Rolf burst through the doorway and shoved me to the side into Julian’s arms.
“Get off!” Derek yelled. “What the hell is going on? Where am I?”
“Lucas, release him,” Rolf commanded.
Lucas let Derek go with a jerk, but remained close.
Derek straightened and glanced around the room. His eyes were so, so bright, like icicles—cold and sharp. They touched mine and pierced me right down to my soul. I almost gasped. He didn’t look anything like himself anymore.
“Faith?” he asked incredulously. His voice sounded the same, soft and mellow. “What’s going on?”
“There is no time to explain,” Rolf cut in. “The moon is about to take us.”
Derek frowned, stepping closer and Lucas followed with fists clenched tight. “The moon? Where are we? What’s—” He took another step and stopped. The pupils of his eyes dilated until even the whites were blackened.
Julian darted in front of me with Nora by his side.
“Derek,” Rolf said slowly, inching closer. “Do not breathe.”
“Why does she smell like . . . like food?” His voice was breathy, ravenous.
“Because you have been turned,” Rolf said. “There is not much time left. I fear there will not be time to explain. Remain calm.”
Suddenly the room felt like it was shaking. No wait, that wasn’t the room. It was Julian’s body. Why was I clutching his waist? When had that happened?
“Rolf,” Julian said. “I can’t . . . hold out much longer. We need to do something.”
Lucas shuddered violently and said, “Just bring him outside with us. We can run with him tonight and make sure he’s safe.”
“There is no us!” Rolf shouted. “You will not run with the pack tonight, Lucas. You will serve your sentence!”
Derek took another step toward me, inhaling deeply. “God, she smells amazing.... I could just ... eat her.” His body shook and his head twitched as if he was possessed.
“He’s changing!” Nora shouted.
“No,” Rolf whispered. “It is impossible.”
But it was possible.
Derek’s body quaked again and then exploded. His roar of pain echoed through the room as a great fissure erupted from the base of his neck to his tailbone. With a sound like ripping fabric, it burst, turning his body inside out. It was slow and grueling compared to the changes I’d seen Lucas endure. It was as though Derek’s body was slowly breaking down, each bone, each muscle, each nerve was tearing. Derek’s groans scalded the air, and my heart pounded in my chest as his neck elongated, his legs curled underneath him, his ribs—cracking and bending—splayed into the barreled chest of a wolf. He cried out again as his teeth grew to half a foot in length and his body bloomed with flawless ivory fur. Muscles cleaved, sinews dissolved and re-formed, bones cracked like gunshots. And Derek’s horrendous screams morphed into the agonized howl of a wolf.
I shrieked and Julian shoved me away as he changed too. I hit the far wall and watched as Derek, now a pure white wolf, lunged for me. Lucas changed in midair and slammed into him. I screamed again as Derek’s jaws clamped just inches from my face.
Julian and Lucas wrestled with Derek as Nora ran out of the room. I heard the sounds of her changing on the way downstairs. Then Yvette appeared in the doorway accompanied by two more huge human men bearing silver chains.
“Get her!” Yvette shouted, pointing at me. “Get her out of here!”
The men started toward me, but Derek had just managed to get free of Lucas and Julian. He ran past the men, knocking them down, and flew out of the room.
Lucas started to follow, but Rolf, who had yet to change, shouted, “Chain him!”
The big men got to their feet and lashed the chains around Lucas’s fur-covered flesh. Lucas howled; the charred stink of burning skin seeped through the room like a poison.
Then Rolf changed, and both he and Julian took off after Derek. I ran to the window and flung it open. I watched a slender white wolf fly across the snow, just a shade darker than the powder. Two dark beasts followed it into the woods, howling shrilly.
“Derek!” I shouted. “Run, Derek, and don’t stop!”
Lucas’s cries of pain made me spin around. Three more men had joined the first four and worked with the others to bring Lucas down. Lucas clawed furiously at them, drawing blood across their arms and backs, but they dodged his fangs with expert speed.
