CHAPTER 22
Devon froze as Cassie fell to the ground in a tumbled heap. Her hand shot up in a vain attempt to staunch the flow of blood pouring freely from the horrendous wound in her neck. It was a mortal cut, he knew that at once.
Then, the scent of her blood hit him with the force of a wrecking ball. It pushed aside his ability to reason, shoved aside all concern for her safety. The scent of her blood in the open air was the most enticing thing he'd ever encountered. He could almost taste the power oozing from her as her blood spilled uselessly onto the forest floor.
Saliva rushed into his mouth, his fangs grew heavier as the driving urge to drain all of that potent blood seized hold of him. The bloodlust became a clamoring frenzy inside him as he took a step toward her. He knew exactly what she was now, knew the pleasure her blood would give him, knew the strength she would give to him. There was nothing more delectable than a Hunter.
He didn't pause to think about the fact that the Hunter line was supposed to be extinct. Nor did he pause to speculate how he hadn't picked up on what she was before. All he could think about was easing the firestorm of thirst burning through his veins.
Her eyes widened and she recoiled as he took another step toward her. He could feel the weakening of her body overtaking her; feel the life force draining from her. There was no way he could allow such a waste of power to occur.
"Devon," she moaned as anguish and a sad acceptance filled her gaze. She closed her eyes, her hand pressed tighter to the gash as she desperately tried to stop the mortality pouring from her open vein.
"Scrumptious," Julian whispered.
Devon turned as Julian rushed past Devon, the frenzying scent of her blood had taken control of him. Reality crashed back over him. This was Cassie, his Cassie. He'd sworn to protect her from this evil, sworn to keep her safe no matter what the cost, and he'd been about to rip her life away from her.
Bursting back into motion, he grasped hold of Julian's shirt and ripped him backward. Julian's bellow reverberated through the trees as he was flung across the clearing. The thick canopy of a tree shook as Julian bounced off of it. He rebounded quickly as he launched back to his feet with a ferocious snarl.
Julian tore back across the clearing, heedless of the fact he would have to go through Devon to get at her. Julian crashed into him and threw them both back a good ten feet. The small pine they hit broke in half, the jagged piece of it scraped down Devon's back and ripped into his skin.
Julian beat and tore at him until Devon seized hold of his throat. He held Julian away from him as he squeezed. Julian was lost to the throes of bloodlust, animalistic, feral and savage. His eyes were as red as laser beams as his face twisted into a murderous scowl. It was a state a seasoned vampire rarely let take them over, as it meant giving up all control. The human population was more likely to become aware of the demons lurking amongst them when control was lost.
A vampire could lose themselves to the bloodlust for good if they weren't strong enough to pull out of it. At one point in time such a vampire would have been destroyed by The Elder's, but except for Devon and Julian, The Elder's had little to do with the rest of the world now, choosing to remain locked away. But the powerful allure of Cassie's blood had been too much for Julian to handle. Hell, it had almost been too much for him to handle.
They rolled over the ground, pummeling each other as Julian tried to get back to Cassie. Devon was determined to keep her safe, determined she would survive this night. With every cell in his body he knew he wouldn't survive her death, just as he knew he would destroy everything, and everyone who ever tried to harm her.
Julian drew his legs up under him and somehow managed to wedge them between their bodies. Using all of his vast strength, he shoved Devon into the center of the clearing. Cassie's frightened cry echoed in his over sensitized ears as he bounced across the ground.
Ignoring all his pains, he launched himself back to his feet as Julian reached her. Cassie swung at him, but Devon could sense the life draining from her. Terror and rage tore through him as Julian seized hold of her arm and ripped her toward him.
Devon seized hold of Julian and pulled him away from her seconds before his teeth sank into her delicate neck. Turning in midair, he twisted their bodies away from her as he tried to keep her safe from the impact of their weight. They bounced across the ground mere inches from her. Julian wrapped his hand around Devon's neck. Using the palm of his hand, Devon slammed it into the bottom of Julian's already broken nose. Fresh blood spilled forth as Julian howled and fell back.
Devon grabbed Julian by the shirt and lifting him like a rag doll he shook him viciously. "Stay away from her!" he roared.
Julian's fist connected with his cheek and staggered him back a few feet. Determined to destroy the monster he'd helped to create, Devon slammed his fist into Julian's cheek. The sickening crunch of his cheekbone echoed loudly in the clearing. Julian's half collapsed face twisted with fury and agony as his eyes burned with red fire.
