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  He barely felt the pain of the new wounds. His focus was rooted wholly on her, and on the wild, desperate expression in her gaze. He gave a faint shake of his head, unspoken command that she not do anything to risk her own life.

  “That ought to level the playing field,” Smithson remarked as the gunshots continued to echo through the bayou. “On second thought, another for good measure,” he told his Minion. “The gut this time.”

  The Minion’s hand started to move away from Savannah’s head. Gideon saw it in agonizing slow motion--the twitch of muscle as the human’s wrist began to pivot from its primary target to the new one at his Master’s command.

  Savannah, no!

  Gideon didn’t even have time to bring the words to his tongue. She seized the opportunity to shift her weight as the Minion’s attention flicked away from her. Savannah knocked the man’s arm up, just as he pulled the trigger. The shot went wild, up into the trees, and Savannah broke loose of the Minion’s hold.

  “Kill her,” Smithson ordered.

  And in one awful, shattering instant, another bullet blasted out of the Minion’s gun. It hit her in the back. Dropped her like dead weight to the ground.

  Amelie shrieked and flew off the porch behind him to race to her sister’s side.

  Gideon roared. Horror and rage bled through him, cold and black and acrid. “No!” he howled, racked with an anguish unlike any he’d ever known. “No!”

  He leapt on Smithson, took him down in a hard crash to the ground.

  He pounded and beat him, the pair of vampires rolling around in a savage hand-to-hand struggle in the wet grass. Gideon was vaguely aware of the Minion racing toward them, the barrel of his pistol aimed down at the scuffle, but hesitant to shoot and inadvertently snuff his own maker.

  Gideon ignored the threat and kept up his punishment of Smithson. They tore at each other, gnashing with fangs and teeth as they wrestled on the ground. Gideon’s fury was a hungry beast, waiting for the chance to deal the final blow.

  When Smithson turned his head to reach for his lost blade, Gideon pounced with lethal purpose. He grabbed hold of the other male’s throat with his teeth and fangs, sinking them deep.

  He bit down hard into Smithson’s neck, ripping out flesh and larynx in one savage shake of his head.

  Smithson jerked and flailed in agony, blood spurting everywhere.

  His Minion stood in stunned silence, a brief hesitation that was all the time Gideon needed to finish them both in one strike.

  He picked up Faulkner’s sword and drove it into Smithson’s chest.

  The vampire convulsed around the blade, eyes going wide and bulging in their sockets.

  Gideon heard another round of gunfire somewhere close to him. Felt a sudden, hard knock in the side of his skull, before his vision began to fill with red. Blood. His blood, pouring into his eyes from the hole now bored into his skull from the Minion’s final shot.

  Smithson’s chest rattled with a wet, gurgling breath as death took him under. His Minion dropped lifeless to the ground at the same time, the mind slave’s life tied inexorably to his Master’s.

  “Savannah.” Gideon dragged himself over to where Amelie hovered at her side. Savannah wasn’t moving. Her back was covered in blood. The gunshot wound a dark hole burned through her pale gray sweater, up near her ribs.

  “She’s dying!” Amelie wailed, not looking at him, but focused completely on her sister. She petted Savannah with trembling hands, her face stricken with sorrow. “You promised to save her. You swore on your life.”

  “Move aside,” he rasped thickly, his voice unearthly, ragged from injury and anguish and the crowding presence of his fangs, which filled his mouth. “Let me help her.”

  It was only then that Amelie turned to look at him. She sucked in a sharp breath and recoiled. She scrabbled backward with Savannah held close to her as if she thought she could protect her from the monster, bleeding and hideously transformed from the man he’d been just a few minutes ago. “Oh, my God. What kind of devil’s spawn are you?”

  “Please,” Gideon hissed. His vision was fading, his pulse hammering heavily in his temples, bringing excruciating pain to his skull. He had to act quickly. There wasn’t much time to do what was needed before one or the other of them died. He reached for Savannah’s hand, gently took her limp form out of Amelie’s grasp. “Please, it’s the only way. Trust me in this. Let me save her.”

  He didn’t wait. Couldn’t let another second tick by without feeding the power of his blood to Savannah’s wounds.

  He bit into his wrist and held the opened vein over her parted lips.

  “Drink,” he whispered thickly. “Please, baby...drink for me.”

  Deep red droplets splashed down into her slack mouth. The stream picked up speed, pulsing out of him with every labored beat of his heart. “Come on, Savannah. Do it. Please take this gift from me. It’s all I have to give you now.”

  Her tongue began to flick softly. Her slender throat began to work, taking the first swallow from his vein. She drank again, then another. Her eyelids started to lift slightly, just a hint of response, but enough to wring a sigh of naked relief out of Gideon’s chest.

  She would survive.

  He felt it with a certainty that humbled him. His blood would save her.

  She was alive. Smithson was dead, unable to harm her.

  Gideon had kept his promise to her, after all.

  His vision faded from dull gray to black, a numbness creeping over his scalp. He had to struggle to remain upright, invisible tethers dragging him down.

