Her hands rose and pressed lightly against his chest. Not pushing him away, not yet. “If I let you drink from me, then I want you to help me make sure that Rhett’s all right. I have to know that my family’s safe.”

Trying to make another bargain with him? Fine. But he would have checked on her brother with or without the promise of her delicious blood. Those who mattered to Sabine, well, they mattered to him, too. “What is it that you want me to do?”

Her gaze held his. “I want you to make sure . . . anyone after them . . . I want you to stop anyone who tries to hurt them.”

Easy enough. Death was always easy for him. “And you’re so sure I can?”

“You’re the strongest paranormal I know. Even a phoenix’s fire couldn’t hurt you.” Her eyes searched his. “How was that even possible?”

Because of you. He knew that truth, even if she didn’t. He’d taken her blood, again and again, and somehow that blood had given him immunity against a phoenix’s fire. Perhaps it had even been like taking inoculations.

Maybe Wyatt had planned for him to develop that immunity. Maybe that had been the reason Wyatt first brought Sabine to his cell.

The man had created a vampire impervious to the fire. Transformation, not birth.

The reason didn’t really matter to Ryder. Fire had been one of the few means of killing him.

Cross that one off the list.

Now his enemies would have an even harder time forcing him from this earth.

“Why doesn’t the fire hurt you?” Sabine pressed.

“Because maybe I like the burn.” And instead of putting his mouth on her throat, he took her lips. Her sensual lips were parted slightly, open just enough for his tongue to push inside and taste her.

Mine.

Every muscle in his body tightened at that first taste. Not sweet, but rich. Decadent. Drugging.

Her tongue slid over his and a small moan built in her throat. The sound was sexy as all hell.

Yeah, he’d tracked her across four states. Gone nearly mad on that hunt.

She obsessed him. Every moment, he thought of her. A dangerous situation, for them both.

Her lips opened wider. The kiss grew harder. More demanding. Her body was soft and lush against his. She made a faint moan in the back of her throat, a sound that increased his wild desire.

His tongue thrust into her mouth. His hands locked around her hips. He pulled her closer. He couldn’t get close enough.

There were two things that vampires loved in this world. Blood and sex.

And if you could have both at the same time . . .

Lucky f**king day.

But she pulled her mouth from his. Turned her head away. “My . . . brother . . .”

His breath was panting. She wanted to talk about her brother then?

“Make sure . . . he’s okay.”

Son of a—

Snarling, he leapt away from her. Ryder yanked open the door and bellowed, “Grayson!”

He knew the other vampire would be there. When Sabine had left him, Ryder had contacted the other vamp. Briefed him on Genesis, Sabine, and the betrayal that had taken place in the vampire coven. New Orleans was Grayson’s territory, a territory assigned by Ryder, and since Grayson was the one vamp that he actually trusted at that moment . . .

Grayson’s dark head appeared as he went up the stairs.

Well, it was good to have the guy watching his back. With the hell that was headed his way, Ryder knew he could use that.

Ryder’s knuckles whitened around the door frame. “Sabine’s brother was taken to the hospital.” Hell, he didn’t even know which one. “Find him. Make sure he stays alive.” Those had actually been the orders that Ryder had given to Grayson before he’d found Sabine in that alley.

While he’d rushed to New Orleans, Grayson had been his eyes and ears in the city. Grayson had played guard dog to the human, Rhett. Because Ryder had known that Sabine was going after him.

Grayson gave a slow nod. His dark gaze darted over Ryder’s shoulder. He knew Sabine was standing there. The wooden floor had creaked beneath her feet and her lush scent teased his nose.

“So you got what you were looking for?” Grayson asked, lifting a brow. Faint amusement had his lips quirking.

“Not yet,” Ryder muttered. “But soon I will.” As soon as she was under him. As soon as his teeth were in her neck.

He spun back around, slamming the door with his heel, and grabbing her in one fast flash. Two steps, and they were on the bed. Two seconds, and she was naked.

“Your brother’s safe.” Now she could focus on the heat between them. He could focus on her. He needed her blood. His fangs were burning, the hunger for her blood seeming to tear him apart.