He lashed out, his panic and suffering made him reckless and volatile. His claws connected with Devon's chin, the force of the blow staggered him as blood spilled free. Grabbing hold of Julian, he picked him up and heaved him across the clearing once more. The large maple Julian collided with shook from the force of the blow and a large crack lanced up its thick trunk.
Julian landed head first on the ground with his legs above his head against the tree. He lay for a moment before falling away from the trunk. Staggering to his feet, he shook his head in disorientation. Shifting his stance, Devon kept his body protectively in front of Cassie as he waited for another charge.
Battered and beaten, Julian took another step forward. He focused on Cassie, hunger burned within the ruby depths of his eyes, but he didn't come any closer. Though Julian still thirsted for her, the beating seemed to have shaken him free of the bloodlust.
Weighing the odds, Julian stood for a moment as his gaze flitted between them. This fight would go to the death, and Julian wouldn't win. They both knew that. Julian wanted Cassie fiercely, but he wanted to live more. His own life and his love of himself were his two biggest motivators. Devon was relieved to see that some things hadn't changed.
"Until next time."
Julian became a blur as he disappeared within the shadows of the trees. Not trusting Julian to stay away, Devon kept all of his senses honed for Julian's presence as he turned back to Cassie. Taking a deep breath, Devon braced himself to withstand the tantalizing lure of her blood. He approached her cautiously as he fought to control the hungry monster inside of him. She was scared enough without seeing him turn back into the demon he was.
Her eyes were filled with trepidation, but to his surprise she didn't shrink from him. She didn't try to scramble away as he was fairly certain she would be too weak to run. She simply stared up at him with a sad acceptance in her mesmerizing eyes.
Blood stuck to her fingers, coated her arm, and clung to her shirt and jeans. A puddle had formed beneath her and the beat of her heart had become sluggish. Forgetting his decision to be cautious, he hurried to her side as he dropped beside her. It was astonishing to realize his concern for her life momentarily outweighed his lust for her blood. He didn't know how long that would last, but for now all that mattered was her safety.
Gently, he eased her slender body into his arms. She moaned softly, her head dropped against his chest as he lifted her. She felt as wispy as a feather in his arms, and just as weak.
The fragileness of her life hit him forcefully as he held her against him. He'd forgotten how weak and frightening it was to be human, how vulnerable and tenuous. Even if she wasn't entirely human, she still faced the harsh reality of death. Her life consisted of more death than most humans, and was normally far shorter.
The bloodlust had been crushed beneath his fear, but he felt a different kind of urge overtaking him now, one he’d never experienced before. He was swamped with the desire to keep her safe from her own mortality and the fragility of her life.
br /> He had changed people before, but he'd never been consumed with the need to do so. Never felt the ardent craving to make sure she never had to face her own death again. He closed his eyes as he began to shake with the urge to change her. He could take her away from here, keep her safe, sheltered, and loved. She would never have to worry about the brutality of her life again, and he knew her life was brutal. He had known some Hunter's during his long lifetime, seen what they'd gone through, and even killed a few of them.
"Devon." He shook his head as he tried to clear his urges. The knowledge of death within her stare rattled him completely. The spark of life radiating from her was already beginning to flicker. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I… I…"
"Shh Cassie, it'll be ok. Don't leave me, just hold on. Don't you leave me," he pleaded fervently.
Tears slid down her face. Resting his hand over top of hers, he pushed against the gash in an attempt to help stem the life pouring from her. There was one way he knew he could stop the bleeding. He was just afraid it would take more self-control than he possessed.
Her heart fluttered slightly. It was a flutter he knew well, he had caused it in many heartbeats moments before he'd taken someone's life from them. It was the sound of that flutter that drove him into action. Bending over her, he pressed her close to him and nuzzled her as he inhaled her wonderfully delicious scent. She didn't stiffen against him, didn't try to push him away. She didn't flinch as her warm breath caressed his cheek.
He wished he could believe it was because she longed for him to change her, but he knew she simply didn't possess the strength to turn away from him. She wouldn't want to belong to the darkness that was part of his world, and he was crazy for even thinking about condemning her to such a life. She deserved far better than anything he had to offer her.
Bracing himself, he pulled her hand away from the large wound. Blood pulsed out of the jagged cuts with every beat of her heart. His chest clenched at the sight of her blood, his teeth elongated instantly. It took a few seconds to gather himself enough not to sink deep into her throat and taste the delicious blood pouring from her.
