Bad boy meets his match

Sleeping mystery

3rd person P.O.V

The dark, translucent form watched her sleep quietly.

His materialization wavered along with his strength. He had used much of his energy to appear for her. But the way she had asked and the way she had sounded. She had needed him and his only urge was to go to her and protect her, and that meant if he had to put his life in danger then he would.

For her.

His chest shook with a protective growl.

What had happened tonight was a warning, he was sure of it.

He had to find her, to get to her before anyone-or anything else did.

His calloused hand slid down her hair, moving it to the side and exposing her neck. His forefinger slid down her languid beating pulse, stopping and feeling her heart beat thump against his thumb in a calm, slow beat.

His eyes found the mark that matched his.

It was a tribal type of mark, just like any other vampire or werewolf he noticed. But this mark spiraled out, small yes but slightly darker than necessary. It stood out on Xana's pale skin and Vladik's hunger arose just staring at the mark.

He glanced away from his mate, fangs lengthened once more.

He would have to leave in a few minutes, which meant she'd be alone once again.

He wished he could stay a watch his mate sleep soundly and safely.

But yet again his materialization wavered. He was too weak to stay any longer.

Too weak.

Fuck, did he ever hate that word. How could he be weak?!?!

He'd have to materialize more often... It had been over 40 years since Vladik had last materialized, and it took extreme will power and concentration, not to mention time and skill.

This had been one of the longest times he had stayed in the materialized form, without wavering in and out of his physical body.

Sweat trickled down his forehead.

It was time to leave.

Vladik looked back at Xana, eyes wandering her sleep induced form, wishing he could feel her skin.

He sighed heavily looking back at her door. He had moved everything back in its place, it looked normal, as if nothing had happened.

Vladiks body protested as he stood up from the bed, his muscles re-awakening from having sat down for so long.

He turned back to Xana, knowing she wouldn't be able to hear what he would be saying but he said it out loud anyway.

"Flower... it won't be to long now. Especially after tonight. You are mine and mine only, and rest assured no man, or animal will have you but me."

Xana mumbled something in her sleep, shifting in the bed and turning in his direction.

With that Vladik disappeared from Xana's room, returning to his physical body.

His muscles gave way, body crumbling into strong arms that kept him from hitting the floor. Those hands pulled him back to his bed, forcing him to sit on its plush fabric.

"That was a very long absence Vladik. I thought you would have been back in a quick moment, but that proved to be very, very wrong on my part."

Vladik forced his head up to look at his second. Gregory stared at him, blue eyes cold and distant, searching his for the answers that Vladik did not yet want to give. And like a spider weaving its already stuck prey, Gregory figured it out.

"You went to see her."

Vladik turned away from his sharp analyzing gaze, slight anger rising up in his chest. As far as Vladik knew, Gregory was the fastest one in his clan to figure people out; he just knew things that should take longer to piece together.

Analyzing bastard.

"She was in danger." Vladik said coolly, dropping his head in his hands. Calloused fingers ran through his hair, knowing that Gregory wasn't too keen on this idea.

"I thought you said she was strong." Gregory spat words tight with disapproval.

Vladik's head snapped to Gregory, anger swallowing his blue until they were almost black. "She is." He growled, fangs sliding out at the challenge Gregory brought when he didn't avert his eyes. "She was with a wolf."

Gregory's eyes slid to the side with that statement. "A wolf?"

Vladik's growl resonated in the room. "Yes, A wolf. Clean your ears out Gregory; maybe that would help you hear what I'm saying better."

Vladik pulled his fangs back, still staring at Gregory whom lifted his head after dropping his challenge.

"My question is, if she is one of us why is she with a wolf?"

Vladik had questioned that thought earlier. She was a vampire, after all, you couldn't have telekinesis if you weren't, it just didn't make sense. And what confused him even more was that she had chosen not to fight the animal.

"Do you think that she is perhaps a pacifist?" Vladik questioned out loud, his guess was as best as Gregory's.

This thought had also crossed his mind as well. Any damned vampire would have jumped at the opportunity to shred some sorry of an excuse wolf ass. But not her; not Xana.

The bed caved with Gregory's weight. "Perhaps she is. Do not think too much of this, you will see her for yourself soon enough, therefore you will be able to ask her those questions yourself."

Vladik sighed, unhappy. His muscles protested as he stood up, a hand gently resting on his shoulder and grabbing onto his hand as well.

"Would you like to know the worst part?" Vladik asked.

"There's a worst part?"

"The wolf. We know him." Vladik turned to gaze at his friend. Gregory slowly dropped his eyes to the floor, the room settling in a death like calm with Vladik's cold anger.

"We... know him?"

"Yes we know him." Vladik growled, looking at Gregory with an irritated gaze. "You'd like to know this mutts name wouldn't you?" Gregory nodded his head once and Vladik answered. "Andrew."

Gregory stilled at the name, trying to assess this. "How could he...?"

"Yes, yes, I'm trying to figure that out on my own. If he was with her that means that she's in his territory, or he chased her as prey.

Or anything else. I am really not too fond of this idea. He wants her and she is mine. And it stays that way, no one will have her if I cannot. Especially the mutt." Vladik growled, his voice shaking with his anger now.

His body was tired and exhausted, but it tensed none the less and the need to feed was growing more and more demanding with every minute that passed, It started to consume his senses until they were focusing on one thing he needed so dearly at this moment.

Blood.

Vladik's eyes shot open; he didn't even know he had closed them, and he looked at Gregory once again.

"Vladik... you really, really need to feed... I haven't seen you this bad in a very long time." Gregory studied Vladik's form; his now bloodshot eyes, the paling of his skin and his exposed fangs poking at his bottom lip.

Fire burned in the pit of Vladik's stomach, burning hotter and brighter until he could not suppress his urge to feed. "Gregory, open the window."

Gregory raised an eyebrow but at the warming that flashed in Vladik's eyes he did not oppose him.

He opened the window, and very calmly, Vladik stood up.

"I would take the front door but it seems like that option is so, very far away at the moment." He stared at Gregory, blood red eyes analyzing.

"I need shots." He rubbed his eyes, palms digging into his tired skin. "I need blood... Lots of it."