The walk back to the house is pure agony. Pain burns through my system like liquid magma, igniting a thirst I haven’t felt in manymonths. My skin heats and sweat breaks out across my forehead. I need blood.It’s the only thing that will stop the pain.
But asking the shifters feels way out of line, especially after all they’ve done for me.
A familiar, addicting scent reaches my nose long before I see the house.No.I stop dead in my tracks.
Grant stumbles forward before looking at me. “Jericho?”
I ignore him, attention zeroed in on Evan’s scent. It’s so unbelievably good.Need.
“I… can’t,” I manage to say.
Forest shifts under my weight. “I have blood for you at the house. It just arrived last night.”
If he’s saying this to get me to move, it isn’t working. My feet are rooted in place as I desperately cling to my control. “No.”
“No?”
I inhale again, lungs burning with desire.Fuck, that scent…There’s nothing like it.NEED.
I grit my teeth. “Ev…an.”
The two men hesitate, then Forest swings out from under me. I sway without his support.
“Stay here,” he demands.
I barely see him as he disappears through the trees. All I can focus on is the smell of delicious, sweet lemongrass. It encompasses me like nothing ever has before, tempting me, seducing me, begging me.
I can’t resist.
“Jer,” Grant warns as I start forward. I ignore him, pushing and dragging and clawing my way forward. IneedEvan.
Through the trees, a dark silhouette appears that snaps me to attention. I come to an abrupt stop.What am I doing?
Shit. What the fuck am I doing?
“Where is he?” Evan shouts.
“You need to stay… Evan, don’t!”
The silhouette fades as Evan steps out from the sunlight and into the trees. Branches snap under his feet.
Grant quickly steps in front of me, gripping my shoulders with both hands as he digs his feet into the earth. He pushes me back a few steps, a growl emanating from his throat. “Don’t.”
My heart beats erratically, my vision sharpens.Evan.
“Evan, stay back,” Grant says.
Evan ignores him, rushing forward.
I throw a hand up, an inhuman sound tearing from deep within. It’s all I can muster.
Please don’t come any closer.
Evan stops, panicked eyes lock with mine, and for the first time, he seems to realize what’s happening. He shakes his head, like he can’t stand to look at me. “What the hell happened?”
“Go back to the house,” Grant says. “Forest is getting him some blood.”
Evan doesn’t seem to hear him. “Was it the vamps? Did they do this?”
