Page 51 of Deadly Cravings

I lifted my fingers over his and pressed to spray it. I sucked in a breath and the tension loosened at my chest. Thank goodness. His hand moved to my shoulder and I groaned from the agony.

“What is it?” he murmured.

“My shoulder,” I gasped.

“She still likes to dislocate the bones, then.” He sighed and rested his palm against the top of my shoulder and his other went to my arm, in the same place Calliope had gripped me.

I gripped his wrist, eyes widening on his.

“I know what I’m doing.”

I nodded, not really having an option but to let him do his thing.

“Inhale on three. One—” He yanked up and a loud pop echoed.

“You said three,” I wheezed. His lips twitched.

I gingerly moved it in a circle, and other than some soreness, it no longer hurt.

“Oh, wow,” I breathed. “Thank you.” A weird expression crossed his face, but as with other interactions with him that weren’t anger, I didn’t know how to read him. He only grunted in response.

Asher shouldered Jax, jostling me as he snatched me to his chest, the blood splattered all over him smearing on me.

“Tobias, release him,” Jax shouted, and I lifted my gaze to find Tobias squeezing the limp vampire’s neck. The vampire’s face was a bloody mess, but the cuts on his cheek were healing, problem was he was passed out. “Fuck. Killing one of Calliope’s children on her territory is a fight we don’t need.”

Asher didn’t respond to Jax’s concern and continued petting my hair as he pressed me to his chest. As much as I hated admitting it, I trusted Asher—a vampire.

I exhaled shakily as Jax moved to grab Tobias, but he whirled on him, flashing his fangs.

“Now you choose to lose all sense? For a human?” Jax’s mocking words washed over me.

Tobias’s eyes narrowed and red flashed in their depths.

“Catalina, call him over to you,” Asher whispered in my ear.

“Tobias?” I croaked hesitantly.

His head snapped in my direction and he shook his head with his eyes squeezed shut. Straightening, he stiffly walked over to me.

“I’ll take her home.” His words rasped out crisply.

“Jax and I have to find Calliope to see what she wants. She admitted to having Ren.” Asher flexed his grip before finally releasing me.

Tobias just swept me into his arms. He shook his head, sending the waves of his mussed brown hair out of his eyes.

“Relax, Catalina.” Tobias’s voice was low and he hugged me to his chest. I tried doing as he said, but it was difficult. They finally had confirmation about Ren, and that was the entire point of me being there. Now that they knew, I was no longer necessary.

I licked my lips and squeezed my eyes shut as I swayed in his arms.

TWENTY

tobias

She slept soundly,her pert nose twitching with her inhale. Her nose wiggling in such a manner made me want to curl her even closer. She hadn’t roused which proved too much blood had been stolen from her. I climbed up the staircase to the second floor, attempting to keep her as still as possible to not disturb her. Though I doubted she would wake even if I tossed her about.

Instead of turning right on the landing, I took a sharp turn left toward my bedroom through the first door. She had been in Asher’s room before, but I wanted to bring her to mine. For her scent to envelope my bed. I set her on the edge of the bed and the wool coat I’d wrapped her in wilted to the side, exposing her bare skin. The ripped dress still clung to her in tatters. It must not be comfortable hanging off her like this.

With a quick tug of the material, the rest of it ripped and I pulled the fabric away from her.

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