Previously, on Blood-bound
"Why are you angry?" She asked. Feeling him tense under her, she added, "Okay, now I know something happened while I was napping. What is it?"
"Don't worry about it, okay? You just woke up, Angel, you need to rest." He said.
"No, hey. Ace, tell me. I can handle it. And I promise, I won't leave your sight until you're sure I'm 100%."
He sighed, throwing his head back in anger, before muttering, "Elena tried to kiss me."
—
"He was her dark fairytale and she was his twisted fantasy and together they made magic." - F. Scott Fitzgerald
:
Growing silent, the girl shook her head slightly, asking, "I'm gonna need you to expand on that. Namely, when, how, why."
Damon sighed, before tightening his hold on her, "I went to check on her after she'd gone home, just to make sure everything was alright and to update her on you, because she was worried. And we were talking, and suddenly she just leaned in, and I pushed her away. Told her that I loved you, and that you were her friend. Jenna called her back in before she could answer though, so I don't exactly know what she was thinking."
"And you were angry that she tried to kiss you?" She smiled softly.
"Yes. I don't want anyone but you kissing these lips." Giggling, Thea tilted her face up to his, before pecking him on the lips with a smacking noise. "Happy?" She laughed.
"Tremendously." Growing serious once more, he softly pushed a curl behind her ear, holding her cheek in his hand, "Mostly, I was angry that she would betray you like that. She's your friend, and she knows what we mean to each other, and how much trust means to you. For her to break it like that would upset you, and you've sacrificed too much for her or anyone to ever upset you."
"Well, I'll talk to her tomorrow. For now," she leaned her head back against him, closed her eyes, "I just want to sleep."
A gentle kiss landed on the top of her head, as he said, "You do that Angel. We'll return to the drama tomorrow."
She smiled, but just as she had begun to drift off, Damon's phone pinged with a text message. She felt him tensing beneath her, before he slowly began moving her off of him.
"What's wrong?" She mumbled sleepily, "Where are you going?"
"Hospital. There's been a slight accident." He replied, quickly.
"Wait, hold on." Pushing herself up, she asked quickly, "Who? What accident?"
"Angel, I'll deal with it, I promise. You need to rest." He pleaded quietly.
"No, I need you to tell me who had an accident."
"Caroline."
At his words, a cold icy fear spread through her, before she weakly made her way out of the bed. Legs shaking underneath her weight, she stumbled slightly, before being deftly caught in his arms, "What are you doing, Thea?"
"Caroline's in the hospital. I'm coming with you to see her." She replied.
"You can't even walk right now."
"Then carry me. I don't care." She shouted. Calming down, she looked at him with tears in her eyes, begging, "It's Caroline, Damon. My best friend. My family. Please."
Sighing resolutely, he grabbed her shoes, slipping them onto her feet before picking her up. "You stay with me at all times, okay? And if I begin to feel even a smidge of pain or exhaustion coming from you, I'm taking you home, and you're gonna stay there until you're better."
Nodding hastily, she weakly wrapped her arms around him, hiding her face in his neck. Praying that her Carebear would be alright.
—
He didn't speed them there, despite Thea's insistence that she could handle it. Instead, they drove. Arriving at the hospital, he pulled her into his arms, and she complained, "I can walk, Damon. I'm weak, not paralysed."
"Not risking it. Your legs couldn't even hold your own weight back in the house." Was his immediate reply, as he kept on walking.
Opening her mouth to argue further, he interrupted, "If it were up to me, you'd be resting in bed right now. Please just let me do this so I know you're safe."
The girl sighed, before nodding her head. If keeping her in his arms would guarantee his peace of mind for now, then she'd bear it for him. Besides, he was probably correct. Her entire body felt weak, and it would hurt her pride more if he were to put her down, only for her to land face-first on the floor.
They quickly made their way to a pacing Liz, Damon consoling her immediately with, "Liz, I came as soon as I got the message. Is she okay?"
The woman looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "She's in surgery, it's...they're doing everything they can." Before noticing the witch in his arms, "Thea, you look pale. Why are you being carried?"
"She had a seizure, but wanted to come anyway." He replied.
Gasping, the sheriff shook her head in slight disapproval, "She's okay. Go home and rest, you shouldn't be here."
The young girl shook her head, adding softly, "She's my sister Liz. I'm gonna stay here until she's out and I'm sure she's okay. Besides, Damon's exaggerating, I'm just a little weak right now."
Nodding, the woman turned back to the vampire, "I need your help Damon."
"Sure, anything Liz."
"Mayor Lockwood is dead. They thought he was a vampire. They put him in the basement."
"Mayor Lockwood was a vampire?"
"No, no. A mistake was made, they said he dropped like the others when John's device went off but he...he couldn't have been a vampire, I've known the man my whole life and now Carol Lockwood is gonna want answers and all I can think of right now is Caroline and…" she suddenly burst into tears, sobs muffled against her hand.
The witch tapped her boyfriend gently on the shoulder, gesturing towards the ground, "She needs you, and I'm gonna be okay for the couple of minutes you console her." She whispered gently.
Looking reluctant, he complied regardless, placing her in a nearby chair, before drawing the distraught woman into a hug. "It's okay. It's okay." He soothed.
—
Liz had left to speak to the doctors, but not before directing them towards the blonde's room. Damon had picked Thea up in his arms again, the girl not complaining once. She was tired. The kind of exhaustion that seeped into her bones and seemed to envelop her entire body.
Every step her took felt like it jostled her bones. Her brain feeling like liquid inside her skull. But she kept quiet, too worried about Caroline to focus on herself. She was alive, and she would heal, but she didn't know if the same fate awaited her best friend.
They came upon Elena and Bonnie, who were discussing the blonde's condition in hushed tones.
"She's weak. They don't know if she's going to make it." Whispered the witch.
"What?"
The two girls embraced in a hug, while the raven-haired one burrowed deeper into Damon at the words. She felt waves of comfort and love emanating through their bond, but they weren't enough. She simply couldn't lose anyone else.