I ran forward—to do what, I didn’t know. But I had to help Lucas. Not only were these men hurting him, but Lucas was the only one who would protect Derek out there. I ran and grabbed at one of the big men’s backs, tugging futilely.
Yvette yanked me away and I tried to shove her off, but she was, strangely, much stronger than me. I sagged against her, yelling for the men to let Lucas go. I wished like hell that they were werewolves so I could force them off of him, but they were only human and immune to my power.
They dragged him out of the room as his claws made desperate troughs in the hardwood floors. His lupine face contorted in crazed frustration. Hoping I could soothe him, I tried to forge a connection, but he was too insane and I was unable to catch his eye before they yanked him away. I wanted to do something—to help him somehow—so I went after him, but by the time I ran down the stairs, he and the men were already in the basement. I flew across the tiled floor and made it to the back door just as it was about to slam closed.
I followed the men down the cement hall. Lucas’s howls reverberated off of the walls and made my ears ring. His body began to shake and shrink; he clawed at the walls, writhing, trying frantically to keep from being put into the room.
But his efforts were wasted. The seven men wielding silver were too much for him. One of them threw open the door and together, they shoved Lucas inside. He released one last, long keening howl and then morphed into a human. He continued to scream as he shook the chains off. The men strode past me on the way out, bloodied and bruised. One paused and looked back at me.
“We’re locking this hallway behind us,” he yelled over Lucas.
I spun around. “And?”
“And it’s soundproof.”
“Does it look like I care?” I turned my back on him.
I heard the door slam and the sound of it locking into place, locking me inside this dark, narrow hallway with a psychotic werewolf.
I ran to the door of the silver room and threw myself to the ground, stretching my arm through the bars. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do, but he was in so much pain. I had to do something.
“Lucas!” I shouted over his cries. He was bashing himself against the wall, trying to break through it was my guess. But every time his skin touched the silver-plated walls, it sizzled like meat on a burning hot skillet.
“Stop, Lucas! You’re hurting yourself. I’m right here! I’m right here for you.” I stretched my arm farther in, as though the closer I got to him, the more I could help him, even though that was not the case. I don’t think Lucas even knew I was there. The few times I caught sight of his face illuminated in the moonlight, it was manic. Wild, like nothing I’d ever seen before. His body couldn’t even heal properly from the burns he caused himself, and there were bloody, bubbling marks on his throat and arms from where the chains had bound him.
I couldn’t handle watching him enduring this pain. I stood and paced, furiously trying to figure out how to help him. For once, he was the vulnerable one and I was the one with all the power—but power to do what?
Lucas continued to rage and cry for hours. I cried right along with him. And then he must have worn himself out, because sometime around two in the morning, he fell silent.
I looked up, pressing my face against the cool silver bars that burned him so terribly. He was lying curled up in the moonlight as though it was a warm blanket, soothing him. His body was broken, shaking with sobs.
“Lucas?” I said. “It’s okay, come here.”
Lucas rolled his head toward me. His eyes were darker than I�
�d ever seen them. They were human eyes, like they must have been before he was infected. Soft—without any hint of the beast struggling to be free within him.
“Faith?”
God, it was amazing to hear him say my name. “Yeah, it’s me,” I said, mustering a smile through my tears. “Come here. Come here to me.”
He drew in a shuddery breath, and I saw a few tears slide across his cheek, making little trails of clean skin against the wounds ripped into his face. “I can’t,” he rasped.
I sniffled and put my hands back on my side of the bars. “It’s okay,” I said. “I’m right here. I won’t leave you.” I felt for his energy; it was so weak.... He was losing himself.
That’s when it hit me.
I was the one with all the power.
I had to connect with him, control his mind. I hadn’t thought of it before because I couldn’t connect to unchanged werewolves. I didn’t know if it would work now, but I sure as hell had to try. I had the strongest connection with Lucas, so it was worth the shot.