  He fought the heavy pull of his injury and cradled Savannah’s head in his arm, centering himself with the steady rhythm of her mouth working softly at his wrist, drinking from him, healing because of him.

  For now, that was enough.

  Chapter 16

  Savannah was resting in a chair in the back bedroom of Amelie’s house when Gideon woke for the first time since the shooting.

  It had been nearly eighteen hours of waiting, of hoping.

  Of praying that by some miracle, he would come back to her.

  She had tended him as best she could, fully recovered from the ordeal herself and having never felt stronger in her life.

  Thanks to him.

  She went to his bedside as his eyelids began to twitch. Leaning over him, she stroked his face, smoothed back the soft spikes of his blond hair. He leaned his face into her touch, moaning quietly. His eyes opened narrowly, squinting in the dim light of the shaded bedroom. “Where are we?”

  “My sister’s house,” she answered gently.

  He wheezed slightly, anxious now. “Are we alone? Does anyone know I’m here?”

  “Just Amelie. It’s okay, Gideon. She knows about you. I helped her understand what you are. She’ll keep our secret.”

  “Where is she?”

  “In the other room, watching television.”

  He turned his face toward the hallway wall, and Savannah guessed he was searching for Amelie through the extrasensory ability he possessed. “I can’t see her. My talent...it’s not working. It’s gone.”

  Savannah could feel his agitation. His pulse spiked with it. He brought his hand up to shield his eyes. “So bright in here.”

  She glanced to the window blinds, which were drawn down and blotted out all but the most scant illumination from the afternoon sunlight outside. “I’m sorry. I thought it would be dim enough for you.”

  She walked over to the dresser and brought back a pair of bug-eye sunglasses. “Here,” she said, carefully slipping them on his face. “Try these.”

  He opened his eyes and gave a mild nod of approval. “Better. Probably not my best look, though.”

  “You look pretty good to me.” She smiled and sat down next to him on the mattress. “I wasn’t sure you would wake up again. I wasn’t sure it would work.”

  At his frown, she went on. “That night when you came back in such terrible shape from Keaton’s place, your friend from
the Order said you needed blood. And Amelie told me what you did for me last night, after I was shot. You saved me with your blood, Gideon. So, I had to try to save you with mine.”

  He blew out an oath. “The blood bond, Savannah...it’s permanent. Unbreakable. It’s a sacred thing.” His frown deepened. “This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be.”

  She sat back, feeling hurt. Feeling she’d done something wrong and he was disappointed. “I’m sorry if it wasn’t what you wanted.”

  Gideon pushed himself up off the bed, and groaned in pain.

  “Be careful,” she said, trying to ease him back down. “You shouldn’t be moving around, and I shouldn’t be saying things that upset you. You were shot last night too. The one that hit me passed cleanly through my lung and ribs, but the one inside you...”

  “Still in my head,” he guessed grimly. “In my brain.”

  Savannah gave him a sober nod. “Amelie wanted to take you to the hospital--”

  “No.” He said it firmly, the same way he’d insisted the other night in Boston when she wanted to get him medical help for his injuries then. “Human doctors can’t help me, Savannah.”

  “I know,” she said. “So, I did the only thing I could think of.”

  He reached out, took her hand in his. “You saved my life.” He swore again, more roundly this time. “When I realized you’d left...when I knew Keaton’s Master was still out there somewhere, I couldn’t get to you fast enough, Savannah.”

  She heard the rage in his voice for the enemy he’d wanted so badly to root out and destroy, and she nodded sadly. “I’m glad he’s dead. For what he did to Rachel and your brothers, even to Professor Keaton. For what he did to you, Gideon, I’m glad Smithson is dead. I’m glad you got what you came here for.”

  He scowled. “I came for you, Savannah. I love you. I should’ve said it before. I should say it a thousand times now, so you’ll know what you mean to me.”

  She felt a warmth blooming in her breast, seeping through her veins. Not her own emotion, but Gideon’s. Flowing through their bond.

  “I know you feel it,” he said, his grasp warm on her hand. “I know you can feel my love inside you now, in your blood. Tell me you love me too, Savannah. Tell me you’ll let me prove it to you. Be my mate. Come back with me to Boston. Let me try to be the hero you deserve.”

  She slipped her hand out of his and gave a small shake of her head. “I don’t want a hero.”

  She thought about how he almost died last night--in combat, now with a bullet buried deep in his brain. A bullet that could dislodge anytime and wreak more damage, maybe something her blood wouldn’t be able to fix.

  Maybe the bullet already had taken things from him: His ESP talent. His eyes.

  “I couldn’t bear it,” she murmured. “I can’t stand by while you go out to war every night. I’m not strong enough to give you permission to fight and bleed and maybe never come back.”

  Gideon was silent for a very long while, his face downcast. “I’ve been killing Rogues nearly all my adult life, trying to even a score. Trying to atone. It was an empty quest. But the Order is my family, Savannah. The warriors are my brothers now, the only ones I’ll ever have. I can’t give them up, not even for you.”

