastian, who was resting with his elbows on his knees, focused entirely too hard on the ground. I glared around the room and everyone’s eyes were on him, but Gaby’s, who was staring down as well. Their expression, or what I could see, matched. They were both grim.

  Damien wasn’t an option. Maria had explained when making the potion to complete my transition that his blood was corrupt from being a vampire. He took this moment to break the mounting silence. “I agree that this is worth a chance, but ultimately the decision rests with you three. Each of you needs to be alright with this decision.”

  All eyes, but Sebastian’s turned to me. Had it been for any reason other than the life of the one I loved, I might have said no. But our baby didn’t have any other option. Everyone knew this was in no way ideal for me. Gaby had feelings for Sebastian, which only made the situation of her drinking from him worse. She and I had never shared blood without it leading to sex. Becoming aroused was something that happened when the opposite sexes fed from each other. With a connection like ours, it was damn near impossible to stop the blood lust from from taking over, turning carnal and they had a similar tie with their angel blood. Saying no meant putting the woman I loved and our child at risk. Swallowing my prided, and without saying a word, I gave a curt nod.

  All eyes turned to Sebastian next. He didn’t look up, but seemed to feel everyone’s gaze on him. “If it will help, then of course.” I could hear it in his tone that his words weren’t entirely true. He would do anything to help her, yes, but this wasn’t ideal to him either. I thought it would make me feel better, but it honestly didn’t. I scanned the room seeing the focus shift to Gaby. She hesitated with the decision. I wanted to tell her it was alright, that this was the best option; I just couldn’t find the words. They were stuck in my throat.

  “Gaby,” Damien spoke, “the baby.” He was right and she knew it so she too nodded. “Alright then,” Damien said with a final nod. “Grayson perhaps you’d like to join me?”

  I shook my head. There was no way in hell I was leaving them alone together and risk something happening. There was a chance that the blood might try to coerce them into something more. When I had fed from the girl in Vegas, Gaby’s presence helped me stay in control, but I hadn’t had an attraction to the girl. “I’ll stay.” My voice had finality to it. Damien regarded Gaby. He seemed to be trying to relay a message with his eyes.

  “Grayson,” Gaby breathed. “Please go with Damien.” Her words were like a punch in the gut. I opened my mouth to protest, but she hurried ahead of me. “Jade will stay and make sure that…” Nothing happens, “everything is okay. Right Jade?”

  A Cheshire size grin spread across Jade’s face and her eyebrows almost hit her hairline. It did nothing to put me at ease. “Hell yeah, I will,” Jade beamed like someone just offered her a shopping spree.

  “Please,” Gaby spoke to me. “This is hard enough without you watching me.”

  I took a deep breath. She was worried something might occur and she didn’t want me to see it. The worst part was she was right. Even if it was only their hand on one another or…really anything, I didn’t want to see it. I had hoped my mere presence would prevent anything. It wasn’t idealistic. I had heard Sebastian when I walked in say that Gaby wasn’t in control of their tie. Their angel blood was a tie similar to our mating bond and that worried me the most.

  Head bowed, feeling beaten, I conceded walking towards Damien, who clasped his arm around my shoulder. “Now,” he stated, “we can discuss the fact that you married my daughter without asking my permission.” I peered over my shoulder at Gaby who was trying to stifle a grin and failing.

  Jade followed us, Ethan, Damien, and me, to the door and shut it behind us. I froze just over the threshold not wanting to leave my wife.

  “Come,” Damien pressed. “Standing outside the door will not make things easier for either of you.” His hand on my shoulder pushed me forward. It was both gentle yet powerful. “Gaby is not in control of the bond they share. It is the only reason she asked you to leave.” I eyed him curiously wondering if he was reading my mind. “Once she bites Sebastian the walls that he is struggling to maintain might come crashing, down temporarily.”

  “Is this you trying to make me feel better,” I asked as we made it to the stairs. “Because you are not very good at it.”

  He chuckled. “Yes and no. I want to explain. Jade will be there to stop anything from happening. She is almost their equal in strength, just like you. Unlike you, she will not resort to violence to stop what is happening, but she will stop it because that is what is being asked of her. Even if she wasn’t there, I’m sure Gabriella would find the strength on her own because she loves you and wouldn’t wish to hurt you.”

  Even though he was trying to help, I still felt sick and would until this was over. The worst part was, I doubted this was a onetime deal.

  Gaby

  “So honestly guys, do you want me to give you all some privacy?” Jade’s words may have sounded sincere but her face was anything but. She was delighted by the notion of my feeding from Sebastian.

  “I think it’s best if you stay,” Sebastian suggested sounding grim. I agreed. If things did get out of hand, Jade was strong enough to stop us without attempting to break Sebastian’s face like Grayson would.

  “Good,” she sighed relieved, “because I wouldn’t want to miss this show to save my life. You could cut the sexual tension with a knife it so damn visible when you two are together.”

  “Jade, you know the point is to stop us if things get serious,” I demanded with a roll of my eyes.

  “Define serious?”

  I glanced to Sebastian pleading for help.

