had gone on a killing spree. The other vampire moved even closer, giving Caleb a glimpse of a dagger in his hand.
“What the hell are you doing, Russ? You planning on stabbing me with that?”
“Not you, dumb ass. Her. Your woman. She is yours, isn't she?” The feral gleam in his cousin’s eyes gave him pause. He didn't like the intent he saw there. Whatever happened he had to protect Abby at all costs. “You're planning to take her as a mate, aren't you? You’re feeling that uncontrollable grip of love that makes it hurt to breathe. Am I right?”
“Russ, don't you get it? It doesn't matter anymore. I know everything Abby knows, so there is nothing to gain by killing her. I know you killed that innocent woman, and I witnessed you kill the drummer. It’s over.”
“Dammit, Caleb, are you that fucking blinded by a wet cunt? I didn't kill her, your bitch did.”
Caleb stopped, totally confused. He couldn't figure out Russell's trick, where he thought he would get with these lies.
“Still don't get it? Well, how about I put it in plain English for you. I did not kill Marissa. I loved her—she was my mate. We had planned our long lifetime together, and your woman came upon us at the exact moment I was turning her.”
Caleb’s steps faltered. What he said couldn't be. He'd seen Abby's memories, and Russell had turned on Abby like a rabid wild animal. Caleb watched Russell relax his stance, although his gloved grip on the dagger got tighter and he stabbed it around in the air seemingly unconsciously.
“This is the same one, you know.” He raised the blade into direct line with Caleb’s vision. “The same one your bitch stabbed me with. The steel blade I could handle, the problem was the silver in the handle that had seeped into my bloodstream. It weakened me. I couldn't fight back. I couldn't finish the feeding.”
A twinge of truth rang through him at his cousin's words. Could it be? Russell's earlier rage seemed to be subsiding, to be replaced with a pure sadness even Caleb couldn't deny. A few minutes more, and he would have no trouble overtaking the other male. He needed to keep him talking.
“Tell me what happened, Russ.”
“I drained her, Caleb. You know the ways. Drain them to the point of death and then rebirth them with your own blood. Just as I drank the last drop from Marissa, Abby stabbed me in the back with this.” He waved the dagger wildly, getting agitated again. “If she hadn't stopped me, I wouldn't be alone right now without my mate.”
A grief stricken wail filled the air around them as they both turned to see Abby standing behind him. “No, it can't be true.” She walked forward toward them, and Caleb, using a preternatural speed, grabbed her before she could get too close.
It was that weakened moment that Russell used to make his move. Before Caleb could turn to protect himself, sharp claws scraped across the front of his neck, and the familiar, sweet scent of blood filled the air. He twisted and turned, trying to escape Russell's wild grip, but he held on. They both went down to the ground hard, Caleb slamming his head on the gravel.
Despite the buzzing in his head, Caleb managed to wrap an arm around his Russell and roll. Twisting his head, Caleb’s fangs caught the flesh of his cousin’s arm, ripping into it, scraping against bone and filling his mouth with the male's blood. An anguished male scream sounded right next to his ear. Bucking against his heavy body, he flung Russell across the clearing and into a tree. Caleb ran after him as he sprang back from his landing in the soft grass.
Abby watched the two men fly at each other and crash to the ground in a jumble of limbs and leather. She turned her head, searching for something to use as a weapon, when she spotted her dagger on the ground. She hadn't even realized the vampire had dropped it. She picked up the blade Marissa had given her. The last gift she had given her. Her warning that Abby carry it with her at all
“What the hell are you doing, Russ? You planning on stabbing me with that?”
“Not you, dumb ass. Her. Your woman. She is yours, isn't she?” The feral gleam in his cousin’s eyes gave him pause. He didn't like the intent he saw there. Whatever happened he had to protect Abby at all costs. “You're planning to take her as a mate, aren't you? You’re feeling that uncontrollable grip of love that makes it hurt to breathe. Am I right?”
“Russ, don't you get it? It doesn't matter anymore. I know everything Abby knows, so there is nothing to gain by killing her. I know you killed that innocent woman, and I witnessed you kill the drummer. It’s over.”
“Dammit, Caleb, are you that fucking blinded by a wet cunt? I didn't kill her, your bitch did.”
Caleb stopped, totally confused. He couldn't figure out Russell's trick, where he thought he would get with these lies.
“Still don't get it? Well, how about I put it in plain English for you. I did not kill Marissa. I loved her—she was my mate. We had planned our long lifetime together, and your woman came upon us at the exact moment I was turning her.”
Caleb’s steps faltered. What he said couldn't be. He'd seen Abby's memories, and Russell had turned on Abby like a rabid wild animal. Caleb watched Russell relax his stance, although his gloved grip on the dagger got tighter and he stabbed it around in the air seemingly unconsciously.
“This is the same one, you know.” He raised the blade into direct line with Caleb’s vision. “The same one your bitch stabbed me with. The steel blade I could handle, the problem was the silver in the handle that had seeped into my bloodstream. It weakened me. I couldn't fight back. I couldn't finish the feeding.”
A twinge of truth rang through him at his cousin's words. Could it be? Russell's earlier rage seemed to be subsiding, to be replaced with a pure sadness even Caleb couldn't deny. A few minutes more, and he would have no trouble overtaking the other male. He needed to keep him talking.
“Tell me what happened, Russ.”
“I drained her, Caleb. You know the ways. Drain them to the point of death and then rebirth them with your own blood. Just as I drank the last drop from Marissa, Abby stabbed me in the back with this.” He waved the dagger wildly, getting agitated again. “If she hadn't stopped me, I wouldn't be alone right now without my mate.”
A grief stricken wail filled the air around them as they both turned to see Abby standing behind him. “No, it can't be true.” She walked forward toward them, and Caleb, using a preternatural speed, grabbed her before she could get too close.
It was that weakened moment that Russell used to make his move. Before Caleb could turn to protect himself, sharp claws scraped across the front of his neck, and the familiar, sweet scent of blood filled the air. He twisted and turned, trying to escape Russell's wild grip, but he held on. They both went down to the ground hard, Caleb slamming his head on the gravel.
Despite the buzzing in his head, Caleb managed to wrap an arm around his Russell and roll. Twisting his head, Caleb’s fangs caught the flesh of his cousin’s arm, ripping into it, scraping against bone and filling his mouth with the male's blood. An anguished male scream sounded right next to his ear. Bucking against his heavy body, he flung Russell across the clearing and into a tree. Caleb ran after him as he sprang back from his landing in the soft grass.
Abby watched the two men fly at each other and crash to the ground in a jumble of limbs and leather. She turned her head, searching for something to use as a weapon, when she spotted her dagger on the ground. She hadn't even realized the vampire had dropped it. She picked up the blade Marissa had given her. The last gift she had given her. Her warning that Abby carry it with her at all
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