‘Hunter’s shifted and is guarding her, Kace I need you down here now!’Xander continued.
Kace had waited almost two decades to face off against the man who had thrown him to the sands, who had watched and laughed at his every win and fall. He wasn’t sure when he would get the opportunity again.
‘Kace, we’re running out of time!’
And still he chose Eva.
Chapter26
Eva
Eva didn’t sleep. It wasn’t that it was impossible, but she had found out pretty quickly that vampires didn’t really require anywhere near as much sleep. She usually tried for an hour or two, but only if she felt safe enough to allow herself to be that vulnerable. When she was with Lucas he would become easily distracted, giving her the time to rest her mind, but since she had been with Augustine she hadn’t been able to relax. Not even for a moment.
So why the fuck were her eyes closed, and something soft covered her?
Eva tore the sheets from her body, jumping over the side of the bed to crouch against the wall. It happened so fast she didn’t even give herself a chance to open her eyes fully, and when she did the room was too bright, forcing her to squint. Her limbs moved without pain, her breathing calm and even as she blinked the grogginess away, her eyes adjusting far slower than comfortable to the light. She hadn’t slept in so long, she was no longer used to it.
“Eva?”
She stilled at her name, recognising the familiar voice, but not her surroundings.
Kyra appeared at the foot of the bed, moving slowly with her hands held out and open. “Eva, it’s only me.”
Eva jumped up from her position, running over to her friend to wrap her in a hug. It lasted only a second, Kyra exhaling in a sudden rush. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” She had forgotten her strength. “I didn’t mean…”
Kyra pulled her back, arms tightening as Eva collapsed into the embrace.
“Careful, Princess. She’s a new fledgling,” Xander commented as he hovered close, his icy eyes cautious when they met Eva’s.
“Hunter? Did you find Hunter, he was this big cat… and Kace? Where’s Kace?” The words rushed out in a jumble, panic causing her to stutter. “Hunter, I need to see Hunter.” He had been covered in so much blood, his fur coated.
“We’ve got Hunter, he’s been sedated in another room to help heal his wounds,” Xander said. “But I need you to stay calm.”
“Calm?” Eva’s fangs ached, and she fought the urge to hiss, her arms instinctively closing around Kyra. “Hunter’s only a child, he saw… and they hurt…”
“Hunter’s strong, he will recover fine,” he said with a forced composure that pissed her off even more. “But If you don’t calm down you may hurt Kyra.”
Eva scowled, no longer able to keep her voice steady. “I’m not going to eat her!”
Kyra laughed in her arms, pulling back to touch her face, her fingers hesitant as they brushed over her cheeks. “Your control is so impressive. I can feel your hunger, and even this close it’s not affecting you like it should in someone so young.”
Eva blinked, eyes burning. “Kyra, he turned me… he took my humanity.” It was the first time she had admitted it out loud, and once she heard it vocally, she finally broke. “I… I…” Eva collapsed to the floor, Kyra following.
Eva wasn’t sure how long she cried for, minutes or even hours.
She cried for the pain.
She cried for the loss.
She cried for the woman she once was.
The sobs came, and with each one Kyra held her, rubbing down her back in soothing strokes. It must have been a while, the window on the other side of the bed that had glowed brightly was now a dark amber. Xander still hovered just over Kyra’s shoulder, brows creased.
“I can’t have children.” The admittance came out a croak. “I’m so angry at all the choices he took from me.”
“What was forced on you doesn’t make you any less than before.” Kyra said, her face just as wet. “This wasn’t your fault.”
A deep breath. “I know.”
