Alliances (Guardians of White Light, #1) by F.J. Gale Page B

out.”
    She gulped down the fear that spread through her like ice. She didn’t want either of them to see her fear. It was weakness. But they were vampires; she suspected they could smell it.
    “On the count of three. One—”
    He ripped it out. He was so fast. But the pain that assaulted her was just as sudden. She couldn’t suppress an agonizing scream. It was unbearable. She fought back the immediate urge to throw up. A rush of searing heat and an uncomfortable chill assaulted her body at the same time. Before she could even catch her breath, he exerted painful pressure against the open wound with the gauze pad. Shit, breathe, just stay conscious.
    “Fuck!” she choked out between rapid breaths.
    She threw her head back and wiped away the sweat that soaked her brow. She closed her eyes tightly in an effort to rise above the pain. Pain is just a state of mind, huh? She hated fools who espoused such nonsense. They’d obviously never been brutally gutted. Worst battle wound so far.
    “Slow your breathing. Control it,” Jax urged her. “You’ve had worse than this.”
    Jenna opened her eyes and caught that bullshit expression on his face that she knew only too well. I invented that frigging look . “I’m trying my damnedest not to tell you to go fuck yourself right now!”
    “I know,” Jax said with a wink.
    “Stop reading me.”
    “Just making sure your thoughts are coherent. I can’t have you passing out. It’s coma territory at the moment.”
    “I’m fine.”
    Just as she’d said the words, a sudden gust of chilled air rushed at her. Mathias. She felt him before she saw him. Damn, he was fast, even for a vampire.
    There was blood trickling from his lips. She saw him exchange a couple of serious glances with Jax. Jax gave a nod of agreement and then Mathias ripped his jacket off and approached her. Jax stepped back. Before she could react to his frenzied movements, she watched in horror as he summoned his demon face. His fangs jutted to the forefront of his mouth. He guided his arm to them. Fangs tore through flesh, shredding veins. Blood spurted, flowing freely down his arm. It didn’t seem to faze him at all.
    He dropped to his knees before her and held his wrist out for her, as though it was something as mundane as a waiter trying to offer hors d’oeuvres at a stuffy cocktail party.
    “What are you doi—”
    “You could die.”
    She shook her head. “No. The bleeding has stopped. Get that gouged arm away from me.”
    “You’ve already lost too much blood. It’s too risky to take you to a hospital. Drink.”
    “Are you a doctor now?”
    “I can feel it, Jenna.”
    She looked to Jax for his confirmation. After his warning about Mathias and his bloodlust for her, she didn’t trust him enough.
    “He’s right,” he said, with a nod.
    Mathias pushed his arm closer to her mouth. She turned her head, her stomach churning with disgust.
    “You want to die?” he snapped.
    “That’s not your problem, vampire,” she seethed, her tone cold and hostile. Back off. No way am I drinking your blood. Gross.
    “It won’t make you a vampire. I’d have to drain you first.”
    Jenna rolled her eyes. I know that. Everyone knows that.
    “Get away from me!” she said, attempting to move away. Her body failed her and she cried out from the sudden pain that shot through her wound.
    “I’m sorry,” he said.
    Sorry for what?
    Before she could utter the question, his hand shot out and he gripped her neck. In her weakened state, her struggles failed and she could do nothing to stop him from exerting more pressure. Within moments light-headedness threatened to overwhelm her, exhausting her. Her fists unclenched of their own accord. She had no remnants of protest left in her. She barely noticed when he let go.
    “Drink,” he spoke in a reassuring velvety smooth tone.
    And she did.
    He cradled the back of her head to encourage her.
    Jax joined him and watched as Jenna drew his blood into her