He tossed the ghouls out the window, startled to see them vanish into smoke despite feeling real in his hands. But when he turned to confront the lycans, he paused.
“Welcome back, vryko,” one of them said in Sabine’s voice.
Another snarled and snapped at him, biting so fast before he leapt through the window that Orion missed him leaving. Odd. The other two watched him but didn’t attack.
He clenched his fist at the sudden pain in his hand. A glance showed traces of something black spreading from the bite but stopping halfway up his forearm.
One of the lycans smiled, his eyes empty of anything but darkness. “See you soon,” he promised before he and his companion departed.
Orion started to follow when Kaia went into a convulsion.
“Kaia.” He put her down on the bed, doing his best to hold her steady so she didn’t fall off and bang her head or hurt herself.
The air felt oppressive, a layer of energy spreading throughout the room. The subtle scent of ocean water and a sweet floral essence coated everything and stole the pain from his hand.
He watched as the blackness inside him dissipated. His hand healed, now coated in a bright blue light that slowly vanished.
Kaia arched up once more then sagged to the bed. She didn’t move.
Orion leaned close, not prepared for her to open her eyes and scream.
He winced. “Damn. You okay?”
She grabbed him to her in a hug and burst into tears.
He had no idea what he was saying as he patted her back and comforted her, but it seemed to work. She sank into oblivion once more, but this time she looked at ease.
With no idea what the hell was going on, Orion gathered her in his arms and walked her down the stairs to the ground level, past the back porch to the dock and into the water.
Feeling much better, he swam with her back to the house and walked her in through the pool. He didn’t see anyone on his way inside, fortunately, the rest of them out on missions except for Kraft, who was still messing with the lycan in the basement. But Orion had a feeling Kraft had given up on torturing the wolf since he continued to lose to him atMortal Kombat 11.
Swiftly returning to his room, Orion locked the door behind him, setting a special vryko lock to keep the nosy fuckers out—namely, Kraft. Then he cleaned both himself and Kaia and settled her under the covers in bed.
She seemed even more beautiful than the last time he’d seen her, something about her different. He frowned, not sure what to think by the fact her skin seemed paler, her hair darker, and when she’d opened her eyes earlier, there had a been a soft blue light in her pupils for the briefest second.
He needed to talk to Macy about it, but agitated at letting Kaia out of his sight, he decided to keep her close instead.Safe. Mine. My prey,he told himself and relaxed. He slipped into a pair of shorts then eased next to her in bed and watched her sleep, her heart beating in time with his.
“So,what are you planning to do about her?” Morpheus asked.
Orion groaned. “Who the hell let you in here?” He glanced around and saw Kaia in his bed. “I’m not dreaming.”
“Are you sure?” Morpheus smiled. “What did Mormo say when you told him I’m waiting for that drink?”
Orion recalled and grinned. “He can’t wait to see you.”
“Really?” Morpheus looked surprised
“No. He turned sheet-white and vanished.”
“Wimp. Him, not you.” Morpheus disregarded him with a wave. Then he looked closer at Kaia. “Oh, this is interesting.”
Orion curled around her. “What?”
“Relax. She’s cute and all, but she’s been tagged as demon bait.”
“What?”
Morpheus pointed to a spot on her neck just under her nape. “See that? She’s been bought and sold. Might want to fix that before her owner comes calling.” Morpheus shook his head. “Shame too. She’s on the verge of Becoming.”
