Crimson Debt

  “What’s that?” I asked, staring at it blankly.

  “That’s the stake! The soul eater.” She thrust it at me and I pulled back instinctively.

  “What the hell—keep it out of my face!”

  “It can’t hurt you now—it can’t hurt anyone. Someone neutralized it—someone reversed my spell.” She glared at me as if I was personally responsible. Which actually, I probably was. “That was my best magic and I come from a long line of powerful witches. Even I couldn’t have reversed that spell. How the hell did you do it?”

  Taylor turned to me, her eyes wide. “You reversed a witch’s magic? But how, Addison? You’re not a witch—are you?”

  “No, of course not.” I tried to laugh. “I think you’d know by now if I was. You would have caught me out casting spells at midnight or dancing with the devil or something.”

  An uncomfortable look crossed Gwendolyn’s face.

  “That’s a fucking stereotype and I don’t appreciate it. Witches are neutral agents of power—they have nothing to do with demons or any other creatures of the Shadow Lands.” She glared at me. “So how did you reverse my magic?”

  “She paid the Crimson Debt.”

  The new voice came from the doorway. I looked up to see Corbin standing there with a scowl on his face. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt—a black one this time that clung to his broad, muscular chest and seemed to match his mood. His announcement brought a collective gasp from everyone in the room—as well as outside it. Bambie was still standing there just behind him, her eyes wide, no doubt soaking up the gossip.

  Taylor shook her head. “Addison…you didn’t.”

  “Of course, she didn’t,” Gwendolyn said flatly. “If she did, she wouldn’t still be here. The vamp she paid the Debt to would have killed her.”

  “He very nearly did,” Corbin growled, frowning at me.

  Okay, it was getting just a little too crowded in Taylor’s tiny room for my taste. And I didn’t like sitting meekly on her lumpy cot like a naughty child while Corbin glared down at me like an angry father.

  “This is not the place to be talking about this,” I said, getting up and only wobbling a little bit as I pushed past Taylor and Gwendolyn to get to Corbin. “I think,” I said, looking up at him, “We could use a little privacy.”

  “Oh, is it privacy you want?” He suddenly swept me into his arms and carried me down the hallway. He was moving so fast I barely had time to see the shocked look on Bambie’s face before he turned the corner and entered his office.

  Once we were alone, he shut the door and put me down. Then he walked across the room, leaned back against his desk, folded his arms over his chest and just…glared at me.

  “Corbin—” I started but he shook his head.

  “So now we have some privacy,” he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm. “Only I seem to recall that the last time you asked for privacy you lured me downstairs and chained me to the bed.”

  I lifted my chin. “Yeah, well, I didn’t see you protesting at the time.”

  “That is because I had no idea what you were about to do. Gods!” He ran a hand through his hair in a very human gesture of frustration. “How could I have not seen it? How could I have not understood what you were about to risk?”

  “Because you were almost dead at the time,” I shot back. “And you were about to be all dead if I didn’t do something fast—so I did it.”

  “You nearly died, Addison!” he roared.

  I couldn’t help it—I flinched. I had never seen him angrier.

  “Corbin—” I started.

  “I could have killed you—could have ripped you to shreds!” His eyes were blazing and every muscle in his big body was tight. But I was through flinching.

  “You think I don’t know that?” I shouted back. “I knew what I was getting into—I see it at work all the time. Hell, I saw it last night, right before I came to you.”

  Corbin shook his head. “You are insane. If I had killed you…”

  “But you didn’t,” I said more softly. “You didn’t, Corbin—I’m all right. We both are. Yes, I took a risk but it paid off.”

  “No, we are not all right,” he ground out, his eyes narrowed. “Even though I didn’t kill you I still hurt you—and badly.”

  “Look,” I said, putting out a hand. “I know I’m a little banged up but—”

  “A little banged up?” he repeated. “Addison, come here.”

  I came to him reluctantly and stopped about two feet from him.

