My headache burrowed behind my eyes, like a demon intending to hatch in my brain. Falling over, I curled up on my side. The move detonated a new pain—a white flash of light.
Whisper’s breath washed over my cheek. A deep, thrumming purr vibrated as he sniffed my neck where my pulse fluttered like a trapped bird.
“I’m fine,” I groaned, holding my stomach as it decided to join in the pain with shooting shards of despair. “I’m just...tired.”
I felt teeth on the back of my satin robe.
The material tugged, pulling up around my ears.
“Hey.” I choked as lights popped and I almost retched. “Stop that—”
The huge cat tried to drag me like his kill, tugging me across the lawn.
“Whisper!” I groaned as he dragged me boneless toward the courtyard exit. “Stop.”
My nightgown choked me. My body forsook me.
And the last thing I saw was the sun exploding into a golden firework.
It blinded me, burned me—
I passed out.
Chapter Sixteen
“OKAY, CALM DOWN. JESUS, QUIT IT. What the hell has gotten into you, you bloody cat?”
That voice.
Rich and deep and husky.
Lucien’s baritone echoed down a very long tunnel, far, far away.
“Huh.” The sounds of footsteps stopped. “Did you kill her?”
My head ached and ached andached.
Something touched my neck—cool and curt as if it didn’t want to touch me at all.
“So you didn’t kill her. Pity.” The touch went away. “Why did you bring me here if it’s not to clean up a corpse?”
A feline snarl followed by an echoing hiss.
“You expect me tohelpher?” Scorn replaced shock. “Why? What the hell has she done to you that you’ve gotten so attached?”
Another hiss, followed by a nudge.
“Ugh, you’re such a pain in my ass.” Lucien’s voice travelled from the crushing darkness, wrapping me in an even darker blanket. “Fine. I’ll try. You happy?”
Whisper hmphed.
Lucien grumbled, sounding part panther himself. “You’re an idiot, you know that, right? She’s just like the others. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
The cat snarled quietly.
“Fine. Whatever. See if I care.” His shadow loomed closer. “I’ll help but only because you’re a fool.”
Whisper didn’t reply as strong, muscular arms hooked under my knees and shoulders. Lucien’s voice came again. “Don’t blame me if she still dies.” Adding under his breath, he muttered, “Even if I do manage to help her, I might just kill her tomorrow when she proves me right.”