  Her heart breaking, she nodded mutely. Struggled to find her voice. “I understand. It wouldn’t be fair for me to ask that of you.”

  He lifted her chin on the edge of his hand. “You didn’t. You asked me not to go out and fight. Maybe that I can do. Maybe there are other ways--non-combat ways--that I can serve the Order’s missions, yet keep a pledge to you...my woman. My Breedmate. My forever love.”

  Savannah wanted to let her elation flood over her, but she was still stung by the way they’d left things back in Boston. “You hurt me, Gideon. You weren’t honest with me. Without that, we’ll have nothing.”

  “I know.” He stroked her cheek. “I know, and I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you. Let me love you.” He caught her nape in his big, strong hand and pulled her to him for a brief, tender kiss. “Say you love me, and let me start being the man you make me want to be.”

  She let out a sigh, unable to resist him or refuse him. “I do love you, Gideon.”

  “Then let me bond with you properly, the way I want it to be for you, for us. Be mine, Savannah.”

  “Yes,” she whispered against his lips. “Yes, Gideon. I will be your mate.”

  He pulled her against him, letting her feel his arousal. “Let’s make it right, now.”

  She reached out with her index finger to push the ridiculous sunglasses down on the bridge of his nose. Amber sparks shot through the pale blue of his eyes. “You’re only a few hours out of death’s doorway, and you want to make love?”

  He grinned. “Oh, I want to do more than that.”

  “My sister is in the other room,” she reminded him, whispering on a scandalized laugh.

  Gideon was still for a moment, time during which the bedroom door quietly closed on its own volition, the lock softly clicking into place.

  He kissed her, then trailed his lips along the side of her neck. Savannah’s heartbeat throbbed in response to the subtle grazing of his fang tips at her pulse point. He dragged her farther up alongside him and rolled toward her, grinding his rigid length into her hip in invitation and demand.

  “You’re very bad,” she said, as he opened his mouth over her carotid.

  And then gently, sensually, she felt those razor-sharp points pierce her delicate skin. Her veins lit up, electric and hot with power, as Gideon drew the first deep swallow from her vein.

  “Oh, God,” she gasped, pleasure flooding her. “You are very, very bad.”

  And as her body melted into him, Savannah was thinking how a lifetime with Gideon was going to be very, very good.

  ~ * ~

  Thank you for reading A Touch of Midnight. I hope you enjoyed it! If you liked this book--or any of my other releases--please consider rating the book at the online retailer of your choice. Your ratings and reviews help other readers find new favorites, and of course there is no better or more appreciated support for an author than word of mouth recommendations from happy readers. Thanks again for your interest in my books!

  Lara Adrian

  www.LaraAdrian.com

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  Thirsty for more of the Midnight Breed?

  Available now on Kindle:

  A Touch of Midnight (prequel novella)

  Kiss of Midnight

  Kiss of Crimson

  Midnight Awakening

  Midnight Rising

  Veil of Midnight

  Ashes of Midnight

  Shades of Midnight

  Taken by Midnight

  Deeper Than Midnight

  A Taste of Midnight (novella)

  Darker After Midnight

  The Midnight Breed Series Companion

  Edge of Dawn

  Coming Soon:

  Crave the Night (Aug 2014)

  Tempted by Midnight (novella, Oct 2014)

  ~ ~ ~

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  Complete list of titles by

  New York Times & #1 internationally

  best-selling author

  LARA ADRIAN

  Midnight Breed Series

  A Touch of Midnight (prequel novella)

  Kiss of Midnight

  Kiss of Crimson

  Midnight Awakening

  Midnight Rising

  Veil of Midnight

  Ashes of Midnight

  Shades of Midnight

  Take
n by Midnight

  Deeper Than Midnight

  A Taste of Midnight (ebook novella)

  Darker After Midnight

  The Midnight Breed Series Companion

  Edge of Dawn

  Crave the Night (Aug 5, 2014)

  Tempted by Midnight (novella, Oct 14, 2014)

  Masters of Seduction Series

  Coming Summer 2014

  LARA ADRIAN

  writing as TINA ST. JOHN

  Dragon Chalice Series

  Heart of the Hunter (free ebook)

  Heart of the Flame

  Heart of the Dove

  Warrior Trilogy

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  Black Lion’s Bride

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  NightDrake

  A Glimpse of Darkness (ebook collaborative novella)

  About the Author

  LARA ADRIAN is the New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author of the Midnight Breed vampire romance series, with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books regularly appear in the top spots of all the major bestseller lists including the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Indiebound, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc. Her debut title, Kiss of Midnight, was named Borders Books bestselling debut romance of 2007. Later that year, her third title, Midnight Awakening, was named one of Amazon.com’s Top Ten Romances of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara’s books “addictively readable” (Chicago Tribune), “extraordinary” (Fresh Fiction), and “one of the best vampire series on the market” (Romantic Times).

  Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America’s RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion’s Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the 2011 German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.