Crave by Teresa Mummert

no now that I knew my brother was still out there? What if Elijah was lying to keep me from struggling?
    “What are we going to do?”
    He gently ran his fingers along my jawline. “I will think of something,” he replied and kissed me softly on the lips. Being with Elijah was the safest place I could be and if they had my brother, I had to go. Grayson would never forgive me for abandoning him at his apartment, but if I lived through all of this, I hoped he would give me the opportunity to explain.
    “Where is your mind right now?” he asked curiously.
    “If you are lying to me,” my voice wavered. “If you’re lying about Marcus… killing me would be less cruel.”
    “I’m not lying to you, Eva. But you have to understand. He’s not the brother you used to know. Prepare to have your heart broken.”
    “Oh, don’t worry. I’m used to that,” I snapped.
    “I wasn’t using you. If I’d have told you what I was, you would have run from me.”
    “Don’t you think that was my decision to make?” But even as I said the words, I knew that being able to see Marcus again made every bit of pain worth it.
    “Vampires are selfish creatures.”
    “So are humans,” I mumbled as his lips curved up into a smile, making me momentarily wonder if he really was that bad.
    “I was one of those once, too.”
    “I find that hard to believe.”
    He laughed quietly as his eyes searched my face.
    “Even when I do this?” His lips met mine with a gentleness I didn’t know he was capable of. Even in all of the turmoil and chaos, my heart still drummed a little harder with his touch. He broke away from our kiss and as my eyes opened, he was smiling sweetly. “See, you believe it. I can hear it.” He placed his fingers on my chest, over my heart, and I gasped. “I’m going to need you on my side when I take you there. Going rogue will get you killed.”
    I swallowed hard, hating him for what he was, even if he couldn’t help it. Hating myself because I knew that was not the only thing I felt toward Elijah. “I’m right here with you,” I said and pulled his lips back against mine. He ran his tongue over my lower lip and I let my lips part, inviting him to kiss me deeper.
    If I was going to die tonight, I was going to enjoy what little time I had left. Elijah’s hands cradled my face as he kissed me tenderly as I let myself once again get lost in his lies.
     
     

Chapter twelve
Helpless
    We trekked up Green Valley Road as night began to take over. Elijah gripped my hand tightly, not speaking a word. I was terrified, but I couldn’t help but be excited to see my brother. He was my best friend, and for years now I thought he was lost forever. Elijah glanced down at me and smiled. I knew he could feel the change in the way my blood was pumping through my wrist, steadily drumming against my thin skin.
    “Your brother will not be who you remember,” he reminded me, glancing at me for a brief moment then he looked back out at the road ahead. I nodded my head trying to understand exactly what he meant. I couldn’t imagine Marcus being anything other than the troublemaker he’d always been.
    “It’s only been a few years,” I explained, trying more to convince myself than Elijah. He stopped walking and turned to place his hands on my shoulders.
    “It’s not the time that changed him, Eva,” He muttered. I nodded my head in understanding, but I refused to believe it. He was my brother, my best friend. “Killing someone will change anyone. Your brother has been doing that for several years. You can’t trust vampires.”
    “And you? You still seem to have some redeeming qualities left, even if you try to hide them,” I replied with a nervous grin, fighting to hold back more tears. He smiled and tucked my hair behind my ear.
    “I don’t, Eva.” His eyes grew vacant and distant. He turned back toward the road, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. The rain was cold against my face.
    “What is he like?” I