Page 32 of Prey

Although I spoke French to Tessa, I kept my eyes locked to Hunter’s.

“Mon chaton, I have to leave you for a while. I’m afraid when you hear from me again it won’t be good. I’ll want to kill you again. And I may just succeed. Do what you have to do to protect yourself.” My head lowered, breaking eye contact and I kissed her forehead. I knew I still had a few seconds before the daze wore off on Hunter.

“I’m afraid you may have won the love part of our game. I think mine for you may far exceed yours for me.”

Maybe it was just the blood talking, but I did feel as though I loved her. If the obsession had driven me to it or somehow manipulated my way of thinking, I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t care. I was a torn man—half killer, half lost soul. Humanity was apparently within me somewhere, but it wouldn’t win any more than she or any other human would against our kind. And maybe Tessa was right. Maybe it would be the end of us all.

Hunter stepped back, shock on his face as he stared at me. I frowned, turning and walking back toward her house. I’d have to pass it to get to the entrance of the tunnels.

“Marko?”

The call had my head spinning and my heart racing. The whites of Tessa’s eyes were still red in places from the blood vessels that had burst when I choked her. They hadn’t healed yet and the sight made my stomach twist sickeningly. Fuck, I’d destroyed her. What the hell was I that I could do something so hurtful to someone that obviously meant a great deal to me?

“You’re wrong,” she said in French.

I took a step back, my head shaking. I didn’t want to hear her say she loved me. Not after what I’d done. She should hate me. Fear me. I knew she was incapable. That we both were trapped in the whirlwind of the bond trying to force itself on us.

“Prepare yourself for my return. You’re going to need to.”

I turned, pushing my legs to run as fast they could. If I heard another word, another declaration of her fake love, I’d slice my wrist open and force my blood into her mouth whether she wanted it or not. Which, I knew in my heart, she didn’t.

That was suddenly becoming the biggest burden I harbored.

The grate bent at my grip and I pulled it free, forcing myself inside. As I put it back in place and jumped down, I came face to face with Julius. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to. I was in deep shit and I knew it. I’d attacked a woman and manipulated two cops to try to cover my ass, but that was beside the point. We were at a critical point in our coming out and instead of playing it safe, I, a member of le Cercle, would be once again in the mouths of my community. Word traveled fast and I knew it wouldn’t take long to make the rounds. We had slaves who worked in the police force. Surely, they’d heard the report of a vampire being involved in crime.

“Come.”

The one word had me nodding. Darkness closed in around us as we headed through the tunnels and he didn’t stop until we broke to the right and then right again, taking us even further away from the heart of the underground city. Doors appeared and we headed to the one at the back. It was his. I could feel his energy pouring from the walls as if his mere presence left the powerful impression that would forever exist.

Light filtered from the room as he pushed the door open. I walked inside, not sure what to expect. Would he kill me? He easily could. It would solve all his problems…and mine. Somehow, the thought wasn’t altogether unpleasant. At this point, I was willing to take any relief I could get.

His eyes scanned the holes in my shirt, but he already knew what happened. Had probably seen it in his mind the moment our stares had connected at the entrance.

“You wanted to see me?” His question left my lips separating. Of course he’d know. It wasn’t even important I tell him. My intentions, my thoughts, my plans were his to sort through at any given moment.

“Yes. I need to be on lockdown for a while. I…” I cleared my throat, still tasting Tessa. The craving hit hard, already returning even though I’d just gotten more than enough of her blood. “I’m not well.”

He nodded. “So I see.” A large desk sat in the far corner and he pulled out the chair, sitting down. “You face quite the decision ahead of you. Do you really think being restrained is going to stop the inevitable?”

“No.”

“Then why spare her any more time?”

The aching was back in my chest, taking me over. Wrong and right collided, combining into one until I didn’t know the difference between them. Why was it such a complicated decision?

“Something is wrong with me.” The words sounded foreign as I faced my leader. Weakness wasn’t permitted and I knew I was risking my chair by even speaking the words. Would he throw me out? Make me an outcast to all of those who lived in our world?

Julius held out a pack of cigarettes and I walked forward, grabbing one. As I lit it, I inhaled deeply. He put the pack back down and continued to stare. He wasn’t smoking, but he must have known I needed one.

“Your troubles will pass. But only when you do something about your problem. Until then, you will suffer, and I will not help you.”

I gave a quick nod, facing the fact that Tessa would only have the time I was physically able to give her. Then…she’d die. It’s what she had wanted when faced with the choice tonight. And I’d taken it into consideration. Given her what she wanted, despite what I truly did. She didn’t want this life and I wasn’t going to force it on her, no matter how much I now wanted to keep her. It wasn’t guaranteed that I’d even still feel the same way for her when the bond went through. The attraction might disappear completely on my part and she’d be stuck loving a man who felt nothing. She didn’t deserve that. She didn’t deserve death either.

“Thank you for your time.” I bowed, turning and heading to the door.

“Marko.” I stopped and turned to face him.

Light eyes narrowed as he stared at me. What he saw, I was afraid to know.

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