#i got carried away...again...

There was a commotion all around—an array of hisses and snarls as your eyes fluttered open at the all too familiar voice.

One vampire swayed and fell to the side.

Behind him, clenching a still bleeding heart, was Connor.  

A tearing sound resonated through the room, and a second later another vampire fell to the floor beside you, his head detached from his body. A breeze brushed against you as raging grey eyes appeared in your line of sight and Nines knelt before you swiftly.

Never—not even when you first met him—did you ever fear Nines like you did at that moment. Absolute rage seemed to have frozen his sharp features, twisting his handsome face into something merciless and arcane.

Your lips parted, heavy tongue trying to form his name, but the only sound to escape you was a pained whimper. A low snarl rumbled from his chest as he leaned closer, his wrist already at his mouth.

His touch was cautious when he laid his fingers against your wet cheek.

“What have they done to you?” his voice was quiet but acidic in its bite as he raised his bleeding wrist to your mouth. “Drink, mate. You’ve lost too much blood.”

Your lips brushed against his bleeding wrist and you choked slightly, tears of pain and shame mixing together while relief bloom in your chest. Nines tensed further at the sound of your crying, reminding you of a coiled spring about to break free. 

He pulled you into his arms, mindful of your injuries as he held you against him securely. You could already feel his potent blood healing you—a rare, and powerful gift only your Mate’s blood was capable of granting you—and you pressed your cheek against his solid chest, trying to focus on the humming bond between you and nothing else.  

“Make sure they suffer,” Nines spoke icily, the tone of his voice almost making you flinch again. Never have you heard his voice so low, or so savagely brutal. “Especially that one.”

Only then did you realise that all the vampires in the room were dead, except for the two vampires who took you. The dark-haired vampire who drank from you, and his companion who tries to talk him out of it.

Connor brushed his fingers against your arm cautiously, making you stifle a sob. He pulled back sharply, his lips twitching into a snarl as his eyes gleamed subtle crimson at your obvious pain.

“I intend to.”

Screams tore through the empty room as Nines carried you out into the night.

…

Even though your wounds were healed, and you had long since showered and curled up in the bed you all shared, the horror of the day refused to fade away. Tears rolled down your cheeks despite your best effort to stop them, and you buried your face in Nines chest, your fingers tightly gripping onto his turtleneck. 

“Shhh, you have nothing to fear anymore,” he murmured, cold lips brushing against your temple. “You’re safe. We found you and we always will.”

You wiped against your face vehemently, staining Connor’s crip, expensive shirt with your tears.

“I-I was just..I’m sorry I don’t know why I’m—”

A soft breeze and the bed dipped, causing you to look up.

Connor was kneeling before you, his hair still damp from the shower as he gingerly reached forward, letting his fingers hover between you. You remembered how you pulled back earlier, how you had flinched away from him and felt guilt burn in your heart.

Grasping his hand, you guided it to rest against your cheek as you rose up to meet his hard stare. Nines moved with you, one arm still resting around your waist. He told you himself that if it wasn’t for you, he would have punished those vampires himself.

“Never apologize for something that those vermins did to you,” Connor voiced viciously, leaning closer, “I tore them to pieces (Name). They will never lay a hand on you again.”

Your eyes fluttered shut and you leaned into his hand, sighing at the feeling of his thumb brushing against your flushed skin.

“Will—will you stay with me? Both of you? Just…please stay with me…”

Nines’ grip tightened around your waist for a second, and he pressed a featherlight kiss to your shoulder.

“We would never leave you, mate,” he said simply.