"Is there something that you can do? Like a spell or something?" Asked the brunette.
Walking over to them, the vampire interjected, "She doesn't know how, do you?"
The two girls turned to them in surprise, before Elena's face dropped further at the sight of the blood-witch, "Thea! What are you doing here? You should be resting!" Turning to the vampire, she asked accusingly, "Why did you bring her here? Do you not remember the seizing and the coughing blood?"
Damon merely raised a brow, but before he could retort, Thea did, "It's Care. Of course I had to come. Besides, if he'd left me at the boarding house, I would have figured out a way to get myself here anyway. This way, I'm with him, and he can literally make sure that I'm alright."
"Tee, we could have let you—" began Bonnie hesitantly, before the blood-witch cut her off, "Don't talk to me. Don't look at me. Hell, don't even think my name. I do not have nearly enough energy to deal with you, Bonnie Bennett." Taking a rattling breath, feeling the calming energy Damon was sending her way, she continued, "But Damon right, it takes the average witch years to level-up to those kind of spells, and she's been at it for a couple of months."
"Well, I can take down a vampire, that spell was easy to learn." Snarked bonnie back.
Looking at her with a raised brow, Thea replied in a bored tone, "Learning how to induce aneurysms is witch 101. My sister could do that she was four. It's not that impressive."
"I can give Caroline some blood." Interjected Damon quickly, sensing the potential of the conversation turning into a fight.
Both Elena and the blood-witch shook their heads, with the brunette saying, "No, no way."
"No, just enough to heal her. She will be safe in the hospital and it will be out of her system in a day, she will be better Elena."
"No Ace. It's too risky, we can't agree to that." Mumbled Thea tiredly.
"Do it." Said Bonnie forcefully. At the others confused expressions, she elaborated, "This is Caroline. We can't let her die. Do it."
Looking at her appraisingly, Damon said, "If I do this, you and me, call a truce?"
"No. But you'll do it anyway. For Thea." Was her quick reply, before she turned on her heels and left.
That left the three of them alone, and suddenly, the blood-witch remembered what Elena had done earlier. She sighed in exhaustion, leaning her head against Damon's shoulder, before mumbling, "We should get what happened earlier out of the way, before it turns into a thing."
"You're right," agreed the brunette, "one of the tomb vampires got into the house and almost killed John."
"Wait, what?"
"What? When? What are you talking about? After I left?" Were the couple's simultaneously exclaimed replies.
Looking at Damon, the human questioned, "You were there?"
"Come on, Elena. You know I was."
"When were you at the house?"
"Really? Earlier, on the porch, we were talking. Come on, you tried to kiss me, Elena." He exclaimed in anger.
Rolling her eyes, the girl shakes her head, "I don't have time for this Damon, I'd never do that to Tee, anyway." Before walking away.
Before Damon could interject and call her back, the blood-witch told him, "Something's not right here. She seemed genuinely confused, and El's a terrible liar. And the whole thing didn't mesh from the get-go anyway. Like, why would she try to kiss you on the day she learned what the blood-bond was?"
He nodded, head leaning against hers in thought, before a jerk of realisation flowed through him, "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." he mumbled in aggravation.
She could feel the anger multiply in him, and quickly asked, "What? My brain isn't functioning properly right now, so I need you to explain to me what you just realised."
Looking at her, he raised one brow and asked, "If I saw Elena, but Elena didn't see me, who else could it have been?"
Closing her eyes and thinking, the answer came to her amidst a wave of annoyance. Growling, she buried her head in the crook of Damon's shoulder and asked, "Can I bury her in the tomb for real now?"
—
Having explained their current working theory to Elena, the three rushed back to the Gilbert household. Apparently, Jeremy had overdosed on pills with vampire blood in his system, and Stefan was standing guard over him. But with the bitch back in the picture, it was too dangerous to leave him alone.
Thea's energy levels had decreased exponentially during the drive. She was in mild pain, but made a conscious effort to keep her emotions from showing it. Her head hurt, a pressure squeezing on her brain, and she could feel minute spasms in the muscles in her neck.
The trio hurried inside, only to find Stefan sprawled on the living room floor. At the sight of them, he stood up quickly and made his way over.
"What happened?" Questioned his girlfriend worriedly.
"Katherine happened."
Nodding, Damon made his way to the nearest couch, before gently laying the witch on it. Raising her head, he sat down and placed it in his lap, beginning to softly run his fingers through her hair. "Did she say what she wanted?" He questioned his brother.
"No."
Snorting softly, then wincing at the pain the gesture induced, the witch added, "Well I'll give her this much, she certainly knows how to make an entrance."
"She said she fooled one of us, at least. What does that mean?" Asked Stefan.
Ignoring him, the blue-eyed man gently asked the girl on his lap, "How are you feeling Angel? Okay?" At her slow nod, he raised his brow, "So why did you wince then?"
"Laughing is apparently a little painful right now, but its gone." Turning to look at Stefan, she noticed his impatient expression before whispering to her boyfriend, "I'm thinking you need to tell Stef what happened before he blows a gasket."
The man chuckled, before replying to the previously asked question, "She pretended to be Elena too when I showed up earlier tonight."
Coincidentally, that was the exact moment the human girl walked back into the room, having gone up to check on her brother. She held a glass of water and a bottle of pills in her hand, before rushing to the witch.
"Here," she said, handing them to Damon, "It's just Advil, but I figured it might take the edge off."
Nodding thankfully, the witch raised her head with difficulty, before popping the pills and washing them down. Looking at her human friend, she asked, "Are you okay?"
"I told Jeremy, I couldn't lie to him anymore, so no. I'm not alright. I thought that with all the tomb vampires gone things would get better."
"I know, we all did." Soothed Stefan, wrapping his arm around her.
"Katherine was in this house, that means she's been invited in, what are we gonna do?" She questioned in a desperate tone.
