26

Phase two would consist of pissing off the lower vampires and drawing them out. To do that this meant we needed to get closer to the nest, in which case Mika was totally against Ari going anywhere near there. They went back and forth about it again a few times but this time neither one of them crossed the line and stormed off. They knew they both where in this for the long haul.
"I have a suggestion on how to draw the vampires out." Ari said as she came up to Mika who was mulling over some ideas in the far corner of their hide out.
"What's that?" he asked interested in seeing what she may have come up with. "Scent. Check this out." She pulled a water canister from her pack and emptied it on to the floor. "Vamps like blood right?" She pointed the bottle at herself." And you do not want me near the nest. I won't really be near the nest, but the vamps wont know that." she grinned.
"Exactly **how** much do you think you need to lose to make this work Ari?" he hesitated to asked, knowing damn well the girl would say the bottle. She shrugged. "Probably the whole bottle."
"It's not a bad plan boss. But you will have to drink a lot of water and eat if you do this Ari. We cannot have you passed out somewhere on this stage of attack." she nodded at Devion happy he was backing her.
Mika was mulling it over, she watched as he clenched his jaw and looked off. *That ass is hashing it out without me!* she snapped her fingers at them" Oh no! not now I'm in this you include me damn it!" she snapped. Mika looked back and her and grinned. She was getting good at catching them telelinking one another.
"Okay. We will go with your plan. That means you are to stay hydrated and to eat the day of. We will hit the bastards that night."
Ari followed Mika's instructions. Mika had gone out and killed a small fawn and had cooked it up for her. He had found some wild onions and had soaked the liver in a bryn of types for a few hours before her roasted the liver and onions over the fire. Ari had never been much for eating liver, but she was well aware of the importance of this slice of meat. The richness of vitamins would help her body recover the blood she would be loosing. At mid day the men gathered around her for the draining.
Mika sat behind her so she could lean against him if she got light headed. Bradley held the bottle and Devion kept watch over Ari. Ari took her short blade, cut a diagonal slash in the bend of her arm right over a blue vein she could very much see thanks to all the water she had taken in. Blood began pouring from her arm and Bradley would catch all that he could not wasting her efforts. Mika could smell her blood, and it began to cause a strange effect in him he had not anticipated. A part of him he wanted to rage and scream that she was harmed, that her blood was filling his nose even though he with his very eyes could see she was fine. But a second part of him wanted to taste her. Wanted to know what she felt like in his mouth. She leaned back against him and he realized his mouth and nose nuzzled against that spot on the crook of her neck that called to him. Begged him to bite. He fought against the canines trying to lengthen in his mouth. He would contain his animalistic urges. Logic was trying to run out of his mind and leave with him insanity at the thought his mate bled. The bottle was soon filled and Devion grabbed Ari's arm and raised it above her head, pressing a large cloth to the wound. Mika growled instinctively when someone touched her, but quickly regained his senses when he realized what he had done. Ari looked back over her shoulder at him and smiled. "I'm okay. It's fine really."
He knew she was fine. He knew she would be completely okay it was wasn’t a big deal but damn it if his beast didn't disagree every fucking step of the way. After several minutes the bleeding slowed and Devion lowered her arm. She held the cloth this time herself and let Davion go about closing the bottle up. They'd need to keep the blood as warm as they could so it would not rot before the drop. Devion put it in a sack he was wearing on his back in hopes of the movement helping to keep it from settling. The blood wouldn't have to be perfect but they'd need to come out of the bottle when the time came.
Mika had gotten her to do some eating with some sweet bread/crackers she had stored in her bag. The crackers weren't really suppose to be crackers once upon a time they had been pieces of a sweet bread she'd gotten in her travels but over time it hardened and crumbled when bit into. Devion and Bradley had been fortunate enough to locate some local nuts and a few birds eggs when they went out of the city rubble to gotten the wild onions. The 'crackers' served with the eggs and nuts made a for a nice little meal. She was feeling completely fine, but utterly spoiled. She giggled to herself watching the men do some cooking, and Mika watching her like a hawk- did he think she was gonna faint?
However in Mika's mind it was not the worry of her breaking or fainting that stayed up front in his mind, it was the desire he'd had during. He wanted to mark her. The smell of her blood had lit a fire in him, and he was doing all he could not to follow through with it.

*So the blood didn't smell different to you?* he asked. Devion looked at him quizetly.*Smell different? it smelt like blood. Why?*
(Mika) *Your beast wasn't raging? In any way at all?* he pushed.
(Devion) *No, nothing. I mean I smelt the blood but there wasn't anything feral about it. Again why?*
*When I smelt her blood my wolf wanted to come to surface. I wanted to protect her from herself, from you two.*
Devion looked Mika in the eyes,* You know she was never in any danger.*
Mika nodded. *Logically I am completely aware she was not in any danger. But I felt highly possessive over her then.* Mika paused for a moment wondering if he wanted to admit the second half. Devion felt that Mika had more to share but he just waited. *In the same instance I felt a strong urge to mark her. Like I was already at her skin, my teeth were drawing and I was ready to do it. but **I** wasn't aware I was doing it till I stopped myself.*
Devion waited a long time to answer, he finally shrugged, *I'm not totally sure prince but maybe it has to do with the fated mate thing? you said yourself her scent changed you. It is possible her blood could be that way too?*
*Fuck, I don't know. That shit will make me loose my mind Devion.*
*Are you sure you are up for tonight Mika?* Devion looked over and saw Mika square his shoulders. He was a force and nothing was going to keep him from his goal. Blue balls, or possessiveness this man was going to finish his mission.