Bound in Blood (Broken Bloodlines Book 3)
Bound in Blood: Chapter 22

Ophelia was right—riding a dragon is a lot more comfortable than you’d expect it to be. And although we can’t communicate telepathically with Elpis, she seems way less grumpy than her mate. Through Ophelia, we’ve been able to get updates on how far we are from Venezuela.

You’re almost here. My girl’s excited voice infiltrates my thoughts. She’s been quiet for several hours, and I felt the block on her feelings. Whether that was her or the professor, I don’t know, but we all know they’ve spent the time reconnecting. It’s exactly what I would do if I’d been away from her for weeks. And even if I wasn’t addicted to her, it’s the vampire way. We are physical creatures.

Can’t wait to see you, princess.

We missed you, Cupcake.

We sure did, Malachi adds. Is Alexandros okay?

Her sweet snorting laugh echoes around my mind, and it has been too long since I have heard the infectious sound. Sure, there have been occasional giggles over the past few weeks, but that particular sound has been sadly and unsurprisingly absent. He’s doing really well. He’s pissed because he can’t bite me though. I think he’s currently working on a plan to erase blue poppy from the world.

I bet he is. Imagining his frustrated grumbling makes me smile, but the strangeness of not sharing this conversation with him wipes it away. He’s been inside my head for over two hundred years, and I miss him being there more than I thought I would.

Are you all warm and soft and naked, Cupcake? Because that is how I’m hoping to replace you when we get there soon.

She laughs again. I am. And this bed is huge. We’ll all fit.

Xavier growls while Malachi grunts his appreciation for our sleeping arrangements. I can’t wait to see them both. After everything we’ve been through these past few weeks, us all being together again feels too good to be true. The entire way here, I’ve been convinced something would go wrong, and until I am actually with them both, touching them, I won’t believe otherwise.

We thank Elpis for the comfortable flight, although the landing was decidedly less so—we all had to hold onto her horns to make sure we didn’t roll off down the back of her tail. Something tells me she’s a minx of a dragon and she did it on purpose.

I have no idea if she understands our words of gratitude, but she blinks her fiery orange eyes at us before joining Anikêtos. He was resting when we made our descent, his vast form taking up half the beach.

As soon as we step foot inside the house, both their scents surround me, and although I’ve never been here before, it feels like we’ve come home.

Malachi’s and Xavier’s relief and happiness mingle with my own, and the three of us have goofy grins on our faces as we sneak along the hallway, following the sound of their heartbeats. Like there’s a chance in hell we could sneak up on them. But as we reach the bedroom and I place my hand on the door, another emotion hits me—trepidation.

My relationship with Alexandros is deep and profound, but I don’t think it could ever be described as warm. My respect for him comes from deep-rooted loyalty and a sense of family. But will he believe me foolish if I’m unable to mask how much I’ve missed him when I step inside this room? His absence in my life felt like a piece of my soul was missing. And not because I believed I was going to die with him gone, but because I felt less of a reason to live without him here. Alexandros Drakos is about to realize how much I’ve missed him, how much I love him, and I’m not sure I’m ready for him to know that.

Malachi places his hand on the back of my neck. He won’t reject you.

I swallow down the anxiety clogging my throat.

Malachi continues. I know you two don’t truly believe it, but he needs us as much as we need him.

Not sure you’re right about that, Kai, Xavier says with a snort, trying—and failing—to hide his own insecurities.

We run out of time to discuss it further because the door opens and he’s standing right there in front of us. I wince. Our bond isn’t in place, but he can still read minds without a bond. A bond is impenetrable, but he’s so powerful, I can’t help but wonder if he heard every single thing we said. I bet he’s hearing this right now. So shut the fuck up, Axl!

He opens the door wider and beckons us inside. “It is good to see you boys.” His voice is calm and steady, his face devoid of emotion. No change there, then.

We file past him and stand at the edge of the room while he closes the door, all three of us awkward and unsure. I want to hug the fuck out of him, but he’s not a hugger by nature, and there’s a distinct possibility he’ll kick me in the nuts if I try.

Ophelia kneels in the middle of the bed, clapping her hands and squealing at the sight of us. Thank fuck for our girl. I focus my attention on her, and everything feels better. But before we can join her, Alexandros blocks our path, his imposing presence enough to prevent us from taking a step closer.

I swallow. Xavier’s and Malachi’s heart rates spike.

Alexandros clears his throat. “I missed you boys.” His eyes dart between us. “All of you.” And then he does the last thing I expected. He hugs us. He wraps one arm around my neck, the other around Xavier’s, and squashes Malachi between the two of us. His hands rest on Malachi’s shoulders. “Thank you for believing in me. For rescuing me. Ophelia told me you stayed behind to make sure Giorgios could not transport. How you refused to let him sire you even when you thought it might save your lives.”

Oh, shit. I’m gonna cry.

Xavier sniffs. Has he already caved? “It was nothing.”

“No.” Alexandros’s tone is stern. “It was everything.” Then he presses his lips to my ear. “You really think I would kick you in the nuts for hugging me?”

I shrug. “You are kind of hard to read.”

He barks out a laugh.

Are you going to bond with us again? I can’t stop myself from thinking the question, but he simply gives each of us a kiss on the top of our heads.

“It is late. We are all tired. Ophelia is waiting for you. We all need to rest whilst we can. Anikêtos and Elpis will stand guard.”

I glance over his shoulder at the large bed and my girl in it, smile brighter than the sun while she waits for us. He said Ophelia is waiting—does that mean he’s not joining us?

“If you think I am spending even a minute away from her or any of you this night, you are very much mistaken.” His low growl sends a shiver down my spine.

“Fuck,” Xavier murmurs, his desire spiking. I have never held such feelings for our sire; he has always been too much of a father figure for me or Malachi to see him that way. But Xavier’s relationship with him has been different from the start, and I know how much it costs him to bury those feelings every single day.

I slide my arm around his waist and give his hip a reassuring squeeze. Then we all pull off our clothes and climb into bed with Ophelia. Given that he’s been without her for nearly a month, I’m not surprised when Alexandros takes one of the spaces next to her. Malachi lies on her other side with Xavier and me beside him, all of us ensuring we have a hand on our girl.

She asks at least two dozen questions about our trip here on Elpis. When she tells us that Anikêtos was much warmer and cuddlier than she imagined, Alexandros almost chokes on his laughter.

It has been the longest of days. The longest of months. I never slept well at Giorgios’s house. Always on alert. With all of us in one place—and two dragons outside—I feel safe for the first time since before we left Montridge. Sleep threatens to pull me under the weight of its heavy blanket.

“We should rest now.” Alexandros’s commanding voice has us all eager to obey. I rest my hand on Ophelia’s hip, and Kai’s goes next to mine, Xavier’s on the other side, with the professor’s on top of them all. And that is how we fall asleep—all of us touching and finally feeling whole again.