"Move." Answered Damon sternly, before letting out a pained grunt as the blood-witch harshly pinched his thigh. "Helpful commentary only Ace. Thank you." She said.
"Katherine wants you dead; there's zero you can do about it; you would be dead but you're not. So clearly she has other plans." He explained further.
"Right and we need to find out what those other plans are and not provoke her in the process. What happened tonight when you thought she was Elena?" Wondered his brother.
Growing hesitant for a moment, the blue-eyed man sighed before stating, "To risk another frown line encroaching on a very crowded forehead, she tried to…kiss me."
The blood-witch could feel the irritation rising in him again, and so, she grabbed his hand a laid a gentle kiss on his palm. Reminding him that she was still here, with him. That she wouldn't let Katherine tear them apart.
"And you thought it was me?" Asked Elena, affronted, at the same time as Stefan cried out, "What do you mean, she tried to kiss you?"
"Well you know, when one pair of lips puckers up and leans close to another, non-responsive pair that did not want them near it." Replied Damon in a sardonic tone. Looking at his brother's enraged face, he cried out in revulsion, "I did not want her to kiss me, and I pushed her away. Especially when I thought it was Elena betraying the love of my life and all."
"So what he means by all of that is, calm your tits Stef, he doesn't want your girl." Mumbled the blood-witch in an amused tone.
"I wouldn't do that. Not to Thea, who's one of my best friends." Stated the brunette girl emphatically, before reminding the two men, "We don't have time for this guys."
"John must know something. There has to be a reason why Katherine tried to kill him." She continued, pacing around.
"She's Katherine. She loves to play games and you're all fooling yourselves if you think you're going to find out what she's been up to before she wants you to know." Stated Damon, as he stood up.
Leaning down, he pulled Thea into his arms, and she couldn't help the low moan of pain that escaped her lips at the action. He frowned at her, and she could feel the worry seeping through him. Laying a gentle kiss on his shoulder, she added in a whisper, "Actually, I think El's right. John could know something through Isobel, who was in touch with Katherine so maybe they can go to the hospital and get him to talk."
"Well, I've got a better idea." He stated, as he began heading towards the door.
"Which is?" Wondered the human, as she followed them.
"I'm gonna take my girl home. Make sure she eats something. Then, I'm gonna stay with her until she's all better. And finally, I'm gonna ignore the bitch."
"Is that smart?"
Turning back to her, he retorted, "Thea's my priority right now, and as you can tell, she's not doing well. Besides, if Katherine thinks she's been ignored it will lure her out, she'll make a move."
"And then what?"
"Stick her in the tomb and lock her in there forever." Whispered the blood-witch, before adding in a joking tone, "or something else equally as poetic."
With those parting words, they headed to the car. She could feel a sliver of irritation flowing through Damon, and groaned internally. He'd caught onto the fact that she'd been shielding her pain then. God, he was going to be insufferable tonight.
—
She was correct. As soon as he'd placed her in his bed, he started in on his lecture.
"I told you to tell me the minute you felt any pain, and yet, you shielded it from me. Not only that, but you kept pushing yourself to keep going, when your body was clearly telling you to stop." Stepping closer to her, he kneeled down, levelling their faces, as his voice softened, "I need you to take better care of yourself, Angel. I can't live without you, and you constantly putting your life in danger is hell on my sanity. Please just…It makes me feel like you can't trust me to take care of you, to keep you safe."
The girl sighed sadly, "Of course not. I trust you with my life, but I have spent the past two years relying on no one but myself. Push my powers too far and have a brain bruise? Doesn't matter, I have to keep going. Fall into a pit of nightmares and depression? Who cares, I need to keep going. Stop eating, collapse only to wake up in a hospital? Discharged myself and moved out of town the next day."
Raising her hand, she laid it gently on his cheek, watching as he nuzzled into it, "I don't know how to rely on someone else. I don't know how to rest or let myself recover because when you're hunted, you don't have time for weaknesses. But I promise I'll do better. I'll rely on you more, because I know no one cares for me as much as you do. But you also have to remember Ace, I can take care of myself. I don't need you to coddle me, because I'm not breakable."
"I'm not coddling you. I know very well how capable you are. I mean, look at how much you've survived Thea, all on your own. You're so strong, but you don't have to be strong all the time. I think you forget that you get hurt, that you're still mortal. So it's not coddling, it's me, taking care of you, because I love you and seeing you in pain hurts me."
Laying a gentle kiss on her palm, he continued, "You're not alone anymore Angel. You've got me, and Stefan and Elena and Caroline and even Bonnie. But most of all, you've got me. And I'll do anything I can to keep you by my side, happy, and safe."
She felt her eyes moisten at the overwhelming love coming from him. He wasn't lying, he truly loved her to an insane degree. The kind of love they talked about in stories and myths. Swallowing her tears, she whispered, "Can you come here, please?"
He complied immediately, shedding his clothes in an instant and drawing her into him, her head on his heartbeat. "I love you, Ace. And I'm sorry if I made it seem for even an instant like I didn't trust you."
"I know. I love you too. And just so we're clear, you're not moving tomorrow unless you're alright again."
"What are we going to do then, if I'm not?" She questioned with a teasing grin.
Raising her head, he leaned into her, whispering against her lips, "I can think of a couple of things." Before kissing her softly, love flowing between them like air.
—
She'd woken up before him, which was rare. It may not have seemed like it, but he was typically the early-riser out of the two, waking up when the sun's rays first begin shinning.
Taking stock of her body, she evaluated how she felt. Her head still ached a little, and her muscles were still mildly sore, but it was nothing compared to the pure exhaustion she'd felt yesterday. She was just a little tired, as though she'd worked out heavily the other day and was now sore.
Grinning wickedly, she looked at her sleeping blood-bonded, an idea forming in her head. She knew exactly how to wake him up, and reassure him that she alright in one go.