  “What?”

  “Look.” He tugged at the belt of the silky dark green kimono I was wearing and it fell open with a whisper of cloth.

  I looked down at myself…and bit back a gasp.

  I was covered in bruises. My arms, my thighs, my hips and torso, all were covered in long, finger shaped marks that had to be from Corbin’s hands.

  “I did that,” he said softly and there was a depth of sorrow and regret in his voice that made me ache to hear it. “I hurt you, Addison. And…forced myself on you, as well.”

  “Oh, come on,” I objected. “If anyone forced anyone it was me forcing you. I chained you down, remember?”

  “Yes, and now I know why.” He shook his head. “You should have known that silver wouldn’t hold one of my age and strength.”

  “Well, I didn’t. And it seemed like a good idea at the time. Corbin…” I stepped closer and put my hand on his arm. “You didn’t force me, okay?” I said gently. “It was consensual, all the way.”

  He frowned. “Maybe it started out that way, but I know how it ended. Darling… I saw blood on your thighs. I know what I did. How I hurt you.”

  The pain in his eyes was awful to see. It felt like someone had reached into my chest and was squeezing my heart.

  “I know what it must have looked like but it wasn’t like that,” I told him. “I mean, it could have been. I’m sure it would have been if I hadn’t…hadn’t figured out a way to make it work.”

  He laughed bitterly. “You found a way to make being raped work? How very clever of you.”

  “It wasn’t rape,” I said angrily. “It was submission.”

  “What?” He frowned at me, clearly surprised.

  I ducked my head, unable to look at him.

  “Submission,” I repeated. “You were…more animal than human while…while it was going on. You had needs that had to be met. I just…gave you what you needed.”

  Corbin looked at me with a new light in his eyes.

  “So you willingly submitted to me? That doesn’t sound like you, Addison.”

  I pulled my robe closed and crossed my arms protectively over my breasts.

  “Yeah, well…maybe I’ve changed.”

  “Well, I have not,” he said grimly. “I am a vampire and my true nature was revealed to you last night.”

  “Will you please get over the ‘oh, I’m a guilty monster’ crap already?” I snapped, losing my patience. “Yes, you were out of your mind and you got a little rough. Hell, Corbin—I expected that. You want to know the truth? I excepted to be torn to pieces.”

  He had been looking a bit calmer but now his eyes went hard again.

  “Then why did you do it?” he demanded in a low, angry voice. “Damn it, Addison—I was prepared to die. I never asked you to give your life to bring me back. To risk a horrible and painful death out of some twisted sense of obligation and duty.”

  “Is that what you think?” I demanded. “Listen to me, you big asshole—” I reached up and poked him angrily in the center of his broad chest. “I didn’t do it out of duty or because I owed you anything for saving Taylor or protecting me from Roderick or anything else like that. I did it because I love you! And you’re an even bigger idiot than I thought if you can’t see that.”

  Corbin’s eyes widened and then narrowed.

  “You are lying.”

  “What?” I glared at him and shook my head. “I tell you I love you and you say I’m lying? Why the hell would you say a
thing like that?”

  “When I was giving you my blood in an effort to heal you from my savage attack, you pushed me away,” he accused. “You said, ‘Not that! Anything but that!’”

  I felt suddenly cold as I remembered his blood filling my mouth.

  “I was talking about you turning me into a vampire. You…you didn’t, did you? Because I love you, Corbin, but I don’t want to be like you. Living on blood, never going out in the sunlight…it wouldn’t be right for me. You can understand that, can’t you?”

  “I can.” He nodded and his eyes suddenly softened. “Forgive me. I thought you were protesting the blood because you didn’t want me to bond you to me.”

  “What?” This was something entirely new to consider. “You bonded me to you? As in for life? For all eternity?”

  “For as long as I live, anyway,” Corbin said. “It was the only way to save your life. I had taken too much of your blood—you were dying, Addison.” His tone took on a pleading tone. “Please tell me you would not rather be dead than bound to me.”

