Page 35 of The Kill

“Weston will have warned him you’re a vampire, I presume. He’ll know how to kill you.”

Again, I don’t argue because I can’t. I fully expect him to have done his research.

“I hope your confidence isn’t misguided, Tyson. Because if you’re wrong, you’ll be serving me and my son up on a platter.”

With a sad shake of her head, she moves toward the door. When I get to my feet and take a step in her direction, she holds her hands up to keep me back.

“Please just leave me alone.”

It’s torture. I can feel her blood coursing through my veins. We’re so connected, her pain is my pain, and I just want to try and make things better. But I can’t until she lets me; so, for now, I have to settle for being near to her and yet so far away.

22

MANDY

Slipping into the massive library, with shelf after ornate shelf of beautifully bound books, I sigh.

Tyson may have his reasons, but giving away my presence feels like the ultimate betrayal. My head is spinning. I’ve gone from almost begging him to take me and claim me as his on the dining table, to wondering how we can ever come back from this. If we all survive.

Which seems doubtful.

Groaning in frustration, I pull out a few more modern titles and move to a huge, plush chaise lounge facing the picture window, looking out at the dark forest beyond. I sink further into the cushions, drag a blanket over my legs, and close my eyes.

Tyson’s meeting Lee’s father tomorrow night. It will either all be over, or Noah and I will be on the run again. And if we’re on the run, Tyson will more than likely be dead.

Maybe we need to go further this time. Asia. Australia. Somewhere he’ll never find us. But even as I think the words, and attempt to plan our escape, I laugh darkly to myself. Lee’s dad will find us eventually. There isn’t a hole deep enough or dark enough for us to hide in forever.

The hardwood floor creaks outside the door, and I sigh, too tired to fight with him again. “Tyson, I asked you to leave me alone.”

Nothing. Is he just going to stand there all night?

“Tyson, I said…” I’m about to ask him to go when the door opens and Tyson’s tantalising scent doesn’t hit my nose. I jump when a wet nose nuzzles my open hand, poking against my palm. Flinging my eyes open, I sit up, sending books crashing to the flooring.

“Seth! You scared the life out of me!” I hiss quietly, not wanting to cause a commotion that would attract Tyson’s attention.

In wolf form, Seth plonks down on his haunches beside me, and tilts his head.

“What? I’m not hiding. Or sulking.” I blink rapidly, surprised by his intense scrutiny.

Seeming to make a decision, he leaps onto the seat beside me, specifically made for just one, and curls up, settling on top of my feet. He’s big for his age, but feeling like he’s just as worried about Tyson as I am, I push my fingers through his thick coat, and he rumbles in content.

“You’re not a bad wolf. But you are heavy.”

Still, he doesn’t budge, just perks up his ears and tilts his head to the side, watching me intently. I suppose if he’s been living with only Tyson as his role model, he might not have a solid understanding of how to behave like a normal person. So, returning to my book, I wait to see what he does. He must have had a reason to seek me out.

“Thank you for giving him blood. He wouldn’t be able to fight without it.”

Seth’s voice startles me and I curse, looking up to see a young, lanky boy, sitting with legs folded where his wolf was just a moment ago. Yanking off my blanket, I toss it at him and close my eyes while he wraps it around his waist. As heat crawls up my chest and neck, a blush spreads across my cheeks, and I hope Seth thinks it’s from the fire burning in the hearth and not the heat in my belly.

“That’s not the only reason I did it, but I’m glad he’s looking a bit better.” And boy does he. “If you’re worried about him, you should tell him. He’d want to know.”

Tyson seems to have adopted these two boys, perhaps seeing two young men like himself without anywhere to go. I’m tempted to ask Seth how he ended up here, but I don’t want to pry. He can tell me in his own time.

“Then he’ll make me stay here.”

While I’m furious with Tyson for setting this plan in motion without including me and without a more elaborate strategy, I don’t want him to die. Not at anyone else’s hands, at least. And I definitely don’t want these boys to be left on their own. Or to be hurt in the fight.

“As well he should. You’re a strong wolf, but the man Tyson’s meeting is dangerous, and he won’t be alone.”

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