Burned (Book1) The White Rose Vampire Series

Chapter Twenty-Four

As much as I tried to quell the anxiety from seeing Dimitri again I couldn't. All I could remember was the crazed expression on his face when he attacked me and Izzie. Then, the blood on Bastian's shirt and the injuries that almost made him feral and the fear that he could do that to someone who he thought of as his brother. As Bastian stood beside me on the way to the living room, I tried to recall the safety all of the brothers had given me when I first arrived, but it faded away as we neared the door.

"He is better," Bastian said, frowning. "At least when it comes to you and Izzie and we've warned to go slow with Bethany."

I twisted my hands in front of me. "I'm trying to believe that," I said, my bottom lip trembling. "But my mind is only offering images of him while feral.  I'm still frightened."

Bastian cupped my cheek, his fingers sliding over the skin there lovingly. "I think that's normal."

I raised my eyebrow. scoffing, "No offense but there is nothing normal about our lives."

His lips tilted in a grin. "You're right," he said and then, kissed my lips. "But regardless, I will protect you...You know that, right?"

"I do but I'll also protect you," I said raising my chin as the image of him hurt slid into my mind again, causing my stomach to churn. "He won't hurt you again.  If he tries, he will pay the consequences."

He kissed my forehead. "My warrior witch," he said, his lips moving over my skin. "I'm so grateful to have you stand beside me."

I sighed and glanced ahead. We were ten feet from the door, and I sighed straightening my spine. "Okay.  Let's get this over with."

We walked into the room. Only Mrs. Claiborne and Dimitri were there. He stood regally near the fireplace his hands clasped in front of him. His dark hair was combed away from his face and his hazel eyes were filled with remorse as they passed from Bastian to me.

"Lanie...Bastian," he said in greeting before he stepped forward causing me to flinch. He paused, his eyes darkening further, "I won't hurt you, Lanie. I have all of my facilities again and I don't intend on losing them."

I nodded but fear still unfurled in my stomach. "I'm sorry, Dimitri. It will take a while before I can cast the image from my mind of...the last time I saw you."

He frowned. "You're sorry?" He seemed confused as he shook his head. "I'm the one who needs to apologize. I have no reasoning behind my actions besides desperation. Until Bethany was found, I worried my soulmate had been killed. With your arrival and with Izzie's I knew neither of you were that fated person for me but I was so afraid of spending eternity alone, I tried to force that bond. I knew better. I knew it was against the rules set forth when the mates were bonded through the lines. That's what drove me to become feral."