  “I could ask you to say the same thing,” I pointed out. “You were checking out on me without even telling me first.”

  “I didn’t think you cared.” His deep voice was soft, almost wistful.

  “Well, I do. I love you, damn it,” I said, poking him in the chest again.

  Corbin caught my finger in his big hand and then pulled me closer until I was pressed up against his tall frame.

  “Addison,” he murmured, cupping my face in both hands. “I have loved you from the moment I first saw you. Say you will stay with me now, promise never to leave.”

  “I promise,” I said and he kissed me, gently at first and then with more passion.

  We were just getting into it when someone started pounding on his office door.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  The pounding continued until Corbin pulled back from our kiss, a look of irritation on his face.

  “Now who can that be?”

  “Probably Bambie,” I said with a smirk. “She hates to be left out of the gossip.”

  With a muttered curse about nosey barmaids, Corbin went to fling the door open. He was all set to give the hapless Bambie a piece of his mind but it was Taylor standing there instead. Her thin face was set in lines of determination as she stared up at Corbin.

  “Master Corbin,” she said, lifting her chin. “I know you’re my master now and I’m supposed to bow to your every whim but I will not sit back and let you abuse Addison. She is my best friend and she deserves more than—”

  “Take it easy, roomie,” I said, going to take her hand. “Corbin’s not abusing me—if anything I’ve been abusing him.” I gave him a smirk and one corner of his sensual mouth quirked up in return.

  “He’s not? But…I heard, we all heard shouting.” Taylor still looked upset. “And no one else would come see what was going on but I didn’t want you to get hurt, Addison. I mean, any more than you already are…” Her eyes flickered over me and I pulled the green kimono closer around me self-consciously. No doubt she had seen the bruises and come to the same conclusion Corbin had.

  “I’m fine,” I assured her. “You on the other hand…” I took a step back and looked at her, noticing again how tired and thin she looked. There were bruised looking smudges under her lovely blue eyes and her bones were poking through her skin. She looked like she was anorexic or in the last stages of some awful disease.

  Abruptly, I was angry at Corbin all over again. I turned to him, scowling.

  “Look at her, Corbin. Look at her. She’s starving and where is Victor? You promised you’d call him.”

  “I’m sorry, darling—I forgot. I was a bit preoccupied making sure I hadn’t killed you,” Corbin said dryly. “If it will make you feel better, I will call him immediately.”

  “Do that,” I said and turned back to Taylor. “You should have said something,” I told her. “You can’t just let yourself starve.”

  She looked suddenly even paler—if that was possible.

  “I didn’t want to. Because I knew it would mean I’d have to leave and go away with…with him.” She shivered and wrapped her arms around her waist. “I don’t even know him, Addison! And now I’m supposed to go live in his house and drink from him?”

  “It’s only for three months,” I said, trying to console her. “Okay, I know it sounds like a long time but I swear I’ll come visit you as much as you want.”

  “But what if he wants to…to have sex?” Her eyes were wide and frightened. “I mean we're married, Addison. What if he thinks it’s his right as my husband? But I can’t do that. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to be with someone again, let alone a complete stranger.”

  “You don’t have to,” I soothed, taking her hand and pressing it in both of mine. “Corbin made him swear not to abuse you in any way—remember?”

  “I know. But I just…I can’t. Not after Roderick…the things he made me do…”

  A single tear was standing in her eye again and I knew she would have been crying hard if she’d had the moisture in her body to do it. Her return grip on my hand was panicky-tight but again, for some reason it didn’t hurt. Maybe because I was bonded to Corbin and was more “durable” now that we were together.

  “Taylor,” I began but suddenly Corbin’s voice cut through the air sharply.

  “I do not care what phase the moon is in or how inconvenient it is for you, Victor,” he was growling into his phone. “Your blood bonded mate is here with me and she is starving. You have put off your responsibilities for long enough—you will come and get her now or I swear I will give you ample reason to regret it.”

