Page 54 of Prey

My growl couldn’t be held in as I threw people out of my way to get to where Julius held up Tessa’s bloody body. The vampire within wanted her for himself, but the male who harbored such a close bond felt the need to protect what belonged to him. Just like I’d done concerning Marie. Sure, I had wanted Tessa, and had almost lost control, but in feeling Marie’s threat as she rushed toward us, there was no comparison. I had to protect mon chaton.

The back of my fist caught one of the snapping vampires in the face and I threw another out of the way, managing to get to the front of the line in a sea of hungry predators. Julius’ eyes narrowed as they landed on me and I panted at the sweet aroma of my prey’s blood. Her red, torn dress was saturated in the dark substance. Even in my bloodlust, I felt my stomach twist in heartbreak. I’d done this to her.

“I want to go home,” she said, weakly, trying to break Julius’ hold. “Please.”

“You won’t make it out of here with the amount you’re bleeding.” He kept his eyes on mine as he lifted her forearm with the deep scissor laceration. A strangled cry left her mouth as he ran his tongue over the deep cut, making her shudder. The warning I shot him couldn’t be hidden as my head lowered and my eyes cut up. My breaths became heavier while I focused in on him. I was ready to die if he went further, and I surely would if I attacked like I wanted to.

“I’ve seen many things in the last few weeks concerning this woman. Before you even met her, Marko. My curiosity is piqued as to why. It intrigues me even more that her blood tells me nothing.” His hand tightened roughly on the back of her neck and he lifted her a few inches from the ground, tearing a piece of her dress away that hung loosely at her side. Again, his tongue closed one of the wounds, this time, on her side. I couldn’t help the steps I took forward.

“Let me have her.” My hands reached forward and Tessa screamed as his grip loosened but caught in her hair, letting her toes barely touch the floor as he held her captive. The black French words on her neck had my eyes going wide and I felt myself gasp as I read them.

Love you to death.

Time stopped as I stayed frozen by the power of her statement. Death on her part or mine? Did it even matter? God, she’d marred her skin to prove a point to me. To express her emotions and view on the two of us. And here she was…

“Julius!” My body shook as power coursed through me. My eyes went from Tessa to my leader. I wasn’t sure why this was happening. Why I was defending a human to the one man who I shouldn’t have challenged. I should be walking away and letting him have her, whatever that meant. Still, I held my hands outward, taking in the words I’d be forced to see next time I wanted to feed. Every time I wanted to feed.

Cries came from Tessa’s mouth as she struggled against his hold, clawing at his arms until he gave her a good shake. Slowly, he lowered her to the ground, turning her to face him. Tears streamed down her face and her fear was my own.

“You will attempt to kill Marko Delacroix tomorrow night. You will succeed and he will be no more. When that happens, you will come back and meet with me. After I do what is necessary, you will take his spot at my table.”

“What!” He was going to change her? And give her my chair? I surged forward, feeling myself come against an invisible wall.

“Go home, Tessalyn Antoinette. I’ll see you tomorrow after sunset.”

Tessa took one last look at me. A sob escaped and she held her heart as she walked backward toward the tunnel. Even after all of that, she still didn’t seem to want to leave. Her hair flared out as she spun and raced into the darkness. My legs felt like they were going to give out. Love you to death. Over and over, the quote repeated in my head. It was the perfect phrase and went both ways. I’d love her to death, too.

Minutes went by while Julius stared at me. What did he see? Her making it home? The future? My death?

A ripple of energy blasted through the room as he let the wall drop and I edged around him, ready to go after Tessa. Her blood still scented the surroundings and I was more torn than ever. If I waited until tomorrow night, I’d be dead for sure. But if I took care of our problem now, or even waited until the day after, perhaps the future would change. It was known to do that.

“You will not be leaving,” Julius said, sternly. His hand waved and two of the higher members of le Cercle came forward. “Put him in lockdown. He’s not to be fed the entire time. I’ll release him at sunset tomorrow.”

My mouth opened and he stepped forward, pushing his hand against my stomach. “You didn’t feed when Tessa was here, either. Good.”

I pulled hard at both sets of hands that held me. I knew I could have used my powers, but it was pointless. He wanted me to ravage her. To truly have me tear her apart by the time I got into her home. Yet, he knew I’d lose...maybe part of him hoped I wouldn’t? Or maybe he just wanted the challenge to be real. I wasn’t sure of his motives. Nothing about his prediction made sense. Tessa couldn’t kill me. The odds were against her and if she had some sort of plan, I’d have caught something. Wouldn’t I?

Julius bent down, picking up the shredded part of the dress he had thrown down. It was completely soaked in her blood.

“Put this in there with him.”

The cloth was grabbed and I shrugged even harder, breaking their hold. “I can walk on my own. I won’t fight you.”

Nothing. No skepticism, no reaction whatsoever to my words. They kept quiet as I began heading to the far tunnel that led to the cells where the most unstable vampires were kept. I rounded the corner, feeling the members close behind. Tessa’s essence taunted me. Made me want to rear around and shred the two vampires behind me to pieces to get back to her. I couldn’t. I’d be doing enough damage tomorrow and it wouldn’t even truly be my fault. Julius was determined to have me at my worst and for the first time, I feared for mon chaton. Even knowing she was fated to kill me, I suddenly didn’t want to hurt her. Not deep down. My instincts wanted me to, but the man who was being brought out little by little ached at the thought.

Bars stood ahead in the distance and I pulled at the collar of my shirt, noticing that not only was the cloth going to trigger me, but I wore her blood. The front of my shirt was completely soaked in it. Fuck, I had to get it off the moment I was in there. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to be trapped with her blood calling to me. How was she even doing? Julius had closed her deepest wounds and I knew my blood would help her heal faster, but mentally, how was she?

I watched the door open on its own, knowing one of the members behind me had unlocked and opened it with their mind. My legs were heavy as I walked through, spotting a row of small cells leading down into the distance. Thick bars sealed off each space and even with as powerful as I was, I wouldn’t be able to escape.

One of the doors opened in the front and I stared at the empty cell. Less than twenty-four hours and I’d be free again. I could do this.

My hands shook as I watched the bloody piece of dress get thrown in. Just the slight breeze of it passing sent my fangs pushing into my lip. I stepped through the threshold and squeezed my eyes shut as it slammed behind me. The ripple that tingled down my back brought out a groan. The invisible shield was in place and it would hold the scent in.

I walked forward, tearing my shirt off and tossing it down to the floor. Red stained my chest and I rubbed my hands over it, feeling my pulse increase as I did so. God dammit, I was fucked. She was fucked. I didn’t care what Julius or Marie saw, I would not die tomorrow. I knew this like I was certain Tessa would.

Slowly, I headed toward the cement wall, pushing my palms against the cold surface as I let her take me over. I opened myself to mon chaton completely, even though I knew I shouldn’t. I had to feel her heartbeat. Her pain.

And it was intense.

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