He was sleeping on his back, one arm thrown over his head, while the other laid around her waist. The sheet had slipped enticingly down his chest, barely covering up those delicious 'V' hinges on his hips. Raising his arm slowly, she slithered from beneath it, before walking towards his side of the bed. Thankfully, he'd shed all of his clothes to sleep the other day, so she would have no problem gaining access.
She pulled the sheet away from him, stilling when he moved a little, before breathing in relief. He was still sleeping. Kneeling at his bedside, so that she was eye-to-eye with her target, she slowly blew a stream of air over his shaft. It slowly hardened before her eyes, and a small sleepy moan escaped his lips.
Lowering herself, she took one second to breathe, before dropping her mouth around him completely, feeling him hit the back of her throat. Bobbing her head up and down, she felt his body tense underneath her, before a loud groan escaped his lips.
"Angel, what are you doing?" He asked groggily. The girl didn't answer, only looked up at him with wide innocent eyes, gently moving her tongue on the vein underneath, before dropping down onto him again.
His eyes closed, head thrown back in ecstasy, as one of his hands fisted the sheets, and the other wrapped into her hair. "God, Thea…" He growled. She could feel her own arousal peaking at his tone, could feel the need dripping down her own panties, but she ignored it. This was about him. She wanted to make him feel even half as good as he did her.
She swallowed gently over him, a strangled moan leaving his mouth as her throat squeezed him with the action. Lowering over him again, she gagged slightly, and he pulled at her hair with a grunt.
He liked that, then. She repeated the action, speeding up her rhythm, bobbing up and down quickly. "Baby…" he muttered.
She looked at him, never stopping her movement. He was a vision. All smooth alabaster skin on display, head thrown back, muscles straining in his neck, mouth open in pleasure, breathing erratic. He was losing control, turning to putty under her. Because of her.
Deciding to up the stakes, she sent a wave of her own desire to him, before closing her eyes and imagining her lips running down his chest. She was licking and kissing and sucking. Leaving marks on his skin, with lips that were already busy. A loud, animalistic groan left him, his grip tightening in her hair.
His body suddenly stilled beneath her, before he came in warm spurts with a groan of her name. She swallowed every drop, before raising herself slowly, letting him go with a loud 'pop'.
His hands suddenly grabbed at her face, pulling her up, and kissing her. She found herself on her back in seconds, before he raised himself, and leaning on his forearms, rested his forehead against hers.
"Good morning," she giggled, looking at his face.
"You're a minx," he growled against her lips, kissing them again.
"What?" She asked in feigned surprise, "I thought it would be a good way to wake you up! You definitely seemed to enjoy yourself."
"I'll be dreaming about that for the rest of my life. Waking up with your warm mouth wrapped around me. And that thing you did, with the bond? How I could feel your lips everywhere? Yeah…" he nuzzled into her neck, before whispering, "I'm gonna get you back for that."
"Are you?"
"Uh-huh. Starting now, because I can feel how turned on you are."
His hands began sliding under the hem of her shirt, raising it up slowly over her shoulders, before throwing it on the floor. He was laying kisses over her skin, open-mouthed and sensual. She suddenly felt his hands tug at her nipples hard, and throwing her head back in ecstasy, moaned his name. At the same time, they were circling her clit, round and round, but never truly making contact.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" He whispered against the skin of her stomach, laying kisses all over it. "Doesn't it feel good, Angel? Having me all over you?"
His voice had turned syrupy sweet, and laid with wicked intentions. The girl was a little overwhelmed, and couldn't answer him. In fact, she was so lost within her own sensations that she barely registered the question.
His hands stopped their movements, before a loud slap landed on her right breast. Eyes flying open at the sting, a moan leaving her mouth at the pleasure that followed it, she looked down to find him staring at her with a raised brow, "I asked a question, Angel. Does it feel good? Do you want me to continue?"
Nodding her head furtively, she was just about to answer in the affirmative, when his finger returned to her clit, and instead of a yes, a loud moan came out. Stopping once more, he repeated the question, "Does it feel good baby? I need your words."
Once more, just as her mouth opened to answer, she felt his lips wrap around her nipple, and bite down. Again, she moaned out loud, incomprehensible sounds escaping her lips. He stopped all movements again, before asking, "I need more than your moans Angel."
The girl began to nod her head in gusto, feeling tears of frustration flowing from the corner of her eyes. The bastard was edging her, and it was not how she wanted to start her morning. Before he could begin the cycle again, she cried out, "Yes, please, Damon, yes."
"That was all I needed." He murmured, before his mouth was everywhere. His tongue was in her, but also sucking at her clit. At the same time, it felt like her nipples were being tugged on by his teeth. It was overwhelming and wonderful and unexplainable.
Shaking her head, muscles spasming at the overstimulation, she whimpered his name, pleading with him to do something, anything. She needed him, she loved him. Please.
Suddenly, she was flipped on her stomach, her back arching before he plunged into her in one fell stroke. Crying out, she began thrusting her hips back against him, before his hands landed on her hips and stilled her. "No moving." He whispered. "You move, I stop, okay?"
The girl nodded, and he began fucking into her once more. "God, you're so tight, you feel so good." He grunted, thrusting harder. It felt different, this angle was hitting a spot in her he didn't normally reach, and her mouth opened in a silent scream.
His hand wrapped around her throat, before he pulled her up, back against his chest. Her head leant back against his shoulder involuntarily, and she moaned his name again and again.
The spring in her stomach was tightening, pulling her closer and closer to her release, but it wasn't enough. "You close Angel?" He asked in a strained voice.
She'd lost her voice, lost it amidst the pleasure she was feeling, but she nodded her head. Tears of frustration were leaking down her face, and understanding, his hand slid down her body to her clit, rubbing it roughly.
That was it. Her body tightened, and just as she began unraveling, she felt his fangs pierce her skin.
She was exploding. There was no other explanation for what she was feeling. She was imploding like a dying star and she couldn't stop. Falling and falling and falling. It was never ending, and with every pull of her blood, she quivered more.
