I agree with Charen, but I can’t seem to speak.
“Ow!” Everett yells.
“Stay still, you big baby. It’s just a scratch.” Tristano’s voice, perhaps.
“A scratch? My beautiful ear is hanging on by a thread!”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Ow! You’re doing this on purpose.”
Tristano snorts. “I think you’d look better with only one ear.”
Everett groans.
I try to say Solano’s name, to call out to him, to tell him I know the truth now. But it’s as if my throat is burned. I open my eyes but see nothing except the imprint of that brilliant starburst, the light of a thousand suns. Beautiful in its destruction. I wish it had destroyed me.
“Never.”
Our bond is glowing now, bright and alive. I can see him, his golden eyes. Hear him, the purr of his feral.
“I’m so sorry.” I cup his face as he presses his forehead to mine.
“I’m so glad I found you.”
“But I’m not me anymore. I’m…” I step back and look down at myself in my mind. The black claws, the wings at my back. “I’m wrong.”
“Shhh.” Solano’s voice is at my ear, and then I taste him. Sharp and electric, his blood is like no other.
I bite, my fangs latching onto his wrist as I drink him down.
“Solano!” I can feel one of his warriors nearby, ready to strike me down.
“Back away,” Solano growls. “All of you, stand down.”
I take his blood in greedy gulps, my body growing stronger, the scorch in my throat easing.
“That’s enough, Emma.” Solano tries to pull away.
I don’t let him. Clamping down harder, I drink more of him, feeling his warmth in my belly and his strength in my veins.
“Emma.” He strokes my hair. “Enough.”
I sense his warriors drawing closer, their weapons hungry for more blood.
“Strike them down, and return to me.” A chill creeps up my spine and threatens to freeze my heart. “You’re mine, Emma. You know it. We are the same.”
“No.” I pull away from Solano’s wrist and force myself to stop. To think instead of simply reacting like an animal.
“I’ll show you, my pet. I can’t let you go.”
“Stop!” I press my palms to my ears. “Stop!”
“Emma?” Solano holds me close, and I can almost see his golden eyes now.
“He’s still here.”
“What?”
