Page 23 of Prey

My hand reached forward to cup his cheek and he immediately moved in to rest his forehead against mine.

“Hunter?” I closed my eyes, searching for the words. Was I supposed to ask if he meant as friends in general, or that he didn’t want to lose me because he felt there’d be something more between us? The timing felt so awkward. Almost as much so as being close to him did. My mind was screaming for me to put distance between us, but for the life of me, I couldn’t help but think that was Marko’s blood talking. Not me.

“You’re so tense against me. Stop worrying so much,” he said, pulling back to look in my face. “You always worry. For once, put some faith in me. Let me take care of you. Let me be the one who worries.”

If only it were that easy.

“For once, believe I’m capable of taking care of myself. I’ve never needed you to save me, Hunter. Not even when Jimmy Thompson pushed me down at the park when I was nine.”

“But I did, didn’t I?” he said, smiling. “I gave him quite the black eye, if I remember correctly. And then there was Steven Bishop in high school who you dated for all of four days. I beat the snot out of the asshole, too.”

My eyes rolled and I laughed. “I slapped him first, if I recall. You didn’t even know what was happening when you flew across the cafeteria.”

“Didn’t have to,” he said, picking up a strand of my hair and twisting it around his finger. His stare rose as he continued to play with it. “You were crying and that was all I needed to see. No one hurts you and gets away with it, Tessa. No one. Not even an undead bastard like Marko. Mark my words, I will kill him.”

As I stared into his eyes, I believed him. And I couldn’t stop the aching in my chest at the thought. The conflicting craziness only left me angry. If I didn’t die, I might just end up in a mental institution. My brain felt like it’d been tossed in a blender, right along with that damn beating thing in my chest that ached for its supplier.

Marko was nothing more than a dealer, serving me false emotions with ecstasy-doused injections. Poison to my heart. Addiction for my soul. And I was eating it up with all the desperation of a junkie.

My hands drew back and I clasped them in my lap as I let Hunter’s words really sink in. I couldn’t deny the panic that skidded through me at the mere thought of him killing Marko. How could I want to defend someone who wanted me dead? What a trick these killers had up their sleeves. And as evil as it was, I longed to join them. Somewhere deep down, I was beginning not only to have the need for Marko…but for them. For a life below the surface. The clear revelation had me pushing to the far side of the bed and standing. I glanced at Hunter’s confused stare and tried to give him a reassuring smile. God, who the fuck was I becoming? I wanted Marko dead…but I wanted him to love me, too.

“Can you hear him right now or something?” Hunter stood as I began pacing.

“No. He hasn’t talked to me since we left. I’m just stretching my legs real quick.”

The answer seemed to calm him and I kept my head down as I forced myself to stop and crawl back in bed. If he thought there was something wrong with me, he’d feel the need to be more on guard. Saliva filled my mouth and I swallowed past the increasing sensation. I could feel myself getting hungry, but not for food. Marko. I’d felt drawn to him before, but not like this. Never like this. And he was taking other people. It was a betrayal of the worst kind, considering the ties we held, yet it was also relief.

Chapter 11

Marko

Words were powerful things. Some could evoke the most sincere form of love while others could start the deadliest wars. What Hunter spoke was neither. His threats were equivalent to a pesky bug buzzing in my ear. Sure, they made me furious, but that’s not what made me decide to kill him. It was taking Tessa away from me that had been the last straw.

Murder wasn’t something I did often. At least, not outside of feeding. But there were times like this one that rubbed me the wrong way. Now, I was going to have to break my streak of days of distancing myself to go get her and bring her back. But, to where? Here? Her home? Fuck, I didn’t know.

I sighed, pulling the redhead’s face more to the side. The screams were muffled under my palm, but I didn’t pay attention as I listened to Tessa and Hunter talk.

“Tessa, you need to try to eat. You haven’t eaten all day.”

“I’m not hungry.” She yawned, moving her thoughts internally. I feel like I have enough of his blood in me to last at least a week without eating, Hunter. I feel stronger after I taste Marko. The need for food doesn’t exist. Only….him. She sighed out loud. God, I hate him. Love him…

My eyebrows drew together and I glanced down at the pale neck before me. Why did I care that she was falling for me? I shouldn’t have. All the women loved me after my bite. Although, they never hated me. But they’d never had my blood. I couldn’t let myself get caught up in this. It was my own fault and now I had to pretend that what we shared wasn’t real.

I projected the scene around me into Tessa’s thoughts, hearing her catch her breath at what she saw. I didn’t contemplate right or wrong, or pay attention to the sickening of my stomach. My fangs elongated and I dove down, biting and drawing against the woman’s vein hard. Sweetness with just the smallest amount of tart had my claws coming out and I let the tips push into the woman’s cheek, breaking the skin. A strangled cry came from Tessa and I eased my hands from the woman’s lips, letting the cries of agony shine through. “Please. Oh…God! Please. I don’t want to die!” I wanted Tessa to see what was coming. Wanted her to experience just a small taste of what I’d put her through when the time came.

Sobs grew heavier and fists were weakening as they slammed into my arms. I looked at the cement before me, not seeing it. I never saw anything in these moments. Where I usually closed myself off to feel my prey, I instead went back to Tessa. She was crying hysterically and I could hear Hunter buzzing around, calling out to her. But she didn’t speak. Didn’t think past the shock. I knew she was waiting to see what I was going to show her next. And I would. Fucking Tessa. She pissed me off to no end. Playing the willing captive as Hunter led her nearly twenty miles away. The distance caused me to bite down harder. God, I was going to make that bastard pay.

Beating weakened against my lips and I blinked, only just realizing the girl was almost unconscious in my arms. My claws ripped down past her jawline, making her body jolt. I could hear my thoughts turn to full-fledged yelling at my anger. Humans aren’t fucking concubine material. They’re not. They’re nothing! Only food.

Whether the woman fainted or passed out was beyond me and I didn’t care. I took one last draw and waited. One set of beats. Two. I let Tessa feel the last seconds of her life and oddly, in the moment, me and mon chaton almost felt like one again. My eyes closed as I fought the guilt over what I was doing. Over what I’d done. It was Tessa’s guilt for me. Not mine. I didn’t regret anything.

I licked over the wounds, willing them to disappear, and let her dead body drop to the ground. I cut off my thoughts, bringing my wall so fucking far up, Tessa would never get past it. One of the collectors quickly ran over and grabbed the redhead, pulling her by the legs and disappearing back into the dark tunnel. I hadn’t had my meals brought to me in years, but knowing Tessa wasn’t home had me not caring. I wasn’t up for hunting tonight. I didn’t even have to feed, but if it diluted her even more from my system, I’d do it. Even though it fucking killed me.

My strides were fast as I entered the heart of our underground city. The members of le Cercle glanced over to me from the small separate table meant just for us. I knew they felt my rage. It had to have been following my presence like a fucking black, deathly fog. My stare connected with Julius, the leader, and raspy words forced their way into my mind.

Sit. We feed. And then we plan.

I stayed perfectly composed as I continued to the stairs. I’ve already fed. Inform me of when we meet. I need out.

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