I glanced around. “Will Decker risk coming back for us?” I knew the answer. Decker would take Lucas, Raquel, and Hamilton to a small dock on the north side of town. Far away from Lorenzo. Even if Decker attempted to return, it would take more time than we had. Once the guests were ferried off the island, Lorenzo would have security check every inch of the island.
“It would be best if we found another way.”
I snorted. “Right. You can’t fight. You can’t even walk.”
He struggled as he tried to sit up.
“Stay where you are.” Why do men never listen?
“I’m not going anywhere.” His fangs punched out, and he sliced a cut in his thumb.
“What are you doing?” I almost shrieked it. He couldn’t afford to lose any more blood.
“You need the blood. It will heal your hand.”
Now that he mentioned it, the pain that my endorphins had been masking came back with blazing fanfare. But I had a better idea.
“You first.”
“What?”
I pulled my hair back and bent my head to the side. “You need blood more than I do.”
He stared at my neck, then glanced away. “You need to fix that hand.”
“You think my blood is tainted somehow.”
“No.” He spoke a little too fast.
“You think you’ll end up in a fugue state again. But I think that had to do with the beast, and you drank a lot of my blood. You only need a few sips to heal this time.”
“After you.” His eyes drooped.
“No. Dammit. Stop being so obstinate. Isn’t it better to risk a temporary fugue rather than die?”
He didn’t say anything, and I shook him, thinking he might have passed out, but he growled. Then his fangs dropped again. I leaned in, bringing my neck down to him. There was a slight hesitation then he pulled me to him. The first pierce of fang was a quick, cold tingle then immediate warmth. A pleasant warmth, and he hugged me closer. Then it was over. Way too soon in my opinion.
He wiped his mouth clean then pierced his thumb again. He held it out to me.
I licked his thumb. My eyes widened. That was heavenly, and a flashback hit me of when I’d fallen from the window and Devon gave me blood to heal. I didn’t think I would remember the taste of his blood. But I did. And I sucked on his thumb until he took it away. I moaned, not sure if it was from pleasure or pain, but then the healing properties of his blood went to work.
I’d been close to death when Devon shared several drops of blood with me after the fall through the window. And now, as the new pain of quickly mending bones made me want to screech, I was grateful I hadn’t been conscious to feel the healing of multiple bones and ligaments the first time.
I must have blacked out. A voice was calling from someplace far away.
“Cressa, luv. Wake up.”
Someone shook my shoulder, and I swung an arm to push them away but there was only air.
“Pandora, get a shake on. This is no time for a nap.”
The use of my street name shook me awake, and I sat up, my elbow hitting a soft spot, and I heard a grunt.
“Devon?”
“You’ve lost your marbles. It’s me. Now, let’s get out of here before more of these vamps show up.”
My mind cleared instantly, and I swung around. I must have elbowed Devon in the gut. He was sitting up, shaking his head, and then he pulled the blood-stained bodysuit away from his skin.