His fangs nipped at her lip, causing her to gasp in pleasure as her own fangs sprang forth in response. A whimper of delight and remorse escaped her as she cut into his lip and caused his blood to fill her mouth. It was as sweet as a peach and as tempting as the apple had been to Eve. Though she'd tasted it as a human, tasting it as a vampire was a heady experience that left her reeling with desire and thirst. She strained against the rising thirst surging through her and wiggled against him as she sought to break free.
His hand tightened in her hair as he pulled back from her. Though it was completely dark, Cassie could see blood glistening on his bottom lip. Her toes curled as her gaze latched onto that single, quivering drop. "Cassie," he breathed.
His eyes were dark and questioning, but they were also ravenous. Before he could pull away from her, she lifted her mouth to his and licked the blood from his lip. He shuddered against her, the muscles in his arms bulged as he tried to restrain himself. Then, his mouth yielded beneath the pressure of hers.
Cassie moaned as he pressed her against the wall. He pulled away, but didn't release her as he rained kisses across her throat and collarbone. There was a sudden, vibrant urgency pounding from him that left her shaking and barely able to support herself. His hands grasped hold of her face as he pulled her forward and buried her head in the hollow of his neck and shoulder. "Feed," he commanded in a harsh, ragged voice.
Cassie shuddered as longing and urgency filled her. She didn't know what she was doing though, didn't know how this worked and she was frightened she would injure him. That she would flounder and completely mess this up. She kissed him as she ran her teeth across the tender skin of his neck. He was immobile against her, as rigid and unyielding as a boulder.
Cassie paused; her fangs hovered above the vein in his neck. Instinct and yearning took over, she suddenly knew what to do, how to do it, and exactly what it was that he craved from her. Twining her fingers through his hair, she pulled him closer as she bit deep.
He groaned; his body bucked against hers as his tantalizing blood streamed into her mouth. It was the most magnificent, precious, fulfilling moment she'd ever experienced as his mind coalesced and blended with hers. His unconditional love for her poured from him, his satisfaction in her feeding from him was almost more than she could take as everything within him flowed into her. The bond between them had been special and unique when she'd still been a Hunter, but now, now it was a marvel that nearly shattered her.
There was nothing outside of this basement, nothing outside of them. The entire world ceased to exist as he ensnared her in a web of unadulterated love and awe.
***
"What happened to you?" Julian demanded.
Devon glanced down at his burnt jacket and the tattered remains of the front of his shirt. The burns on his skin had already healed. His hand tensed around Cassie's as she ducked her head and picked nervously at the front of her coat. "Sunlight," Cassie muttered.
Julian swore as he rolled his eyes. "Princess, sometimes I think you have a death wish."
Cassie frowned at him. Devon was trying not to smile at the consternation on her face, and the spark of fire that filled her eyes. "There were Halflings," she retorted.
"So you had to save the day by jumping into the sun to do what? Catch on fire and choke them with your ashes?"
Her frown deepened but she didn't respond to Julian's sarcastic inquiry. "Is everyone ok?" Luther asked quietly.
"Yes," Devon answered.
In fact he was better than ok. Her blood, her new more powerful blood coursed through him in pulsating waves that made him feel as if he could take on the world, including the remaining Halflings and Elders. "How many of them were there?" Liam asked.
"Four."
Liam was thoughtful as he glanced out the window. "From what we've learned from Patrick, and the bodies that were collected outside, plus what was killed before last night, there should only be two left."
"How do we find them?" Annabelle asked.
"They're getting desperate, they're starving, they may fall for another trap," Cassie said.
"They may be getting desperate but I don't think we'll be able to trick them again. I think the reason they have been more rational than normal Halflings is because they were a part of the Hunter line. They won't fall for anything again, not now that there are only two of them left," Luther said.
Julian folded his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels. "They may not fall for anything, but there may also be something that they can't resist."
"What? Oh," Chris said as his eyes drifted toward the shadows of the store where Joey and Patrick were still tied to their chairs.
"Wait, we can trust my brother!" Dani gushed.
"I'm not sure I trust you." Julian's low growl caused Dani to take a step back and her hazel eyes to widen.
"No matter what, they aren't going to come back here. Did you find a place to stay?" Annabelle asked.
"The motel," Melissa answered.
"But..."
"It's better than the houses," Melissa interrupted Luther. "The homes that aren't empty and sad contain dead people. The motel is far better."
"Ok, fine, so the motel." Luther pulled his glasses off and cleaned them on his shirt. "It might actually work better to try and draw the last two out. We should get going though, we have the supplies ready."
It took twenty minutes before the car was loaded down with enough food, blood, water, weapons, and clothing to last them for awhile. No one was coming back here once the Halfling's were taken care of. Devon hung back as the lost box was placed into the cargo area of the SUV.
"How are we going to do this?" Julian asked as he appeared beside him. Julian's mouth was pinched, his eyes as remorseless as the ice they resembled.
"We'll keep pace with the vehicle," Devon answered.
"And Cassie?"
"Will stay with me."
