Page 40 of Tears of Revenge

“If that’s the case, why are you here?”

“I didn’t want to die, but I also knew I couldn’t tame the beast within me by myself. The more we let our lycans take control, the more we lose what humans have taught us. The more control we hand over with each full moon, the more the creatures taint our minds. My clan had been able to capture Varos and Marcus. They weakened them with silver and drained their bodies of blood until they were nothing more than corpses that simply wouldn’t decay. I saw my brothers and sisters murder each other. Mates turned on the ones they vowed to protect, and I knew I couldn’t let my beast do the same to me. I fed Marcus and Varos just enough to wake them. Then I promised them freedom in exchange for their strength and willpower to save what little humanity I had left.”

“I don’t—”

Lysander silenced her with a shake of his head. “Every full moon they drain me of all my blood, so I don’t have to watch my lycan leave a trail of bodies behind.”

Still unsure of what he was trying to say, she opened her mouth to continue her questions, but he was already standing.

“You should drink that. I’ve heard it doesn’t taste well once it goes cold.”

She stared after him, trying to picture him being so dangerous that he left a trail of bodies behind him. Only when her eyes fell back on the glass in her hands did she realise she was capable of the same. She could kill without warning and the scratching feeling in her throat only solidified the thought. She’d bit his throat without batting an eye and still, the thirst remained. All it had taken was one drop of blood, from a tiny scratch on his skin.

She closed her eyes, trying to erase the images of bathing in his blood. She hadn’t cared for him—or anything for that matter—once she’d sunk her teeth into his skin.

No not teeth—she thought to herself—fangs.

Fifteen

Marcus

He’d listened closely to Lysander as he’d revealed himself to Avalon. But now that the house was completely silent, he worried. Gently, he knocked on her bedroom door. “Avalon?”

No answer, and no sign of movement.

“If you don’t want me to come in, you have to tell me now.”

Nothing.

Slowly, he turned the knob and pushed the door open—and his heart sank to the pit of his stomach. She sat on the edge of the bed, likely where Lysander had left her. Her cheeks were smeared with blood, her blouse drenched—she was crying.

“Oh Avalon.” He rushed to her, sinking to his knees and cupping her face in his hands. “What is it, little dove?”

Avalon shook her head, smearing her tears into his palms.

“Did Lysander upset you? Because he won’t hurt you. Not now and not during a full moon.”

She shook her head again, this time trying to wrench out of his grip.

“Please talk to me.”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

“I know and we are here to help you figure yourself out.”

Avalon shot him a look so cold that he shivered. He knew he couldn’t fail her. No matter what, he had to keep her safe from herself.

Varos sat on the other side of her, handing her a damp towel—black of course. “We know you are scared, but we are here. We know how you feel, and we would give our lives to protect you from yourself. We will stick by your side until you’re ready to be on your own.”

“What if I never am?”

Avalon’s untouched glass shook in her hands, and Varos reached over to take it before it spilled. “We will be by your side for eternity if that is what you need. While I did act without thought, I will do anything in my power to keep my promise.”

“We know this is not what you intended for yourself,” he interjected. “But we will do anything to make it as close to what you wanted.”

Avalon looked down, wrinkling her nose at the sight of herself. “I’m sorry.”

“One of the downsides of our kind,” he chuckled. “There is no need to apologise.”

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