The Frenzy Series (Book 2): Frantic by Casey L. Bond Page A

strange, abrupt, and harsh.
    “We have a treaty with the humans in Blackwater. We don’t feed whenever or on whomever we would like,” Roman explained.
    “You barter with them for their blood?” Julian asked incredulously. “Why not just take it?” He didn’t understand that the treaty was good for both parties. The humans wouldn’t have to live in fear, and the night-walkers were guaranteed a meal in exchange for being the watchdogs of the forest. What was so wrong with that? However, Julian acted as if the entire scenario was absurd.
    “We want to live peacefully,” Roman said forcefully. He was angry. He smelled of it; all musk and blood and red.
    “That doesn’t mean you don’t feed when you need to! That’s ridiculous. We are superior to the humans.”
    Julian sniffed the air. I could hear his nose move now that I was closer. Why couldn’t I hear it from behind my door?
    “You have another.”
    I started to ease the door closed again, but it was forced open and I had to take a step backward to avoid being struck by the swinging wood. A large man with dark skin and hair, voice deep and smooth as velvet stood before me, taking me in. “Who are you? And why are they hiding you?”
    “I’m Porschia.”
    He sniffed. “Mmmm. I love the scent of Frenzy.”
    “How can you tell?” My heart pounded against its iron cage.
    Julian prowled forward. “It’s very distinct, although I haven’t smelled it in a very long time. How fresh are you, peach?” He stroked his forefinger along my cheekbone.
    “Very.”
    “Why were you hiding her, Roman?”
    I looked over Julian’s shoulder and spoke before Roman could respond. “He wasn’t hiding me. I was sleeping.”
    Julian’s eyes widened. “So new. You still sleep.” In the dark orbs, darker even than Roman’s, was green jealousy. He wanted what I had. Why would anyone want this?
    “So powerful,” he muttered, stepping forward.
    Tage growled. “She is mine. I claimed her.”
    Julian chuckled. “We’ll see. I wouldn’t mind sharing.” His eyes raked over my bed, the sparse furnishings.
    “I don’t share,” Tage threatened. “Get away from her.”
    Julian raised his hands, but kept his eyes trained on me. “It was nice to meet you, Porschia. Roman,” he added, turning around to face him. “I think I’ll stay for a while.”
    “Then you abide by our rules.”
    “Of course,” Julian quickly agreed, never taking his eyes off of mine.
     

     
    That evening, we gathered around the fireplace to talk. Tage built a fire for me and golden, flickering light filled the room as Roman filled Julian in on the Elders and their decision to banish me. Julian was dumbfounded. “Why do you bother with these humans? They are only here for one thing: our food. We say when we eat. We say where we live and how. They serve us, not the opposite.”
    Those were dangerous ideals, but I could understand how some night-walkers might feel that way. We were the ones who were cursed, so why bend to a human’s will—to someone who would only be alive for a fraction of your lifetime? Why allow them to dictate anything at all?
    We sat on the velvet-covered furniture. Dara was draped over Roman, who was seated beside Julian. Tage and I sat opposite them on a smaller matching couch. I raked my fingernails across the deep plum fabric, watching it lighten and darken depending on the stroke. Tage stared at Julian, Dara picked at her nails as if bored, and I watched the nail marks.
    “Why is there a cell downstairs?” Julian asked. His eyes flicked from face to face until he landed on mine, and a slight smile formed on his lips. “And were you the one to tear it apart, love?”
    “She’s not your love,” Tage barked, “and you’d be wise to stay away from her. We might just unleash her on you.”
    Julian laughed, his enormous shoulders heaving with delight. “I might enjoy that.”
     

     
    It didn’t take long for Julian to make himself at home. He took the bedroom