  “Just kidding,” she joked seeing my distress. “I got this. You guys do your thing and I’ll stop it when it goes too far.” She leaned against the bedroom door like a sentinel guarding us with her arms crossed over her chest.

  Sebastian stalked towards me. The sight of him had my heart skip a beat before taking off like I was running a marathon. Sitting down beside me he reached for my arm that had the IV. I gasped. My skin tingled where his fingers touched me. Once he removed the IV, I got onto my knees. Lifting my skirt up so it was bunched in my hands allowing me to scoot close to him the same way I had the first time I fed from him. The memories flashed into my mind. We’d been able to control ourselves then. Sebastian had stopped us before things went anywhere, but this time was different. We now had feelings that hadn’t quite developed last time. I was also not in control of our blood tie. Sebastian reached for his shirt. He didn’t want blood on it. I halted him.

  “I can feed from your wrist,” I suggested.

  “Neck’s better,” Jade spoke. She was chewing her fingernails. Her green eyes were glued to us like we were her favorite soap opera.

  Sebastian eyed me nervously. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed past the lump in his throat. “She’s right.” He pulled his shirt over his head revealing his sculpted body. I inhaled sharply trying to calm myself. It was hard not to be overwhelmed. He was a work of art with a god like physique. Michelangelo’s David had nothing on him. Where most men could only get a six pack, Sebastian had eight. His muscles were so defined even sitting down I could see the firmness of them. I shook my head trying to clear the thoughts flooding my mind. They wouldn’t help the situation.

  “Come here,” he commanded gently speaking the way a lover would. I obeyed crawling into his lap straddling him. I released my skirt so it pooled around my thighs. Resting my hands on his shoulders I settled into position. I bit my lip nervously as my chest rose and fell quickly. His green eyes darkened with desire, but there was also guilt there. He wanted this, but felt wrong for it, I knew because I felt the same.

  “This is going to be so fucking good,” Jade mumbled. I glared at her over my shoulder. She threw her hands up, “Sorry.”

  “You do know that you’re not here just to enjoy a show,” Sebastian stated.

  She widened her eyes and raised her brow, silently saying she knew. Sebastian turned my attention back to him by placing his finger under my chin. “I doubt we have a whole lot of time to test this theory before you’re husband,” he choked on the word, “comes barging in. And I would rather not get punched by him again.” I didn’t know what he meant by again, but I nodded.

  With a deep breath I relaxed, letting my fangs drop. I stared at Sebastian with my honey-green eyes, silently asking one last time for permission. Tilting his head to the side he exposed his neck granting me access.

  I breathed in his scent letting it fill me before easing my fangs into him. I tried to hold on to some semblance of control, but the moment his blood spilled onto my tongue what little control I retained vanished. Groaning I sank my teeth in deeper. He hissed digging his fingers into my hips. My fangs seemed to grow longer with my desire. The dam Sebastian had been struggling to uphold burst and I felt the angelic bond flare. It crashed down on me like a wave, overwhelming my senses. Warmth flooded through me starting in my core and rippling out from there. Stars flashed before my eyes even though they were closed. Sebastian’s hands gripped my hips with the strength only a supernatural could muster. If I had been human, I’d have bruised or worse. In my weakened state, I could still feel the pain, but with every pull of his blood my strength returned. With little effort from Sebastian, I found myself pinned between the bed and his body. I moaned when the weight of him settled on top of me, all the while I never withdrew my fangs.

  His fingers grazed up my bare thigh moving my skirt up as they ascended to my hip. His touch burned against my skin causing my thighs to hug his body tight. I groaned and writhed under him wanting more of his touch. I could hear a voice in my head telling me this was wrong, but I didn’t understand when it felt so right. His finger gliding across my stomach had me withdrawing my fangs. Grabbing Sebastian’s face between my hands I searched over his expression. His eyes locked with on my lips and I knew he wanted to kiss me, but I was still so hungry. Releasing him, I shifted my weight, rolling us over until I was on top of him. He sat up trying to bring his lips to me, but I tilted his head to the side piercing him with my fangs once more. I felt his hands under my shirt slide up my back. His fingers felt amazing on my skin leaving goose bumps in their wake. With a quick flick of his fingers my bra could be undone, but it seemed more like he was teasing. I retracted my fangs from him, but they didn’t rescind into my gums. Sebastian’s hands rested on my ribs as I stared into his green eyes.

  “Uh, guys?” I heard Jade in the background, but her voice sounded like it was off in the distance. It was easily ignored as I threaded my fingers into Sebastian’s blonde hair. Nothing could tear me away from his piercing emerald gaze that was drenched in so much desire. It was a look crafted just for me. The fact that this unearthly being was staring at me made me feel powerful and adored.

  “Tell me to stop,” his words were dripping with lust. His right hand moved flicking open the top button on my shirt while his left stayed on my rib drawing circles just under my breast with his thumb. With the next button, my bra was visible.

  I bit my lip and shook my head. I wanted this. I didn’t know why we had never done it before.

