horror.
The vampire within hissed in satisfaction.
“No!” He roared. “If you don’t leave, I’ll take you away myself.” He heard the crack inside his head as his skull fractured. A warm, wet gush filled his ears and pushed the dripping liquid from his nose to a steady stream.
“You can’t, Michael,” Becca cried, tears falling steadily down her cheeks. “He’s killing you. He’ll never let you go against him.”
“He can’t have you!” His chest felt as though it was going to collapse. A vague recollection from his childhood came to him, of being a young boy learning to swim, going under and being unable to breathe. He’d forgotten; his human memories, long pushed away, had not come to him in years. A sad smile twisted his lips. The old ache from severed family ties tweaked his crushed chest. Aside from Becca and his service, there was nothing left for him here. There would always be someone else to carry on under Black. But only one Becca. Saving her from Admiral Black’s clutches nearly balanced the scales, it almost made up for all the wrong he’d done; the destruction he’d wrought both as a human and monster.
Seeing she wasn’t moving, Michael reached for her hand and started to stand.
“What are you doing?” She tugged back but he wouldn’t let her go. She reluctantly came to her feet, catching her balance with a hand against his chest.
“We’re leaving.” He turned his head, scanning the club for Ryan. If anyone could stop him, it was the wolf. He had to move fast before Black called him. His vision blurred. No matter. He didn’t have to worry about healing from a concussion if he was dead.
Lead filled his limbs and the crushing pressure nearly crippled him. Michael worried he wouldn’t be able to drive. Could he get her in a cab before it was too late? Clamped onto her arm he rushed from the club, dragging her with him. Peripherally he registered her objections. A few well-intentioned humans misread the drama and attempted to intervene. He held up a hand, casting them aside as he cut through them. They cleared the doors and the sudden absence of noise hurt his ears.
“Mike.”
Michael pushed on, knowing if he stopped he would never get her clear.
“Mike.” He was closer.
“Michael, please,” Becca pleaded and tried, to no avail, to plant her feet against him.
They reached the car and he fumbled in his pocket for the keys. Clumsy fingers dropped them on pavement and a wave of dizziness washed over him. “Godamnit, no,” he hissed through clenched teeth. Anger sent his fangs out and the vampire was more than willing to come forth as he fought to keep his human love safe. Safe from a life beyond her control. From the death that threatened should she fail in Black’s impossible task. The vampire was not on his side. It didn’t care about tomorrow or Becca’s safety, only its own selfish demands right here. Right now.
“Becca, step aside.”
Michael felt overwarm hands pry his weakening one open and Becca slipped free.
“Mike, Black called.” Ryan’s concerned voice was just behind him. “He said you’re thinking of going AWOL.”
“Go back inside,” Michael spat, bloody spittle hitting the side of the car.
“What the fuck?” Ryan put his hand on Michael’s shoulder.
“Stop him, Ryan.” Becca was sobbing. “It’s killing him.”
Vampire and human finally joined forces, united in their need to keep the all-consuming, cursed bond secret, and Michael whirled on them both. Ryan’s hand dropped immediately. “Go back inside, Hallbeck. Becca, get in the car.”
“Jesus, Mike, what the fuck’s going on. Talk to me.”
Becca reached for him and Ryan got between them. “Steer clear of him when he’s like this, Becca. He’s not thinking straight.”
Seeing the wolf touching his woman, getting between him and what he wanted, Michael snarled. “Get the hell
The vampire within hissed in satisfaction.
“No!” He roared. “If you don’t leave, I’ll take you away myself.” He heard the crack inside his head as his skull fractured. A warm, wet gush filled his ears and pushed the dripping liquid from his nose to a steady stream.
“You can’t, Michael,” Becca cried, tears falling steadily down her cheeks. “He’s killing you. He’ll never let you go against him.”
“He can’t have you!” His chest felt as though it was going to collapse. A vague recollection from his childhood came to him, of being a young boy learning to swim, going under and being unable to breathe. He’d forgotten; his human memories, long pushed away, had not come to him in years. A sad smile twisted his lips. The old ache from severed family ties tweaked his crushed chest. Aside from Becca and his service, there was nothing left for him here. There would always be someone else to carry on under Black. But only one Becca. Saving her from Admiral Black’s clutches nearly balanced the scales, it almost made up for all the wrong he’d done; the destruction he’d wrought both as a human and monster.
Seeing she wasn’t moving, Michael reached for her hand and started to stand.
“What are you doing?” She tugged back but he wouldn’t let her go. She reluctantly came to her feet, catching her balance with a hand against his chest.
“We’re leaving.” He turned his head, scanning the club for Ryan. If anyone could stop him, it was the wolf. He had to move fast before Black called him. His vision blurred. No matter. He didn’t have to worry about healing from a concussion if he was dead.
Lead filled his limbs and the crushing pressure nearly crippled him. Michael worried he wouldn’t be able to drive. Could he get her in a cab before it was too late? Clamped onto her arm he rushed from the club, dragging her with him. Peripherally he registered her objections. A few well-intentioned humans misread the drama and attempted to intervene. He held up a hand, casting them aside as he cut through them. They cleared the doors and the sudden absence of noise hurt his ears.
“Mike.”
Michael pushed on, knowing if he stopped he would never get her clear.
“Mike.” He was closer.
“Michael, please,” Becca pleaded and tried, to no avail, to plant her feet against him.
They reached the car and he fumbled in his pocket for the keys. Clumsy fingers dropped them on pavement and a wave of dizziness washed over him. “Godamnit, no,” he hissed through clenched teeth. Anger sent his fangs out and the vampire was more than willing to come forth as he fought to keep his human love safe. Safe from a life beyond her control. From the death that threatened should she fail in Black’s impossible task. The vampire was not on his side. It didn’t care about tomorrow or Becca’s safety, only its own selfish demands right here. Right now.
“Becca, step aside.”
Michael felt overwarm hands pry his weakening one open and Becca slipped free.
“Mike, Black called.” Ryan’s concerned voice was just behind him. “He said you’re thinking of going AWOL.”
“Go back inside,” Michael spat, bloody spittle hitting the side of the car.
“What the fuck?” Ryan put his hand on Michael’s shoulder.
“Stop him, Ryan.” Becca was sobbing. “It’s killing him.”
Vampire and human finally joined forces, united in their need to keep the all-consuming, cursed bond secret, and Michael whirled on them both. Ryan’s hand dropped immediately. “Go back inside, Hallbeck. Becca, get in the car.”
“Jesus, Mike, what the fuck’s going on. Talk to me.”
Becca reached for him and Ryan got between them. “Steer clear of him when he’s like this, Becca. He’s not thinking straight.”
Seeing the wolf touching his woman, getting between him and what he wanted, Michael snarled. “Get the hell
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