“Lucas, look at me,” I said urgently. “I’m going to try and connect with you. Don’t look away.”
I don’t know if it was because he didn’t have enough strength to look away, or because he actually listened, but either way, his eyes remained on mine, and I summoned up the electricity inside me. It started just below my heart in that fluttery place where nervousness lives. Like a spasm of light, burning brighter and brighter, expanding throughout my body. I focused fully on Lucas, willing the connection to click into place. I felt resistance, the block in my mind that said it couldn’t be done, but I flung it away. I could do this.
And then—snap.
I was in his head. His emotions were mine, his actions pliable. And, God was he weak. I’d figured this out just in time.
I let my strength flood into him, repeated soothing words, I’m here, I’m always here, I love you, I’m here. . . .
But the longer I held our connection, the weaker it became, the more effort it took. I held it steady for what seemed like forever, but it wasn’t long enough.
All too soon, it faded and died.
And then Lucas was left alone.
Immediately, he began to groan, raking his hands down his face.
I leaned against the wall, head pounding. I’d never held the connection for so long before, and I was exhausted. But it was nothing compared to what Lucas was enduring. I had to try and do it again; he needed me. So I rested, trying not to watch as Lucas regained his strength and started bashing himself against the walls again. When I felt my strength return, I called out to him. For a long time, he was too wild to listen, but eventually, he wore himself out and collapsed to the floor. Only then, could I persuade him to make eye contact and give him a few moments of comfort. But then I’d lose it again and the cycle would continue.
Lucas was close to unconscious when dawn came. I, on the other hand, stood at attention, exhausted as well, but eager to get out of that hell hole. I waited by the door for someone to come let us out. I thought briefly of Derek, wondering if he’d found someplace safe to stay for the day and if he’d been strong enough and smart enough to escape the pack.
Then the door sprung open and three of the gigantic men from last night came to take Lucas back up to his room. I followed, and shooed them away once they’d placed him safely in his bed.
I went about cleaning him off, but I didn’t have to apply any first aid to his burns or wounds because they began to heal within minutes.
Once he was cleaned, I put the blankets over him, dimmed the lights, and slipped into bed beside him. I smoothed my hand over his bare chest, loving how the shadows played over the contours and peaks of his flawless body.
I wished I had my camera. I wanted to remember him like this forever. So calm and perfect. I turned my head and kissed his neck. Even in his sleep, I felt the heat surge. I smiled against his skin. Somehow, that made me feel better. I didn’t have much energy left to test his emotions, but what I could get was peaceful—or as peaceful as Lucas ever got. There was a tinge of that old craziness at the edges of his vibe, but I couldn’t tell if the madness I felt was the werewolf inside him fighting to be released or a madness of a different kind.
True insanity.
4
THE SENSE
I awoke to kisses—tons of them, on my mouth and down my throat and lower, trailing slowly down my stomach. I smiled, yawning, looking down to see the top of Lucas’s head. I grabbed his hair and pulled him up, wanting to see his face.
But the face looking at me was not Lucas. It was Derek. His lips were dripping with crimson liquid, and he had fangs like kitchen knives. I looked down and my body was punctured with bloody fang marks.
I screamed and sat up.
Lucas sat up too, looking around for danger, but as soon as his eyes fell on me, he knocked me back onto my pillows. He hugged me close and tucked his face into my neck, kissing me everywhere.
I panted, totally freaked out ... and, okay, slightly aroused.
His lips found mine, and I kissed him back.
“Are you okay?” I asked through his lips. “Are you . . . ?” I didn’t want to say the word insane.
“You . . . are . . . amazing,” he said, kissing my nose lightly on each word.
“Me?” I asked, confused.
“You stayed with me,” he said, face just inches away. “You kept me sane. I know it was you. I didn’t imagine that, did I?”
“No. I was there. I used the connection. I didn’t know I could do it when you’re human, but it worked. Thank God, it worked.”
