Marked by Blood: Book 2 of The Marked Series Ford, Rinna (books to read fiction .TXT) 📖

I was the happiest I had ever been. And when I saw you,” he brought both of my hands to his face, “I knew for a fact I had to always be with you, no matter what. So, while I empathize with what you’re going through, I don’t plan on going anywhere.” He tucked my hands back around my legs and rocked back onto his heels. “I will stay by your side, forever, as your friend, if that’s all you’ll allow.”

I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding and nervously smiled at the vampire as I replayed his words in my head. Could I be his friend? Could I be around him every day and never give in to what I feel for him? I didn’t know, but I could tell by looking at him that I had no choice about whether he would stay or go. His confident smirk told me everything, including the fact he planned on spending as much time as possible with me.

I nodded my head in resigned defeat, making Matias smile even wider. Xander would not be happy, but unless he wanted to make the vampire go, he didn’t have a choice either. Something told me no one could make Matias do anything he didn’t want to do.

He stood in one quick movement and held out his hand to me, offering to help me up. I reluctantly took it and dusted off the back of my pants.

“I can do that for you,” Matias joked. I shot him a warning look and mentally rolled my eyes. Xander really wasn’t going to be happy. “Are you ready to go?” he cleared his throat and asked me, still holding onto my hand.

I looked up into his crystalline gray eyes and felt my body get warm all over again. He definitely wasn’t making it easy. I broke eye contact and let out a huff of a laugh. Deciding I needed to gain some traction against him and this attraction I couldn’t deny, I made a plan to knock him off his game just a bit.

“Sure, let’s go back.”

Before he could take off running, I closed my eyes and pictured the backyard of the house in my mind. I felt the familiar feeling of weightlessness as I transported Matias and myself back to where we met. Back to Xan.

Chapter Fifteen

I felt the familiar feeling of grass under my feet and I knew we made it. Opening my eyes, I looked to my left where Matias was still holding my hand. He stared down at me in awe, like he couldn’t believe I had done that. Honestly, I was surprised I could do it too, with how wonky it all felt to have three paranormal’s powers flowing through me. I wasn’t one hundred percent sure it would actually work, so the fact we made it, and without much trouble, gave me hope.

“You really are a hybrid, aren’t you, little one?”

I lifted one side of my mouth in a grin and shrugged. Matias shook his head in response and brought my hand to his waiting lips to kiss it once more.

“So you’re with him now?” Xander’s familiar voice boomed from the back door and he marched across the lawn toward us, ready to go at it again.

I dropped Matias’ hand like it had burned me and stepped aside. I wasn’t afraid of my mate because I knew he’d never hurt me, but I didn’t want to hurt him either and I knew what he had just witnessed was killing him.

“Xan, I…”

“Will you be okay with this dragon if I leave you two to talk?” Matias turned to me, cutting me off from what I was about to say to Xander.

“Of course she will be just fine with me. Thanks.” Xan stood inches away from Matias, ready to start round two.

“We’ll be fine, Matias. I promise.” I put my hand on his chest and gently pushed him back, away from me and away from Xander.

“If you are sure…”

“She’s real fucking sure…”

“Okay! You made your point!” I turned my attention to the pissed off dragon and gave him a look matching his own. I felt my fangs descend and I made no move to cover them.

“I will see you later then…” Matias looked like he wasn’t sure about leaving me anymore and I didn’t blame him. If I didn’t know Xander, I would have thought the same thing. Even pissed off, Xan would never hurt me. Not physically anyway.

“Bye, Matias,” I said reassuringly.

Matias reluctantly walked into the house, watching us as he went. Xan didn’t take his eyes off of Matias either, but his look was more of a look of challenge toward the other supernatural. It wasn’t a contest and Xander seemed to be the only one to realize it.

“What the hell was that? Did you run off so you could fucking mate with him where I couldn’t find you?” He pointed with his whole hand toward the direction I ran off to earlier.

That was it. I had it with Xan’s shit attitude and doubt in me. In us.

“Yes, Xander! I ran off with a vampire I didn’t know just so I could mate with him behind your back!” I screamed. Shit, I was pissed. “I get that I’m different now, but dammit, I’m not so different I would do something to hurt you!”

“Then why did you teleport back here with him?!”

“Because! I don’t fucking know how, but he found me and we talked! Then I brought him back because, even though I told him I won’t mate with him, he doesn’t want to leave.”

“I’ll fucking make him leave,” he replied in a low, menacing voice and began to walk toward the house.

I grabbed Xander by the arm and made him stop.

“No you won’t, Xander Liu!” He raised his eyebrows at my challenge and pinched his lips together. “Whether you like it or not, and I know you don’t, I’m a vampire now too! It’s