Finally, he stopped, and she dropped onto her stomach in a heap. She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. Her body was still shaking with aftershocks and the smallest of touch against her clit sent flashes of pleasure and pain through her.
When she came to, she found that he'd laid her over his chest. Feeling her moving, he asked gently, "Are you okay?"
Thea nodded against him, raising her head and placing her chin on his chest, looking into his eyes, "I passed out, didn't I?"
He laughed lightly, answering with a smug smile, "You sure did. Gotta say, it's doing my ego wonders."
She rolled her eyes fondly, "I'm sure it is." Smiling, she added, "That was something else. You were literally everywhere."
"I know." He winked smugly, "I'm really starting appreciate the nifty tricks of this bond. Especially if it makes you cum around me like that. And those noises you make…"
Slapping his chest softly, she blushed, "Stop. It's not like you were quiet either."
"How could I be? You were squeezing me like a vice, and I could feel everything you were feeling. And feeding from you? The most erotic experience of my life."
"I have a question," she asked suddenly.
"Hit me."
"What do I taste like? Like, I know every blood-type is different, but does my magic give me some extra spice or something?"
She could see his pupils widen with lust, could feel it spreading through her. He closed his eyes, before whispering, "You taste like every fantasy I've ever had. Rich and sweet, with a hint of spice. And the minute your blood hits my system, it's like I have electricity flowing through my veins." Opening his eyes, she found his blue orbs gazing at her with love, "You taste like what I imagine love would. A flavour that was made especially for me."
"Speaking of," he added, "I think you should have a little bit of my blood." At her reluctant expression, he continued, "I know you feel fine, but it would push your healing factor to work even harder, and you won't get tired as quickly."
Thinking it through, she nodded her head softly, but stopped him as he began raising his wrist to his mouth. "I have a better idea," she whispered.
Straddling him, she raised him into a sitting position, before laying her mouth to his jugular. Biting into her tongue, she felt the blood fill her mouth, before running a finger over his neck, opening the skin. She quickly placed her lips over it, pulling his blood into her. It was different. Not tangy and metallic as she'd expected, but warm, and exotic. A little like his scent.
It felt like fireworks running down her throat, like his essence was seeping into her. His hands had tightened around her hips, a moan coming from him, before she slowly pulled away, and watched as his skin stitched itself back together. Licking whatever remained on the surface, she pulled back and looked at him, smiling softly.
"Did you know," he began in a loving voice, "that for vampires, what we just did is considered one of the most intimate things to do?" When she shook her head, and looked at him curiously, he continued with a chuckle, "It's called blood-sharing. Not just me feeding you my blood, but you willingly drinking from me, from that one vein that connects to my heart. It's a gesture of pure trust and love, which for a species like mine, is incredibly rare."
Smiling wide, dimples on full display, she rested her forehead against his, before laying a gentle kiss on his lips. "I love you."
"Love you too," he whispered back.
Glancing at his phone, she noticed the time, before looking back at him with a slight pout.
"What now?" He laughed.
"We have to go to the memorial. It would be rude not to." She mumbled petulantly.
"And why are you pouting about it?"
"Because I just want to lay naked next to you all day."
"We can do that." He whispered, kissing her. She allowed herself to enjoy it for one more moment, before pulling away with a sigh, "No, we promised Liz we'd be there, remember?"
She climbed off of him, before placing her feet on the ground and standing up. Taking a step towards the bathroom, she stopped and gasped with pain.
"What? What's wrong?" He said, his hands suddenly placed on her hips. Turning to look back at him, she laughed, saying, "I think you may have broken my vagina. Pretty sure I'm gonna be walking with a limp all day."
Smiling smugly, he threw her a flirty wink, "Glad to be of service, Angel."
—
She'd made him drop her off at the hospital first, wanting to see Caroline with her own two eyes. She was still worried about the girl, still concerned that she'd be weak or tired of fatally wounded. Logically, she knew that Damon's blood would have completely healed her, but anxieties were never logical.
Stepping into the small hospital room with a smile, she raised a large bouquet of sunflowers and white roses, before saying, "I heard there was a dying blonde girl in here," looking around, she frowned jokingly, adding, "Guess they gave me the wrong room, cause you look beautiful."
The blonde girl threw head back in laughter, before gesturing wildly with her hands, "Come here!" Running with effort to her, Thea threw the flowers on a nearby chair, before wrapping her arms around her sister. She stuck her head in Caroline's hair, smelling her candy perfume, and tears of relief began flowing from her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Whispered the blonde in concern.
"Because I was so scared something had happened to you, that I would walk in here and you wouldn't be okay. I was so scared I was going to lose my sister." She sobbed quietly.
"You're not. You know Damon gave me his blood, and you knew I would be alright. I wouldn't leave my only sister alone without at least asking her why she was limping." Joked Caroline in a low tone.
Pulling away, the witch giggled slightly, before grabbing the flowers she'd thrown, and taking their place. Handing them to her friend, she whispered conspiratorially, "Damon actually insisted I get these. So technically they're from him, but don't tell anyone I told you that."
"First he feeds me his blood, then he gets me flowers. I'm starting to like him more and more," laughed the blonde, before growing serious, "Bonnie told me what had happened to you yesterday. Are you sure you're well enough to be out and about?"
Tensing at her fellow witch's name, she said, "yeah, trust me, I'm perfectly alright. No pain whatsoever."
"Then why were you limping?"
Growing quiet, Thea blushed before looking down at her knees. She never really had a problem talking about her past sexual escapades, but it was different with Damon. He was her blood-bonded, and so intimacy with him was more. It meant so much more.
"You cow!" Screeched the blonde in realisation, "I'm in the hospital and you spent the morning getting railed so hard that now you can't walk?!"
Biting her lip to hide the growing smirk, she raised her head and asked, "Would it help if I told you I took initiative and woke him up with my mouth?"
Caroline giggled wildly, "You sexy bitch! Bet he loved that, huh?"