When he was in control enough, he bent his mouth to her neck. Her heartbeat picked up, but he sensed no apprehension in her, only an excitement that confused him. Fighting against every one of his murderous instincts, he deliberately licked the three brutal gashes in her delicate neck, sealing them with the healing agent in his saliva.
The taste of her blood slammed into him. It was the sweetest nectar he'd ever tasted, so full of strength and vigor. His teeth throbbed for the ultimate pleasure her blood would bring him. Never had he tasted anything so tempting and delicious. Never had he experienced so much power within one person. He'd tasted his fair share of Hunters before, but their blood had been as powerful as a goldfish's compared to this. Her blood was ambrosia and he craved more than just a little taste.
Then, her hand stroked over his face, the touch as delicate as a butterflies wings as it helped to soothe the thirsty beast trapped inside of him. Using every ounce of self restraint and control he had, he pulled back; his eyes clashed with her curious ones. She smoothed her hand over his cheek and cradled him in her grasp. Devon couldn't move; he was pinned within her gaze, as guilt and horror tore through him.
She was comforting him, and he was thinking about draining every last drop of life from her. Struggling to regain control, he unfolded himself from above her. Though the cuts were sealed, she was still a long way from safe. A fair amount of her precious life had been spilled.
"Hold on Cassie," he pleaded fervently. "Don't leave me."
Her tears left a trail in the dirt and blood marring her delicate features. He longed to brush them away and kiss away her pain, but he was frightened to get that close to her again. He didn't know how much torture and temptation he could take before breaking.
He quaked with the reserve it took not to finish it, not to turn her. He couldn't take her youth, her innocence, and her life from her. She deserved far better than that. Far better than him. Gradually, he was able to regain enough control to think straight once more. If he didn't get her help, human help, she was going to die.
A branch cracked loudly. Devon curled her protectively against him as he spun to face the new threat. He shouldn't have let his guard down, shouldn't have let his attention stray from Julian, but she had that affect upon him. He lost all sanity, and all sense of reason, when she was around.
Now, Julian was back. Devon should have known Julian wouldn't quit, not when he had smelled her blood also. Devon used all of his powers and senses to hunt him down, but he couldn't find him within the woods. He did, however, pick up on three new minds within the forest.
He tensed in preparation as Chris, Melissa, and Luther burst out of the woods and skidded to a halt on the other side of the clearing. Their jaws dropped as they took in the limp, bloody form of Cassie in his arms. He knew what the three of them were, but he had no concern for his own safety around them. They were no threat to his survival.
"Cassie!" Melissa cried as she rushed toward them.
Luther lurched forward and grabbed hold of her arm. He pulled her back as an involuntary snarl tore from Devon. He didn't know what had possessed him, he knew they wouldn't harm her, but the idea of them touching her made him want to destroy them all.
"No!" Melissa's hand flew to her mouth; revulsion filled her black eyes as she took in Devon's twisted features, and deadly teeth.
Devon turned away from the condemnation he saw in their eyes. He didn't know them well, but he'd grown to like them over the past few weeks, and he hated the revulsion in their eyes. Holding Cassie protectively against him, he turned away from their disgust and disappeared into the woods in a blur of motion. Feeling outrageously unstable again, he plunged into the forest, uncertain of where he was going.
Moving faster than he'd ever moved in his long existence, Devon kept Cassie shielded from the branches and limbs as he raced through the woods. He knew concern for her life was a big motivator for his faster than average speed, but it was also more than that.
The few drops of blood he'd tasted had already begun to change him. They'd already made him stronger, far more powerful and faster. He didn't know how it was possible she possessed so much power and he hadn't picked up on it. He didn't know how she could possess so much power. The amount of it was far from normal, even for a Hunter.
He didn't know the answers to any of the questions swirling through his mind, and he didn't really care. The only thing he cared about right now was saving her life.
He could only hope she didn't hate him for what he was. He couldn't stop to think about that, if he did he would lose it. Cassie curled against him, her head rested trustingly in the hollow curve of his neck. He didn't understand her trust in him, not after everything she'd discovered tonight, but it was a trust he was going to try and live up to. He could only hope he didn't shatter it by snapping and changing her before he finally reached his destination.
The End
Book 2, Ashes, is now available!
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About the author
Erica Stevens is the author of the Captive Series, Kindred Series, Fire & Ice Series, Ravening Series, and the Survivor Chronicles. She enjoys writing young adult, new adult, romance, horror, and science fiction. She also writes adult paranormal romance and
historical romance under the pen name, Brenda K. Davies. When not out with friends and family, she is at home with her husband, dog, and horse.
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