Kiss of Midnight_ A Midnight Breed Novel - Lara Adrian [251]
In the peace that washed over her, Tess’s consciousness slipped into another world, one that came to her in shades of deep scarlet, crimson, and wine.
The drive to the compound took an eternity, even though Tegan had to have set a few land speed records navigating through Boston’s busy, winding streets to the private drive leading to the Order’s headquarters. As soon as the Rover came to a stop in the fleet garage, Dante threw open the back door of the vehicle and carefully brought Tess out in his arms.
She was still in and out of consciousness, still weak from blood loss and shock, but he felt some hope that she would live. She had taken only a small amount of his blood; now that she was safe at the compound, he would make sure she got as much as she needed.
Hell, he’d bleed himself out completely if that’s what it would take to save her.
God, that wasn’t just some bullshit noble idea; he really meant it. He was desperate that Tess survive, so much that he would die for her. The physical ties of their completed blood bond ensured that he felt protective of her, but this was something stronger than that. It went deeper than he could ever have guessed.
He loved her.
The ferocity of his emotion struck Dante as he carried Tess into the garage elevator, Tegan and Chase on his heels. Someone hit the button to descend and they began the smooth, silent ride down the three hundred-some feet of earth and steel that sheltered the Breed’s compound from the rest of the world.
When the doors slid open, Lucan was standing in the corridor outside the elevator. Gideon was next to him, both warriors armed and wearing grave expressions. No doubt Lucan had been alerted to the others’ urgent arrival when the Rover showed up on the compound gate’s security camera.
He took one look at Dante and the savaged female in his arms and exhaled a dark curse. “What happened?”
“Let me through,” Dante said as he moved past his brethren, careful not to jostle Tess in the process. “She needs to rest someplace warm. She’s lost a lot of blood—”
“I can see that. Now, what the hell happened out there?”
“Rogues,” Chase put in, taking over the explanation to Lucan while Dante stepped out into the corridor, all his focus on Tess. “A group of them were sacking the Crimson dealer’s apartment. I don’t know what they were looking for, but the woman must have come up on them somehow. Maybe she got in their way. She’s got bite wounds on her arm and throat, from more than one attacker.”
Dante nodded at the facts, grateful for the Darkhaven vampire’s verbal assist since his own voice seemed to have dried up in his throat.
“Jesus,” Lucan said, turning a grim glance on Dante. “This is the Breedmate you spoke of? This is Tess?”
“Yeah.” He looked down at her, so still and colorless in his arms, and felt a piercing chill bore into his chest. “Another few seconds and I might have been too late….”
“Goddamn suckheads,” Gideon hissed as he raked a hand through his hair. “I’ll go prep a room for her in the infirmary.”
“No.” Dante’s reply was sharper than intended, and unyielding. He held out his scored wrist, the skin still red and wet at the place he’d fed her. “She is mine. She stays with me.”
Gideon’s eyes widened, but he said nothing more. Nor did anyone else, as Dante brushed past the group of warriors and headed with Tess down the maze of hallways to his private quarters. Once inside, he brought her into the bedroom and gently placed her on the king-size bed. He kept the lights dim, his voice soft and low, as he set about trying to make her comfortable.
With a mental command, he willed the bathroom sink on, running warm water into the basin as he carefully removed the makeshift bandages that covered Tess’s wrist and neck. She had stopped bleeding, thankfully. Her wounds were raw and hideous on her flawless skin, but the worst of the injuries was past.
Seeing the ugly marks left by the Rogues who attacked her, Dante wished he had Tess’s healing touch. He