Rebel Obsession by Donya Lynne Read Free Book Online Page B

concoction he was about to give Miriam and injecting Io with his own venom to fight the addiction. Ari had sacrificed so much to make sure Io got better and kicked the blue shit, sitting with him, holding him through the violent chills, cleaning him after throwing up God only knew how many times. Ari had never given up on him, saving Io from himself.
    And now Io had to do the same for Miriam.
    He pulled out the tin of ancient, powdered herbs and scooped out a quarter-teaspoon, mixed it with water, and then put it on the stove. He added raw vinegar and a drop of an elixir that had been provided by AKM’s medical center.
    Phew! The shit stunk. It was enough to bring back bad memories
    While the brew heated up, he hurried into the bathroom. Miriam was slumped on the floor, and her long black hair draped her body like a death shroud.
    “Time to get up, baby. Come on.” Io lifted her and crushed her body to his as the glands in the roof of his mouth kicked into gear, churning up his venom. Vampire blood trumps dreck blood. Vampire venom trumps dreck venom. Being that cobalt was made from dreck blood and venom, vampire venom was a key antidote to detox an overdose.
    He bit into her neck. Back at AKM, the medics would have put in an IV and injected it into her system. He didn’t have time for that shit. She needed his venom now.
    Miriam shuddered and drew in a shaky breath as his venom burst into her veins. First would be euphoria then would come the pain as he pushed more venom into her than he would during a simple feeding. And fuck him if she didn’t purr. He had never known a female vampire to purr in the way a male did when aroused, but shit, Miriam was purring deep within her chest. But then, Io had never known a female with such pure bloodlines as Miriam’s, either. Perhaps that was what made her different.
    Soon enough, the purring stopped, and her body quivered. Then shook. Her teeth chattered and her long fingers dug into his shoulders. The pain was breaking through as his venom sought out the intruder and destroyed it. She whimpered and groaned then finally let loose a scream so full of despair tears welled in Io’s eyes.
    But at least she was alive.
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Miriam came out of unconsciousness screaming, her body convulsing with pain. And what the hell? Some crazy-ass fool was biting her. Too bad she couldn’t control her limbs enough to punch the guy, and her voice was too busy screaming to be able to form coherent sentences. Not that coherent thoughts were in big supply right now. Her brain was a pile of cobalt-stomped mush.
    For several seconds, she jerked and spasmed as her screams echoed and choked her throat, but finally she was able to squeak out, “Stop.”
    In her head, she had heard that coming out a lot differently. Louder, for starters.
    She tried again. “Stop.” That was a little better. It sounded more like an actual word and not a mouse trying to speak.
    “STOP!” Wow! That time she hadn’t even tried.
    Her attacker released her neck and jerked back to look at her.
    Oh my God. Io. Where had he come from? Was she only hallucinating? She had hallucinated on cobalt before, but not like this. He looked so damn real.
    Gorgeous, greenish-brown eyes bore into hers, full of concern, and she reached for him, wanting to brush her fingers over his thick, dark brows. Instead, she punched him. Okay, yeah, so she didn’t have complete control over her faculties.
    He ricocheted to the side from the impact but seemed unfazed as he swiftly turned back.
    “It’s okay,” he said. “I’ve got you. Hold on, I’ll be right back.”
    No, no, don’t go! But she couldn’t get her voice to work again. It was like a bad case of Tourette syndrome. When she tried to speak, she couldn’t. But then out of nowhere…
    “NOOO!”
    How embarrassing that he was seeing her like this.
    “Don’t worry, I’m still here,” he said from the hall. “See, you can hear my voice. I’m still here. I’m not