Julian nodded as he gazed at the group huddled around the SUV. Cassie stood to the side, flanked by Luther, Melissa and Chris. Though they didn't understand, and were frightened by what was happening to her, they were her ever faithful friends and they steadfastly showed their support when the others shied away from her.
"She shot fire out of her hands," Devon told him.
"I know, I saw her do it," Julian retorted.
Julian had seen the visions that Cassie had received from Matthew, he knew better than anyone exactly what it was that Cassie could become. "No, she did it again today, when the Halflings attacked."
Julian's dark brows shot all the way into his platinum blond hair. "I thought it was only after she touched a person. That was the way it seemed anyway. That was what she thought even. Only after immediate contact with a person did she have the ability to use their powers, and once she touched someone else it was gone. Luther had never heard of such an ability before, but even he was willing to accept it. He was confused and fascinated by it, but this..." he broke off as he glanced back at her. "This Devon, this is different."
"I know."
"This means..."
"I know what it means Julian. I know more than anyone else what this means."
"Matthew's words..." Devon hadn't been able to get Matthew's words out of his head since Matthew had uttered them. They smashed constantly around his brain like a ricocheting bullet in a steel room. "I saw what Matthew saw, I saw what Cassie saw. I would like for the vision of goodness to be right. She has always been more light than dark, but there is a darkness in her that has been trying to take control for awhile now."
"I know," Devon murmured, resenting the fact that Julian was expressing every one of his worst nightmares.
"And now..."
"The darkness is stronger and there is more of it in her. Now we have created a vampire." Devon grit his teeth, his hands fisted as rage briefly boiled through him. He knew it was Julian's blood that had completed the change, but no matter how badly he longed to beat him into a bloody pulp for giving her even more of his blood, sh
e wouldn't be here if he hadn't. Julian had also made the choice not to keep her for himself when he could have. All of Devon's remaining doubts about Julian had faded when he'd given Cassie back to him.
"With apparently unlimited power and we both know what any vampire is capable of. We both know how much of a battle it is to keep the demon restrained under normal circumstances."
Devon folded his arms over his chest as he studied Cassie. She still appeared so innocent and loving, still appeared the same. But he knew that beneath her beautiful, angelic façade, there was a new demon with a craving for blood and power. "We have to get her out of this town."
"The Halflings?" Julian inquired.
"We'll take care of the last two, but we have to get her out of here before Zane comes back for her. If he gets a hold of her, of any of us, he will destroy her if he can't control her."
"Agreed," Julian said.
Liam waved them over when the last cooler of blood was tossed into the cargo hold. Devon strode over to Cassie and nodded to Chris and Melissa as he drew her into his arms. "You guys will ride in the Caddy with Luther, Dani, Joey, and Patrick. We'll keep pace with you on the way to the motel."
Melissa and Chris nodded before turning away. The plastic bag covering the broken back window rattled in the wind as Chris opened the door. "You are to stay by my side," Devon ordered gruffly.
Cassie tilted her head to the side as she gave him an amused grin. "Yes sir, captain sir," she replied teasingly.
"I'm not kidding Cass."
Her smile slid away as her hands clasped hold of his. "I know. I'll stay with you, I promise."
Luther climbed behind the wheel of the SUV; his gray eyes appeared even larger behind his glasses as he briefly met Devon's gaze before closing the door. The contingency of vampires kept pace with the vehicle as it wound its way through the nearly deserted town.
CHAPTER 10
The shower was one of the best things that Cassie had felt in a long time. The water was as hot as she could stand it as it pounded against her aching, sore body. But even over the rushing spray of water, she could hear Devon, Luther, and Julian talking in the room. She'd intended to climb out of the shower earlier, but she knew that they would stop talking the minute the water turned off.
She couldn't get every word of the conversation, but what she did get was enough to reinforce her knowledge that they were scared of what she was capable of, of what she would become if she chose the wrong path.
Cassie didn't strain to hear them; she simply tuned her ears and focused on their words. She was acutely aware of every separate drop of water as it hit her skin. As a Hunter she had been able to hear and see exceptionally well, always had, but now it was even more acute and attuned. It had become even more enhanced after consuming Devon's blood. Cassie shuddered as she recalled the sweet, delicious taste of his blood and the power that had filled her from it.
Tired of the water, and their conversation, she stepped free of the shower. Just as she had known they would, they became silent. Cassie shook her head as she toweled and dressed quickly in a fresh set of clothes before brushing her hair out. Julian and Devon were leaning against the wall on either side of the door. Luther was sitting precariously on the edge of the bed.
Luther's graying brown hair was standing on end from anxiously pulling at it. She kept her face impassive, trying not to reveal that she'd heard what they'd said. "Have you come up with a plan?" she asked.
Julian and Devon exchanged a look; Luther was staring at his clasped hands. "The plan is to get you out of this town as soon as possible," Devon responded.
"To get all of us out of this town as soon as possible," Cassie insisted. Luther finally looked up at her. "We are not splitting up again." Her hands clenched as she glared at all of them before settling on Devon. He had promised her that they wouldn't split up again, not after what had happened last time. "You promised."
"We won't be separated Cassie," he assured her.
