Then, his elation over their joining flooded her mind. She sensed his emotions as something primitive took them both over, and they became lost in a world of sex and blood.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Pink and yellowstreaked the sky when they made their way to the end of the cave and stood there waiting for the sun to rise before leaving the cave. Charlie was finding it awkward to meet Jack’s eye as she recalled the wild abandon and ferocity of the sex they had earlier.
In the light of day, she tried to deny that they couldn’t walk away from each other, but she felt the bond uniting them as surely as she felt the damp clothes against her skin. Though she wanted to believe she wouldn’t go mad or die if Jack did, she felt the strength of their bond to the core of her soul. There was no breaking it.
She, a person who had avoided relationships for years, now found her life entwined with a man’s she barely knew.
No, that wasn’t true. He’d told her so much of his life, and she’d revealed more to him than anyone other than Miss Dodd. Maybe they hadn’t known each other for long, but they knew a lot about each other. And she knew that, unlike so many others in her life, he would not leave her to fend for herself in a cruel and violent world.
Jack wasn’t a stranger; he was her mate, and there was no going back. As much as the idea of her life interwoven with his scared her, she didn’t want to go back. If she could have picked a mate for herself, she would have chosen Jack.
Taking her hand, Jack threaded his fingers through hers before turning his attention back to the dawn. He sensed her uncertainty through the bond connecting them, but he didn’t assure her it would be okay. Telling Charlie things didn’t work; he would show her that this would be great between them.
“Let’s go,” he said when the sun was higher in the sky.
Leaving the shelter of the crevice, they stayed to the shadow of the cliffs as they searched for an easy place to climb. As they jogged along the beach, the cliffs grew smaller until they arrived at a spot where the cliffs were only thirty feet overhead and decided to climb.
Her wet boots were rubbing her feet raw. She ignored the discomfort as she climbed the rocks behind Jack. He’d instructed her to stay behind him in case someone started firing at them.
Jack reached the top and, poking his head over, he peered at the woods only feet away from him. Nothing stirred within the trees, and no one rushed out to attack him. Scenting the air, he searched for any hint of something that didn’t belong in the woods but detected nothing.
He pulled himself over the top of the cliff and held his hand out for Charlie’s. She took it, and he helped her climb over the edge.
“Do you know where we are on the island?” he asked as they made their way into the shelter of the trees.
“Yes,” she said and pointed to their right. The very top of the lighthouse was barely visible. “The root cellar is that way.”
Jack spotted a hint of white through the swaying trees. “Good.”
Taking her hand, they made their way through the trees at a jog. As they drew closer, he caught more glimpses of the lighthouse through the trees. They were almost to it when a snapping branch on his right caused him to come to an abrupt halt. He pushed Charlie behind him and pulled a stake free.
Charlie slid her knives out and hefted them into her hand as she searched the shifting shadows. No one moved amongst the trees, but she sensed someone watching them. And then a woman with dirty blonde hair and pale blue eyes emerged. She gripped a spear with a pointed end capable of taking out any vampire.
“I know you,” she said to Jack, though she kept the spear defensively in front of her.
Charlie eyed the woman; she could have a knife in the woman’s eye before she hefted her weapon. She didn’t dare take her gaze off the woman, but she was curious about how Jack knew her. Who was this woman to him?Howdid they know each other?
She’d never experienced jealousy before, but now it slithered through her like a poisonous snake.
It took Jack a few seconds to recognize the bartender who’d been working the night the Savages captured them. “You’re LeNae,” he said.
The woman eased her defensive grip on the spear as she glanced between him and Charlie. He sensed Charlie’s confusion as she stared at the woman. He didn’t think LeNae was a threat, but he edged a little closer to Charlie.
Something shifted in the shadows to her right, and Charlie turned to face it as Jack emitted a growl that caused the hair on her nape to rise.
“It’s okay!” LeNae blurted. “We mean no harm. We’re just trying to survive!”
“Who iswe?” Jack snarled.
“After we were freed, we found each other,” LeNae gushed. “There’s strength in numbers.”
“Who iswe?” Jack repeated, and LeNae visibly paled.
Charlie had no idea how they knew each other, but Jack looked ready to tear this woman apart.
“Come out,” LeNae called.
