Smoldered Flames: Part I of the Edonia Series
Chapter 13

Valeri

I yank my arm out of Cassius’ grip as if it burned. Well it burned, but in other regions of my body. If you know what I mean. But, I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing the way his touch made my body respond, so I returned his scowl with one of my own.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He demanded.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?” I retorted.

Cassius closes in on me. My back hits a wall and his long athletic arms boxes me in. my half dead heart beats out of my chest while he inhales my scent. The smell of pine trees on a cold winter day encases me in safety.

Cassius shuts his ice-blue eyes with a heavy sigh. “You are worse than an Omega. Even they know how to defend themselves.”

“Well next time don’t be the hero.” I whisper.

Ice slowly creeps it’s way into my warm heart. it ’s claw-like grip snares the organ as Cassius says his next words.

“No one wants a weak, pathetic halfbreed female who can’t take care of herself. It would be a celebration to see you disappear,” he whispers back.

“I wasn’t weak when-,”

“Okay, it’s time for our little doggie’s nap! He has a great hunt to participate in after all,” someone interrupts.

The same handsome devil from prison stands on the right side of me. He wears a dark red silk shirt with black dress pants and leather black chelsea boots. A neck tattoo graces his body. It has a red teardrop surrounded by a thick, loop-like handle. The thick loop-like handle is connected to a downward wicked blade. He was mouthwatering. I wanted a taste. My stomach growls in agreement.

He holds his hand out in my general direction. “The name is Eros. We were never properly acquainted due to how rude my companion was last time.”

Eros. The way his tongue merely rolls when saying his name had my walls clenching. His honey brown eyes seem to dance in merriment as if he knew how his words affected me. I don’t get it, the man only introduced himself, and here I am becoming a puddle. After this realization, my stomach is in knots. I felt like getting sick again. Why did he affect me in the worst way?

A growl interrupts my thoughts and Eros still has his hand out.

“It seems the female doesn’t want to shake a lost souls’ hand.” Cassius snarls.

“I believe we are one and the same, if you ask me,” Eros retorts.

I realized too late that he was referring to me. I guess it’s time to reel back into reality and accept that I am part vampire.

“Nice to meet you as well.”

I grab his hand with vigor. He had smooth hands that were slightly calloused. Eros’ smile lit up tenfold it seems. I got lost in his eyes before another growl erupts from within Cassius’ chest.

“I’m going to throw up,” Cassius says before letting me go.

“Aye, yo Cassie!” Someone shouts from down the hall.

A rough-looking group of five saunter towards my little group. They range from ages sixteen to at least twenty-one. The guy in the front wore a white t-shirt and a light blue jean jacket with skinny jeans to match. His ragtag group all wore similar attire. His clopping tan boots echo throughout the hallway. Him and his little group would make a horrible hunting party.

“I told you not to call me that.” Cassius says.

“Who’s the one-eyed mutt? I thought you messed with pretty purebred bitches? I didn’t think even you would stoop this low,” the stranger replies.

“What did you just say?” I ask, my tone dark .

He gives out a hearty laugh. “It speaks! I guess you aren’t as stupid as you look.”

He cocks an eyebrow while making eye contact. This was a challenge of some sort. I didn’t know if it was a test of dominance or a test of my patience. My fuse is becoming very short as of late.

Before I knew it, my body slammed into this idiot who had the courage to speak to me this way. He didn’t know me; just decided to judge on appearances alone. Fuck that. This bastard needed to be put in his place!

I hem him up against a nearby wall. I feel my eyes blaze in rage as my left forearm rams into the newcomer’s throat. He tries to cough but my grip tightens.

“Now. I want you to try and say that again, pup” I growled.

He gasps.

“Hmmm? The one-eyed mutt can’t seem to hear you, and my ears work just fine,” I continued.

His face turns a dark shade of blue before I let him go. I deck him square in the face.

“Fuccckkkk! That hurt!” I yelped. His jaw appeared to be made of steel. That’s going to be another bruise!

“Alright, alright. You all have had your fun. Scatter before I have your hides,’ says a deep voice.

Turning around, I see Adeyemi come into my view. His left hand is on his holster. His storm gray eyes show hints of amber as he assesses the situation.

“Masterson! I need you to bandage up the prisoner’s hand before she’s late again,” he commanded.

There were looks of surprise on everyone’s face. It seems no one noticed the doctor’s sudden appearance. Sweat sheens the doctor’s forehead while he comes in my general direction.

“I thought you were supposed to be in the Medic Ward?” I asked, trying to ease the obvious tension in the air.

“Technically, I am a doctor-in- training per se. I have a few years before-”

“Yeah, yeah we know,” interrupts Cassius.

I glance over at him. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

He sneers. “Watch it, mutt.”

I get bold. “Or what?”

He points to the guy that is still TKO’d. “I’m not one to submit to a mongrel like the pup here.”

Cassius leaves with the ragtag group in tow. Some in the group haul the unconscious man while he groans in pain. Which reminds me of my untended fist.

Dr. Masterson gently takes my injured hand in his. “Here, let me take care of this for you.”

His gentle green eyes seem to sparkle in delight to serve me. I suddenly remember our last meeting with my head between his thighs after taking my fill of his blood. A metal cup appears in front of me.

Eros smiles. “I took this from the cafe. It’ll help heal that wound faster. Drink up!”

Kindness. This is what kindness felt like. Just a pure unadulterated emotion.

I got lost in his eyes again. “Thank you, Eros.”

Someone clears their throat. Tanni comes into my line of sight. Her eyebrows knit together in exasperation. It looks like we’ll be late again. She stomps off and I forget about my unhealed fist.

“Well don’t forget about this!” Eros yells out.

“Oh!”

I turn to get the drink. “What is it?”

“Blood N’Fused cherry slushy.”

“A what, now?”

He chortles. “It’s a brand. Blood N’Fused is a brand invented by humans to satisfy the needs of vampires. It’s beneficial to us all, really.”

“Riiiight.”

I take a swig of the blood infused slushy and my tongue is alight with so much flavor. The sweet taste of cherries coats my tongue before the taste of blood overtakes the cherry flavor. My stomach doesn’t revolt at the savoring zing of the combined tang of the cherry slushy. My mind quiets as I quickly consume the drink. I felt alive again. I felt like zooming through the hallways to complete the rest of my classes.

Here goes nothing.