She crossed her arms and turned her attention to the darkness outside the window. The stress of the evening, combined with the ecstasy that had transpired between her and Davien, finally ebbed away to be replaced by a weariness that she couldn’t fight.
But in the midst of sleep, a different sort of companion appeared . . .
~ ~ ~
Davien saw the change come over Cosette as if a curtain had been drawn. Her eyes turned completely white, as before, and her back stiffened. Cosette didn’t speak. She didn’t need to. He heard the voice in his mind.
Stay away from her.
It was a warning that would have caused a chill to travel up his spine, but the beast wasn’t so ruffled. It bristled, gnashing his teeth at the threat.
Davien let it reply. She is ours.
No,the voice returned sharply.She is mine.
He tried another tactic.Why don’t you reveal yourself? Perhaps we can come to an understanding that will benefit us both.
A coarse laugh followed his statement, like the hissing gurgle of a snake.She is not up for negotiation. I will never let her go.
Davien knew his eyes were glowing brighter than they ever had.Neither will I.
Then let the battle commence.
Cosette coughed, as if the voice had taken over, not only her mind but her entire body as well. It was a reminder of what Davien could lose should he fail to defeat this . . . entity.
“Did something happen?” she wheezed.
“Only a brief conversation,” Davien replied evenly.
“Is that all?” she asked, her face white, drained of color. “It . . . felt like so much more than that.”
“We disagreed.”
This got her attention. “You heard it?”
“I did,” he admitted.
“What did it sound like to you?”
Evil. Although he said carefully, “I can’t explain it.”
She narrowed her eyes on him, as if trying to decide if he was telling the truth or not. “Have you ever heard it before and just didn’t tell me?”
“No.” It was the truth.
Cosette leaned her head back against the seat. “What are we going to do?” she whispered.
His answer was simple, precise, and although the emotions tumbling within him were restless, he kept his outward calm. “We return to Shadowlawn.”
