Free We Own the Night (The Night Songs Collection Book 3) by Kristen Strassel Page B

won’t forget that, you know.”
    “Elephants and clan leaders. They never forget.”
    I swatted at him, and he caught my hand, bringing it to his mouth so he could kiss my fingers. I moaned softly as he sucked on my fingertips.
    “What else did he tell you?”
    “He showed me how to do that quick movement thing, and told me about getting energy from one person.” Since Tristan nodded, I figured that was pretty reliable. “Have you ever done that? From me?”
    “That’s how I knew you were in Vegas.” He locked eyes with me. “I was thinking about you, and I could feel you. I could feel your anticipation. When I could feel you, closer, I knew you were here.”
    I closed my eyes. Thank God I didn’t need to breathe, because I couldn’t. Tristan responded by continuing to kiss me, making his way up my arm.
    “Noah was at the theater tonight.”
    That stopped him dead in his tracks. His eyes blackened. “Why didn’t you tell me? I could have killed him.”
    “God, I wish.” I pictured the cases raining down around him, wishing they’d crushed his skull. “So he’s the new singer of Soul Divider.”
    “What?” Tristan’s jaw dropped. “How is that even possible? Soul Divider is in your clan. What the hell are they doing?”
    “I’m sure Ryder and the band have no idea about what happened with Noah and me.” I wished I didn’t have to bring it up. “I don’t know if this means they’re working with Blade, or if Blade’s working against the band. I was so shocked, I didn’t think to ask questions. Noah wouldn’t have helped me, anyway. My first thought was that Ryder should have mentioned it.”
    “Damn straight he should have.” Rage rolled off of Tristan’s skin. “I think you’re right. You can’t trust those people. What the fuck. What happened to clan loyalty?”
    “Like you can talk.” I moved his face back to mine. “You betrayed Talis by spending time with me.”
    “That wasn’t betraying her.” He smiled, but it wasn’t happy. “It was just pissing her off. There’s a difference.”
    “I guess you’re right. You piss me off all the time.” I tried to make him smile for real. Didn’t work. “You better not betray me, Tristan. You’re all I’ve got.”
    At one point in my life, which seemed something that happened in another universe, I had envisioned spending my life with Tristan. In my head, we led a sun-soaked existence, kissing endlessly as the ocean lapped at our ankles. It’s funny how in your dreams you never get old.
    At least I got that part right.
    He lowered me back down to the couch, one hand in the small of my back, the other on my shoulder. He kissed me from the center of my neck down to my breastbone. “You’re all I want,” he murmured.
    I sighed, from the feel of the lips feather soft against my skin and the sound of those words. I wanted them tattooed on my heart. While I was lost in another dimension, our clothes had disappeared, unneeded. I wrapped my hands in fistfuls of Tristan’s hair, pulling his head up. He stopped what he was doing and looked up at me, fangs bared, eyes glowing.
    He sunk his fangs into my skin, just above my left breast. My body bucked up against his as I screamed. He pulled the essence from my body, so close to my heart. I pushed him closer, my body reacting uncontrollably. I scraped my fingers along his arms, his blood hot as it pooled on my stomach. He lowered his head, working his tongue on the skin of my belly. I pushed his head lower, running my free hand through the blood he left behind then sucking it off of my fingers.
    Tristan and I shared the same wish: that he would crawl inside of me, that we could become one. This was the only time everything felt right. Blind and screaming when I reached my peak, I pulled his face back to my mouth, smothering him with kisses, then biting his neck. His body went limp and I climbed on top of him, straddling his stomach as I drank. I slid down on top of him, fitting perfectly