  His thumb stopped drawing circling. With just the barest touch it whispered against the underside of my breast. I closed my eyes and threw my head back with a gasp, but there was no more. My eyes fluttered open and I saw Jade standing next to us with a hold on Sebastian’s arm stopping his hand from moving higher on my body.

  “Fuck, if I knew you two wouldn’t get pissed I’d let you have it out, maybe release the damn tension between you. But you guys have to stop.”

  “It’s alright Jade. We changed our minds. You can go,” I quickly stated. I wanted more and couldn’t remember why she was here anyways.

  “Gaby!” She slapped me. I blinked away the fog I was in. I could see and hear Jade clearly. “Do you hear me?” she asked. I nodded. “Remember why I’m here?” My brow furrowed as I pondered her words. She was here to prevent anything from happening. I was breathing rapidly trying to remain in control. My eyes locked on Sebastian’s eyes then to his lips. I groaned struggling against what my body was ordering me to do. She repeated her question and I nodded. “Okay, then you need to stop this. Remember Grayson?”

  Hearing Grayson’s name didn’t douse the flames as much as I would have liked, but it did help clear my head a little. I took deep breaths trying to calm my treacherous body. I shifted my palm over Sebastian’s hand that was still under my shirt easing it out.

  “Sebastian?” I called to him, trying to summon him out of his trance. His blood helped me put the walls back up on our blood tie. In my still weakened state, the walls weren’t as strong as I needed, but they were up nonetheless. I adjusted my shirt back in place before grabbing his face bringing it level with mine. His green eyes were dark with lust, his pupils leaving behind almost no green.

  He blinked a few times. “Gaby?”

  I smiled tensely; after all I was still in a compromising situation.

  “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” he asked nervously.

  I chuckled slightly. “Hurt isn’t the word I’d use.”

  His eyes wandered around the room then over my body with his brow knitted in thought. “Gaby…” He groaned seeing my clothes in disarray.

  Placing a gentle finger against his lips I silenced him. I knew he felt guilty. Squeezing his eyes closed, I could see he was trying to hide himself from me. All he wanted to do was protect me and now he probably felt like he had taken advantage.

  “Man, I hope when you two finally get around to fucking that I have a front row seat. That shit was panty dropping good,” Jade teased.

  Sebastian shifted to glare at her. I took it as my opportunity to slide off his lap.

  “I need you to hear me,” I said while kneeling next to him on the bed. “You did nothing wrong. The blood, the angel bond, the fact that I couldn’t keep the walls up, it all played a role. Okay?” Focusing anywhere but me he nodded. He scooted over to the edge of the bed putting his back to Jade. I could see he was still beating himself up. I stood with my back to him adjusting my clothes back in place. Jade walked over helping me fix my hair so I didn’t look like I just rolled around in the sheets.

  “I tried Gaby, but neither of you were hearing me,” she whispered even though Sebastian could still hear her. Her eyes drifted to Sebastian and mine followed. “I probably should have tried sooner, but I thought you all might stop it on your own. My bad.”

  “Can you give us a minute?” I asked. She seemed unsure. Jade had been present to prevent anything from happening while I fed. Now that it was over, I no longer required a babysitter. I opened my mouth to say just that, but she nodded before turning to leave. The room was deathly quiet after the door clicked shut leaving Sebastian and I alone. I walked over to where he sat resting his elbows on his knees with his head in his hands. I squatted down in front of him placing my palms on his knees. He dropped his hands allowing them to cover mine.

  “Gaby… I’m…”

  “Don’t you dare say sorry. You have nothing to apologize for. You were only trying to help me by feeding me your blood. We both knew there was a chance…” I cleared my throat letting my words hang in the air. “That’s why Jade was here.”

  Sebastian reached a hand out helping me stand. His fingers settled above my hips tugging me close until his forehead rested on my stomach. I sighed threading my fingers into his silky hair offering him the comfort he needed. It wasn’t entirely selfless. I wanted it too. After a few moments, he leaned back. His fingers tentatively moved to my shirt. The top two buttons were still undone. At first I thought he was redoing them until he reached for the one just below the unfastened one and undid it revealing the white lace of my bra. I inhaled sharply, but let him proceed. With two more buttons opened he slid his hand into my shirt shifting it away from my injury. His gaze searched it before his fingers pressed against it.

  “Does that hurt?” he asked. I shook my head not wanting to tell him how amazing his touch felt. “It looks better.” I glanced down and saw the black lines had rescinded. The wound itself was still black and appeared like a scar, but the poison no longer seemed to be spreading through my body.

  “I guess it worked,” I mumbled. Sebastian agreed with a nod.

  There was a soft knock on the door before it opened a crack, “Gaby?” Grayson called through the crack. I bite my lip worrying over his reaction to me standing in front of Sebastian with my shirt partially open, but sighed softly when he didn’t appear. He was giving me a private moment instead of just barging in.

  “I’ll be out in just a minute.”

  The door stayed open for just a few seconds as he hesitated before it closed. I quickly went about redoing my shirt.

  “Your husband is waiting,” Sebastian grumbled sounding defeated.