"Yep, if the noises coming out of him were any indication."
"So what did he do? And don't you dare hold back, I need to live vampire sex vicariously through you, because I'm not interested in Elena's vanilla sex-life."
Chuckling in mirth, the witch smirked wickedly, "well, let me start by saying that our bond has gotten stronger. Like, a lot stronger. And one of the results of that is heightened emotional connection. To the point where if I were to fantasise about giving him a hand-job right now, like really imagine the scenario in my mind, he'd feel it all as though it was actually happening."
"No fucking way, why is your bond as kinky as the two of you?" Laughed the blonde.
"Just wait for it. So anyway, that's that. So after I woke him up, he literally used his mouth on me everywhere. Like, I'm not sure where his actually lips were, because they were on every part of my body at once. And he'd stop and ask me how it felt, but every time I'd try to answer the question, he'd start again, so I couldn't speak. And it was just…The best sex of my fucking life. And he may have broken me."
Slapping her hands over her mouth, the blonde then said, "You two better never step a foot in a church again, or you'll burn on sight." The two girls laughed, before she continued, "I'm almost jealous. Especially of that sexy little connection, but…You two are so good for each other. I don't know if you see it, but you're more certain now. Almost like you trust the ground under your feet more. And he's gentler, less of a dick, more of an ass."
Sighing wistfully, the witch smiled, "I know. And I love him to bits and pieces, and he loves me too. So it's just perfect right now."
"I'm happy for you, but…There's something else we gotta talk about." Replied Caroline.
Groaning, Thea shook her head, already knowing where this was going, "Care, I don't want to talk about or to Bonnie."
"You have to Tee. She's your other best friend, and she's so sorry."
"She broke my trust Caroline. Before I handed her that device, I begged her to undo the spell. I told her that he couldn't die, that I wouldn't survive it, and she hugged me and promised. She promised Care!"
"I know…"
"And she doesn't even know what would have happened, with how developed the bond is. Blood-bonds aren't meant to be broken. Even death cannot break them."
"What does that mean?" Whispered the blonde, a fearful look growing on her face.
"I don't know. Either I would have died after, or it would have driven me insane to the point where I would have killed myself to join him on the other side. They're not just a silly little connection. He's linked to me. To my life, my soul. He is as much a part of me as I am him. And even if I didn't die, I'd have been living a half-life, always missing a vital part of myself."
"You never told us…" she mumbled sadly.
"Because never in my wildest dreams did I ever think one of you would try to kill him! And I know Sheila explained to her what the blood-bond implied, but she chose to not listen, chose to focus on her fear instead, and it almost cost me him, and by extension, my life."
Drawing a ragged breath, she continued in a softer voice, "I loved Bonnie like a sister, still do. But I don't hand my trust over easily, and once it's broken don't know how to rebuild it. So if she wants to fix this, then she needs to put in the effort, to show me I can trust her again."
"I'm sorry Tee. I'm so sorry. She'll do it. I'm not having the band breakup over this, you'll see."
Smiling softly at the girl, Thea, leaned in and dropped a kiss to her forehead, "I know you will. You're Caroline Forbes, you can do anything."
—
When she got to Lockwood Mansion, she was stopped at the door by a despondent Tyler. Stepping closer to him, she hugged him tightly and whispered, "I'm not gonna tell you I'm sorry for your loss, because I know how empty those words are. I remember when my parents died. But I am gonna say that I'm here for you. No matter what."
"Thanks Thea," he replied. Pulling away, shooting her a smile, he added, "I saw Bonnie heading towards Damon by the drinks,"
Smiling, she thanked him before walking inside, eyes looking around the grandiose mansion in search of a bar.
Spotting a familiar raven-haired figure, she sped towards him, stopping only when she heard Bonnie say, "Don't you want to know why?"
Snorting, the girl wrapped an arm around Damon's waist, looking at the witch with a raised eyebrow, "Why yes Bonnie. We'd love to know why a non-vampire was tortured and subsequently killed by a device you were supposed to deactivate, but didn't for your own selfish reasons."
The witch sighed sadly, and replied, "I didn't know what would happen if. He'd died, I promise you Thea. I didn't know. I never would have—"
"Never would have what? Killed the guy I've told you multiple times I loved? Broken my heart? Broken your promise? The options are endless here."
"I know. Caroline told me what to do." Looking her in the eyes, she added resolutely, "I promise, I'll fix it."
"Speaking of Caroline," interjected Damon, turning to his girlfriend, "how is she?"
"She's doing so much better." Replied the black-haired girl with a happy grin.
The vampire turned to Bonnie with a smug grin, "You're welcome for that, by the way."
Snorting, the witch retorted, "No, you're welcome."
"For what?"
"You live to see another day."
At this, the blood-witch burst into laughter, looking at her ex-friend and saying, "As though I'd let you even come close to hurting him. You forget that I'm much more powerful than you, Bonnie."
"Now you need to stop with the witches' brew. You're starting to believe your own press." Added Damon, wrapping an arm back around Thea.
Seeing the threatening glare in Bonnie's eyes, the blood-witch's flashed a sudden crimson, before she warned, "I wouldn't do that, were I you. Last person who hurt him got their neck snapped. And I don't want to hurt you Bonnie, so please don't force my hand."
Taking a hesitant step back when she saw the red gleam, Bonnie quickly turned on her heels and left. As soon as she was gone, Thea was turned, and had her face shoved into Damon's chest. "Calm down, Angel. I'm alright. Your eyes were glowing red." He whispered.
Nodding against him, she took a deep breath, before stepping back. He looked at her, before chuckling. Raising a brow, she asked, "What?"
"Nothing," he shrugged, hands drifting from her waist to her hips, "I just find it insanely hot how protective you get over me. It's sexy."
Rolling her eyes, she laughed a little, "Yeah well, don't let it evolve past that, because I am out of business for now."
"Why?" He whined a little.
The girl giggled sweetly, "I'm literally still limping Ace. You really did a number on me this morning."
