“It’s over,” she whispered. Tears slid downher cheeks, her lower lip trembled, but her dazed eyes finally methis. “It’s over.”
It felt almost too good to be true, but shecouldn’t deny her father’s body lay across from her. Couldn’t denythat the man who had hauntedeveryone of her nightmaresover the years was finally dead. She’d believed she’d feel morerelief, more joy. Instead, she felt strangely numb and torn. Shewas a murderess, and more than that, she’d just committedpatricide. Should she hate herself? Should she be happy?
“Paige don’t,” Ian whispered when he sensedher chaotic thoughts. Lifting her cheeks in his hand, he bent andpressed a tender kiss against her lips. “Don’t beat yourself up;don’t doubt yourself. You did what you had to do.”
“Did I?”
“Yes, you did,” he whispered. He pushed thehair back from her face and kissed her more vigorously. Pulling hisarm away, he bit into his wrist and held it out to her. She shookher head at him and tried to push his arm away. “Feed,” hecommanded.
“I fed from you earlier and you need it,you’re wounded.” The gash on his cheek had already healed enoughshe couldn’t see his teeth, and his ribs no longer showed on hisside, but she knew how badly he’d been maimed.
“I’ve fed and you’re more important.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but thesteel will of his mind against hers silenced her words. He wouldnot back down on this. Taking hold of his wrist, she lifted it toher mouth. She licked away his blood before biting deep to reopenhis bite. His happiness filled her mind; his blood slid down herthroat as he held her head tenderly against him. The strength ofhis blood seeped into her system, accelerating the healing processof the numerous injuries she’d sustained.
The sound of feet approaching caused him toshift his hold on her as he spun toward the doorway. He crouchedinto a defensive position. He scented the air, but the cloyingscent of blood had been burned into his nostrils and covered allother scents. His lips skimmed back to reveal his fangs, a low hissescaped him as he prepared for a fresh attack.
Ethan skidded into the doorway and came toan abrupt halt. His eyes widened when they landed upon him, beforedarting around to take in the destruction of the room. Ian’smuscles relaxed at the sight of his brother. With his mind, heurged Paige to keep feeding as he turned her away so the otherscouldn’t see her. It may be necessary for her to feed right now,but it was still an intimate act he didn’t wish to share with hisfamily.
“What happened?” Ethan demanded.
“We were ambushed the second the elevatordoors opened.” Ian wrapped his arm around Paige’s shoulders andpulled her closer against his side when she released his wrist.
She wiped his blood from her mouth and gavea brief nod when he sent her a questioning look. “I’m fine. I feelbetter already.”
He believed she’d had enough; he could feelan easing in her discomfort, and her breath had stopped rattling inand out. Ronan’s boots rang on the floor when he strode in behindEthan. His eyes were crimson in color as he surveyed the deathlittering the room. “Your father?” he inquired of her.
Paige nodded and waved a hand at his body.“I killed him.”
He gave a brisk nod. “This must be takencare of, at once. The police are on their way. We don’t have muchtime. Aiden, David, and Brian are taking care of the witnesses anderasing the memories of the people hiding in their rooms.”
“Cameras?” Ian inquired.
“Your attackers have taken care of those forus, thankfully.”
“There may be some in the stairwell,” Paigesaid. “I came down the stairs, and I’m sure there was a camera onthe elevator. There was also a woman above, she was locked out ofher room, but I kept my head turned away from her. I don’t thinkshe got a good look at me.”
“I’ll make sure my man takes care of thecameras, and we’ll find her. I’m not taking any chances on this,”Ronan replied.
“What causes our skin color to change likethat?” Ethan inquired as his gaze ran over the mottled color ofIan’s skin.
“It happens to all purebreds if they’repushed to a breaking point,” Ronan replied. “It’s the ones whodon’t have someone, or something to come back for, you have toworry about.” Ian’s hand tightened around Paige’s when she pressedcloser against him. “Now, are the bodies in the hall and in hereall of them?”
“No,” Ian answered. “There’s another in aroom down the hall and a head in the elevator shaft.”
Well, she’d been right in her guess aboutthe head.
“I don’t think we’re getting the head back.”Ronan pulled out his phone and typed a message. He stared at ituntil it released a small beep. “It’s been taken care of.” Paigegaped at his words, she never wanted to get on his bad side if hecould type a message and have someone retrieve a head for him.“Where’s the other body?”
Through the bond connecting them, Paigecould feel Ian’s concern for her before he looked at her. “I’mfine, this has to be done,” she told him as the wail of approachingsirens filled the air.
Ian hesitated before rising to his feet.“Come with me,” he said to Ronan. “Ethan stay here. You’ll needAiden and Brian to help with this mess, I’ll send them in.”
She barely saw Ian run from the room withRonan right behind him. Her legs shook a little as she rose to herfeet, but she took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Herribs still ached, her wrist was still sore, but she could feel thehealing power of Ian’s blood seeping through her system andrepairing her body.
“The other three bodies are in there,” shetold Ethan and pointed toward the bedroom.
He strode forward, but instead of walkingpast her, he stopped beside her and rested his hand on her arm.“You’ll get through this.”