  I could hear faint cursing coming from the other end of the conversation but Corbin only nodded in satisfaction and hung up.

  “He will be here shortly,” he said, turning to us. “Although I am afraid he is not very happy about it.”

  “Oh God!” Taylor hugged me tightly, an embrace that would have cut off my air and circulation and maybe cracked a few ribs before. I was pleased to note, however, that it didn’t bother me at all this time.

  I hugged her back. “It’s going to be okay, hon,” I told her, stroking her hair. “I promise it is. You let me know if he so much as looks sideways at you and I swear I’ll come put him in his place.”

  Corbin smirked at me. “I thought you were a vampire killer—not a werewolf slayer.”

  “Silver works on both of you,” I reminded him. “But actually, I’m thinking of giving it up—the vampire killing thing, I mean.”

  Taylor seemed to forget her own worries because she pulled back and looked at me uncertainly.

  “Really? You’re going to quit being an Auditor?”

  I shrugged. “You’re free, hon—well, you will be in three months, anyway. And I’m with Corbin now. It would be kind of hypocritical of me to go around enforcing the law against human/vamp sex when I’ll be breaking it on a regular basis myself.”

  “A very regular basis, I hope.” Corbin’s voice was a sexy growl that made my cheeks hot.

  “Anyway,” I went on, still talking to Taylor and trying not to let Corbin know he was affecting me. “I’ve been thinking I might go back to school—take another whack at my dissertation. And what about you? Why don’t you go back and finish your training to become a vet?”

  Taylor looked intrigued. “I never thought about that. I guess I could check into it. I mean, I’d have to take night classes but I was pretty far along…”

  “You can work in one of those all night emergency veterinary clinics,” I exclaimed. “Like the one we took Samikin to when he got that thorn in his paw.”

  “Samikin…” Taylor looked subdued and I suddenly remembered that the cat in question had run away and never come back after she had become a vampire. For some reason, cats don’t like vamps. Dogs don’t seem to mind them though—I don’t know about other animals.

  “Or you could study something else,” I said quickly. “There are lots of option
s open now that Celeste is out of the picture.”

  “You’re right.” Taylor lifted her chin. “I can do anything I want again after this is over with. And I know it’s going to be fine—so much better than my life with Celeste was. Except…” She shook her head, obviously unable to continue.

  “What is it?” I urged gently. “Is there something else bothering you? Well, I mean, other than having to go live with a surly werewolf you barely know?”

  She gave me a wan smile and nodded reluctantly.

  “It’s…hard to explain. But ever since I took his blood—ever since I drank from that chalice—I’ve been feeling so…so…weird.”

  “Weird how?” I asked, feeling worried. Had Victor’s blood poisoned her somehow?

  Taylor shook her head again and I saw her cheeks go that pale pink which would have been a deep blush on anyone else.

  “I can’t…explain it,” she whispered. “It’s just so…so strange. Ever since this thing started—”

  “This thing, huh? Meaning our fucking three month marriage?” said a growling voice from the doorway of Corbin’s office. “Sounds like you’re as excited about it as I am, sweetheart.”

  Taylor’s head jerked up and she took a step back as Victor filled the doorway.

  I had to bite back a gasp too. As before he was huge and irritated looking but I thought he looked wilder than he had last time I had seen him. His hair seemed longer and his eyes, which had been mostly brown before, were pure, animalistic gold.

  “Good evening, Victor,” Corbin said smoothly, coming forward. “How good of you to come so quickly.”

  “I was right around the corner at a construction site,” the were growled. “But I’m telling you, Corbin, this is not a good time for me to take her. What with the moon being full tonight and—”

  “I’m very sorry it’s your time of the month,” Corbin interrupted. “But Taylor cannot wait any longer—she is literally starving to death.”

  “What?” Victor frowned. “Well, why doesn’t she drink some blood?”