Leaning down to her level, he brushed his lips against hers, whispering, "There's so much I can still do," before slotting his mouth against hers, kissing her with a gentle passion.
Pulling away, he grabbed her hand and dragged her towards a table covered with food, saying before she could complain, "I know for a fact you didn't eat this morning, and unlike me, my blood can't sustain you. Plus, I need you fully energised for tonight."
"Why?"
"Because I have plans."
—
They'd moved onto the bar, both needing a drink. Damon, because he ran on liquor, Thea because the memorial reminded her too much of her own losses.
That was where Elena found them, leaning against the bar and laughing.
"Hey, how are you guys doing?" She asked with a smile.
"Walking on sunshine El, just splendid." Replied the blood-witch sarcastically.
Frowning slightly, the brunette placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry for what Bonnie did, I had no idea Tee."
"I know," she sighed sadly, "I know you didn't, but it doesn't keep me from being hurt."
"If it's any consolation, she's really upset about it," added the girl with a gentle smile.
"I mean, not really. But it'll do for now." She chuckled, before continuing, "At any rate, she knows how to fix it, so it's just a matter of waiting."
The human nodded, stealing the blood-witch's drink and taking a sip, before crunching her face in disgust, "What are you drinking? Rat poison?!"
Laughing, Thea grabbed her glass back, downing what remained of it in one go, "Tequila, actually. I needed something a little stronger than scotch."
"It's 12 in the afternoon Tee!"
"I know, but I hate memorials. Too many memories…"
Leaning her head against her shoulder, Elena sighed, "I know. For me too."
"Well, not to interrupt this 'sad girls club' gathering, but what are we gonna do about the Elena sized elephant in the room?" Interjected Damon suddenly, throwing his arm over the witch's shoulder.
She knew he'd only done it to change the topic, to keep her from delving into her memories, having felt the waves of sadness that had engulfed her. But Elena didn't.
Rolling her eyes, the human girl said, "Do you have to ruin every moment?"
"Yep." He replied, popping the 'p', before adding, "And neither of you have answered my question."
"I don't know, Damon. It's not like we have that many options."
"We could kill her. That option's still on the table."
"No." Stated Thea, grabbing his glass from his hand and draining it, "We're not killing her. It's too quick. She needs to suffer a little."
Raising her eyes to his, she found his pupils blown wide, "What?" She asked with a chuckle.
"You're hot when you're all vengeful like that."
"Ugh, you guys are disgusting," laughed Elena, standing back up again.
"You know what? You can deal with it after I've had to watch you and Steffy-boy making moon-eyes at each other all year." Giggled the witch.
"Yeah, well, we weren't as gross as you guys." She retorted, walking away.
"That's because you guys are vanilla as hell!" Screamed the witch after her with a loud laugh, before looking at her boyfriend smugly, "Am I supposed to enjoy annoying them this much?"
Nodding once resolutely, he answered, "Yes," gabbing her hand and pulling her towards the fray of people.
"Where are we going, Ace?" She giggled.
"Bathroom. You need to be kissed, and I've got a brother to annoy."
—
They never got the chance to annoy Stefan, as he'd gotten attacked by Katherine before they could find him. Thea had received a text from Elena, warning them about about her look-a-like's presence, and informing them of what had happened.
Currently, the two were making their way to the other couple, ambling through the Lockwood's estate. Coming upon them, Damon said, "I tried to track her but she's gone," before adding with a laugh, "Oooh, cover up, Fabio."
Rolling his eyes, the younger brother pulled his shirt down with a huff, as Damon continued, "We got a crazy ex on the loose. You better watch out, Elena. Looks like Katherine is trying to steal your guy."
"That's not what's happening." Interjected Stefan with exasperation.
"Isn't it? I mean it's only fair since she tried imply I was coming after your girl."
Looking between the three of them, the human girl stood up with a sigh, before shaking her head, "I'm gonna go check on Jenna and Jeremy. Let me know when you guys are done." Turning to Thea, she added, "try to keep them from tearing each other's throats out, will you?" Before walking away.
"Sure, why don't you ask me to solve the middle-east crisis while you're at it," mumbled the blood-witch under her breath.
"So what's it gonna be huh? Fight to the death?" Joked the older man, getting into a fighting position, and throwing a couple of punches at the air. "Go ahead, make your threats, stake your claim."
Thea rolled her eyes skyward, while Stefan snorted in amusement.
"I'm not gonna fight you," he said.
"Why?! I'd fight me."
"And with that stance, you'd lose." Interjected the blood-witch sarcastically. "You'd literally break your own wrists, punching like that."
"Besides, Katherine's trying to turn you guys against each other, you'd just be playing right into her hand." She continued with a sigh.
"Baby, don't you worry, my brother and I's bond is unbreakable." Stated Damon. The girl snorted, before patting him on the shoulder patronisingly, "Sure love, whatever helps you sleep at night."
"That would be you, actually." He retorted with a raised brow.
She laughed, as Stefan interrupted with a small smile, "We need to stay united against her. So I'm not gonna fight you. Plus, I know how much you love her."
"She tried to make it seem like I kissed your girl. She tried to ruin my relationship." Said the blue-eyed man, an angry gleam in his eye.
"Because you feel something for her, because you actually love her and I'm not gonna let Katherine come in here and destroy that part of you that is finally, after all of this time, willing to feel something. She will try to break you, she will try to break us and how we respond to that will define us. It's our choice. So no, I'm not gonna fight you." Replied the younger man with a grin.
Standing up and walking towards Thea, he threw an arm around her shoulder. "And I'm still banking on you making her a Salvatore someday, not gonna let Katherine break that dream." Before turning around and walking away without another word.
Stunned and blushing furiously, the raven-haired girl turned to Damon, ready to explain that last comment, only find him staring pensively at where his brother had been.
Shrugging suddenly, he said, "He's not wrong. But I think I liked him better when he was all broody and disapproving of our relationship."