"We won't be separated from anyone," she emphasized. "Not after last time. It is not going to happen Devon, not at all."
"Cassie..."
"If The Elders come back..."
"They won't," Julian interrupted.
"They could!" she retorted. "No, the only way I am leaving this town is if everybody goes. We are not splitting our numbers again."
"It would have been just you and me," Devon told her.
Cassie's mouth dropped. "What?" she sputtered in disbelief.
"Would have been," Devon emphasized. "Julian and I thought it was better for you not to be here. Luther disagreed."
Cassie turned toward Luther, astonished that he was actually on her side in this. Luther sadly gazed back at her. "I think it's best if you stay around your friends."
Something inside of her ached, it couldn't be her heart because that had stopped beating. "You mean you think I should stay with people who might be able to pull me back if I snap, or that can help to destroy me?" They were unmoving, mainly because she had just hit the nail on the head. "That makes sense."
Cassie glanced at the door that separated this room from the one next door. They had taken the three end rooms; the ones farthest away from the devastation of the manager's office. "Do they know that?" she asked.
"No, there is no reason for them to. Not yet," Luther answered. "I would also like to see what you are capable of Cassie."
"Wouldn't we all?"
He managed a wry smile as he rose to his feet. "Do you know how you were able to shoot fire today?"
Cassie shrugged as she wrapped her arms around herself. "No, I don't. I knew that I could absorb powers when touching someone, but I thought that once I touched someone else, that other power was gone. Apparently I was wrong."
"We have to figure out how you are able to do it, and just how many you can use at once. It could really come in handy."
"Or it could be completely dangerous."
Luther cleared his throat as he pulled his glasses off. "Well yes, that too, but we will need it against The Elders. What were you feeling when you were able to bring the fire back again?"
"Terrified," she answered honestly. "Frustrated. Angry."
He began to pace the small confines of the worn down hotel room. He moved past one of the double beds before spinning on his heel in front of the other and coming back at her. "We're going to have to find a way for you to be able to draw that power forth without your emotions ruling you, and a way for you to keep those abilities under control."
"Is that all?" she asked dryly.
Luther's shoulders slumped as he tugged at his hair and made his way back toward the other bed. "This is new to us all Cassie."
"I know," she assured him. "I also know that you're scared of me. That you all are."
Luther bowed his head, while Julian and Devon met her gaze head on. "Not of you princess," Julian murmured.
"Don't lie to me Julian, please. We both know better than that."
He looked like he was going to protest, then he shut his mouth, and shook back his shock of platinum hair. The near white band around his pupils was dilated. "Fine princess you are a little freaky right now..."
"Julian..." A lock of midnight hair fell into one of Devon's emerald eyes as he took a quick step toward Julian.
"What with this seemingly unlimited ability to absorb powers and the strange eyes..."
"Why do people keep mentioning my eyes? They are perfectly normal," Cassie insisted.
Julian and Devon exchanged a look; Luther quickly removed his glasses again. "They're not normal when they change Cassie," Devon said kindly.
"I see," she mumbled.
"You look exhausted."
"I am." She wasn't so much tired as she just didn't feel like being studied like a bug anymore.
"We'll let you get some rest," Luther muttered.
Cassie opened her mouth to protest, there was still so much they had to discuss, but Luther and Julian were already moving out. She heard the rattle of the chain
lock as she sat on one of the worn pink and yellow comforters and hard mattress. She didn't care how hard it was though, it was like heaven compared to her sleeping conditions of the past couple of weeks. It had been weeks since she'd slept in a real bed, with real pillows, and comforters.
Cassie frowned as Devon grabbed hold of the bureau and walked it over to the window and placed it beneath it. Seizing hold of both of the nightstands he placed them on top and almost completely blocked out the night beyond. It wouldn't be much of a barrier against something trying to get in the window, but it would block out most of the sun. Finally, he placed the armchair in the corner against the door.
He was in front of her before she even had a chance to register him moving. His fingers slid over her cheeks as his emerald eyes latched onto hers. Any tiredness, and fear, was forgotten as his mouth brushed over hers and she opened her lips to the heady invasion of his tongue. His hands settled against her waist, lifting her up he moved her back in the bed and came down on top of her.
It was so easy to lose herself in him, to forget everything else when he was touching her and loving her, so easy not to think about the fact that she could destroy them all. Though they had exchanged blood earlier she knew the bond between them as mates wasn't complete. Not until now when she was clinging to him in order to stay grounded in a world suffused in sensation, caresses, and kisses.
She could feel them joining together, not only their bodies but also their souls. She used him as an anchor to keep her grounded through the sensations suffusing her as she bit into his vein, and he into hers. A scream almost tore from her as something seemed to cinch them together. They were bound together, bonded in a way they hadn't been before.
It was a bond she felt all the way to the center of her being and she knew there was nothing that could ever tear them apart, ever sever their tie. It was deeper than marriage, deeper than any human connection she'd ever experienced as she felt their souls melding together and becoming one. She knew now what it was to be a vampire that was mated. He was a part of her for eternity and she welcomed it more than she had ever welcomed anything in her life.