“Amazing,” he said again and rolled over on top of me, kissing me. I felt a blush creep into my cheeks. I wondered if he knew he was naked.
“Lucas,” I said. “You, ah . . . you’d better stop.”
He shook his head, catching my lips and kissing me harder.
“What’s gotten into you?” I asked, laughing slightly.
“I’m tired of being the only one naked around here,” he said with a little fake pout that made me want to nibble on his lower lip.
“You’re red,” he said, smiling devilishly. “So it’s okay for me to be naked, but not you? I just don’t think that’s fair.” His hot hand wandered to my shirt and slipped it over my head. I gasped as he began kissing my stomach.
“Lucas!” I said. “Stop it. You’re the one who said we couldn’t do that.”
He came back to my face and brushed his lips over my chin. “Well, maybe I changed my mind. Maybe after last night, I think we should try.”
He was actually serious. I sat up. “You know what? I think you did lose your mind in there.”
Lucas laughed and pushed me back down. “You kept me sane last night using the connection. So use it now. Make sure I don’t change. Come on, don’t you want to?”
I hesitated. Yes, I wanted to, but ...
“I don’t think now is the best time,” I said delicately.
“What’s wrong with now? I lived through that hell with my sanity intact—thanks to you.” He rubbed his nose against mine. “And Derek is alive, everybody’s okay. And this is the safest time. Right after the full moon. With you keeping me in control, it’ll be perfect.” He smiled roguishly and kissed me so fiercely, I had trouble resisting.
“We don’t know if Derek’s okay yet,” I said.
Lucas stopped and his face slowly settled into a scowl.
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say.
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. I put my arms around his waist. “I didn’t mean it ... like that. I don’t know. Just forget I mentioned it.” I tried to pull him toward me, but his back stiffened, preventing me from moving him even an inch. “Lucas, come on, aren’t you exhausted anyway? I mean, last night was horrible for you. For both of us.”
“You don’t gotta tell me that,” he said. “I know exactly what it was like. What I don’t know is why you have to bring Derek up whenever we’re alone together.”
I fel
t my mouth open and close as I groped for a good answer. “I’m sorry,” I said to avoid a fight. “I promise I won’t do it again, okay? I’m sorry.”
Lucas rolled off of the bed and pulled on a pair of Levis. He cocked his head at the window and said, “It’s nighttime.”
“He must not be here then,” I said softly. “Rolf would have woken us up.”
“Yup.”
Finding my shirt lodged in between the pillows, I pulled it over my head and got out of bed. I hated doing this, but ...
“Will you find him?” I asked.
Lucas’s eyebrows lifted just the tiniest bit. “Of course I’ll find him,” he said. “He’s probably hiding in the woods.”
“Or dead.”
Lucas put his hand on my cheek for an instant and then let it fall. “I’ll be back. If you go downstairs, don’t tell them where I’m going.”
“Thank you.”
Lucas looked at me with this odd, pained sort of expression that made me feel horrible for having asked him to search for Derek, and then turned to leave.
Through the window I watched Lucas run out the back doors. He stripped his jeans, put them in his mouth, and changed in midrun.
As I watched him disappear, I pondered his earlier words. Could I really keep his will to change reigned in? Control his instinct and make him normal? I’d done it last night. It had been grueling, but it had worked.
And I had Yvette to thank for tipping me off. She had seemed to know that I would be able to save Lucas. Which could only mean that she knew about my power. And if that was the case, I needed to know how she’d found out and what else she knew. Now.
I straightened and walked downstairs to the kitchen to find a few runts making ice cream sundaes.
“Hey,” I said. “Do any of you know where Yvette is?”
They regarded me coldly. A girl with dirty blond hair said, “She’s usually in the study with Rolf.” She pointed down the hall. “Third door on the right.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed an apple from the counter and headed down the hallway, hearing the runts’ whispers as I went—probably talking crap about me.
Blood Crave Page 3