"Which part wasn't he wrong about, exactly?" Asked the witch with a small smirk.
Looking back at her, he raised his brows suggestively, whispering, "That's for me to know, and for you to…dot, dot, dot," before walking away.
Running after him, she screamed, "Ace! What did you mean!"
—
He'd dropped her off at her own house, after that, only with the promise that she'd pack a couple of outfits and grimoires and make her way back.
Looking around her room, she found her items lying intermingled with his. A couple pairs of his shoes by the door, a leather jacket hanging over the back of her chair, shirts and pants in her closet. Hell, he even had his own toothbrush chilling next to hers in the bathroom. She knew it was the same back at his room in the boarding house, her life mingling with his in the most organic, natural way.
It made her smile, seeing the way he'd woven himself into every aspect of who she was.
Packing her items quickly into a duffle bag, she locked the doors behind her and made her way to her car, eager to get back to him.
Stepping into the boarding house, she could hear voices coming from the parlour, and soundlessly walked over there. She could also feel his emotions rolling over her in a tsunami, and none of them were positive. He was angry, and aggravated and a little murderous.
"My sweet, innocent Damon." Said a voice that sounded remarkably like Elena's, but was lacking all of the warmth her human friend carried. The witch rolled her eyes, Katherine had come to visit, then. There was a thump, before that same voice stated again, "You really love her, huh?"
"More than your tiny, dead heart could ever understand." He replied.
"Poor Damon. She won't pick you. It'll be Stefan. He's the better brother, the good one. Do you really think she'd stay with you. It will always be Stefan."
The girl scoffed noiselessly at the words, but straightened when she felt the slight twinge of doubt coming from him. Her poor, broken blood-bonded. He'd been so conditioned that his brother was the favourite, that a part of him still couldn't believe she was all his.
Straightening her shoulders, she walked confidently into the room, leaning against the doorway at the sight before her. He had Katherine on the ground, his hand wrapped tightly around her throat, while he snarled menacingly. The woman was smiling smugly, knowing she'd succeeded in getting under his skin.
Rolling her eyes for the third time in as many minutes, Thea piped up in a bored tone, "That's genuinely pathetic."
They both turned to her in disbelief, surprised that they hadn't heard her come in. She straightened, before walking into the room, pulling Damon up, "Get up baby, she's not worth ruing the Persian rug over." Pushing him down on the couch, she took a seat on his lap, before turning to the woman and saying jovially, "Really Kat," stopping, she chuckled before asking, "Can I call you Kat? I'm gonna call you Kat."
Smiling at the look on her face, she continued, "Really Kat, I expected better. Some seduction maybe, a little Mata Hari, but not emotional manipulation 101. It's disappointing."
Katherine rose to her feet, ambling towards the couple amicably. Thea felt Damon's hands tighten around her at the possible threat, and she sent him a wave of love and reassurance in return. He had nothing to worry about, Katherine was no threat to her. Besides, it had been a while since she's played a mental game of chess with someone, so this was going to be fun.
"So you're the girlfriend I take it. Thea, right?"
"Why ask a question when you already know the answer?"
Katherine threw her head back in a laugh, looking at Damon with a raised eyebrow, "I can see why you love her, she's a feisty little thing, isn't she?" Looking back at Thea, her voice took on a menacing tone, "But I'm not a toy sweetheart, I don't play games."
"Good, neither do I." Retorted the witch, standing up and walking closer to the shorter woman, faces inches apart. "Glad we've gotten that out of the way, so we can talk honestly. Don't try to get in between Damon and I, it won't work. And while you're at it, try to stop threatening my friends. It's getting a little exhausting trying to clean up the mental damage you're doing."
"You're not scared of me?" Whispered Katherine.
"Fuck no." snorted the girl. "You're what? 500 years old, give or take a few? I've killed vamps older than you without breaking a sweat, so no, you definitely don't scare me."
Smiling, the vampire backed away, ambling backwards towards the door, "I won't interfere in your relationship, little witch. I like you, so I'm feeling reluctant to hurt you."
Looking at Thea up and down, she added with a final smile, "Besides, you've got more style than my bore of a doppelgänger. I think we could be friends." Before turning around and speeding away from the house.
Exhaling, the blood-witch barely had any time to collect herself before she was grabbed into a passionate kiss, tongues dancing together, teeth scraping against each other. He pulled away with a breath, drawing her into his arms.
"What's wrong love?" She asked in concern, feeling the waves of anxiety rolling through him and into her.
"You just took Katherine on. Head to head." He replied, pulling away, keeping his hands on her shoulders.
Confused, she questioned, "And?"
"And? She could've killed you Thea! She could've ripped your heart out before I could blink, and I wouldn't have been able to stop her."
"She wouldn't have." The blood-witch tried to reassure him softly.
"You don't know that!" He screamed.
"I do actually. She registered me as a threat, one she didn't need to cross because she knew she'd be in danger. We're similar her and I."
"You're nothing like her." He muttered.
"No, hear me out." She chuckled, before laying a hand on his cheek, "We are similar. We're both survivors. And the first rule of surviving is not to engage with any potential threats that could be more powerful that you. So I knew she wouldn't attack. Besides," she added with a smirk, "I think she genuinely liked me."
"And why do you seem happy about that?" He asked with a bewildered look on his face. Meeting her eyes, he groaned, "No, no. Thea you cannot become friends with the evil slut vampire. We're not doing that."
"Relax," she laughed, "I'm not gonna become friends with her, I just think that had the situation been different, had she not hurt you the she did, her and I could have been good friends."
"She's not going to stop though, no matter how much she likes you." He said.
"Oh she's definitely not. She's still intent on doing exactly what she came here to do, but now she knows not to anger me too much, so we should be out of the direct line of fire." Thinking for a minutes, she whispered, "Doesn't mean we won't sustain any shrapnel damage though."
"Yeah, well…" he muttered, before picking her up in his arms and heading towards the stairs, grabbing her bag on his way, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."