Page 24 of Rafe

Skylar’s eyes flashed open, her heart pounding in her chest as she took in her surroundings. Where am I? Her mind raced in panic as the unfamiliar surroundings came into view. I’ve got to get outta here.

Movement flashed near the wall and she stilled. Out of the corner of her eye, she spied the furry tail. Her anxiety immediately inflated as the animal came into view. A dog. No, a wolf. Adonis?

Skylar jolted upward, her head spinning as she tried to launch herself off the bed. As she tumbled toward the floor, she flinched in expectation of the fall that never materialized, strong hands steadying her back onto the side of the bed.

As she looked upward, her eyes widened as he came into view. “Rafe?”

“It’s okay. You’re safe. Nothing’s going to happen here. I’ve got you.”

“What are you doing here?” She winced as she lay back in the bed. Her muscles ached. Her mind reeled. Flashes of Tina screaming played in her mind. Tears welled in her eyes.

“It’s okay, Sky.”

A comforting hand brushed over her forehead as he tucked her back into bed.

“Vampires.” Her body trembled as she spoke.

“You’re safe now,” he told her, his voice gentle.

“But Tina. They killed her.” Tears streamed down her face.

“I promise you’re going to be okay. You need to get some rest.”

“We’ve got to get out of here. Tina’s dead.”

“Shhh, you’re safe now. I promise I’ll stay right here with you. No one is going to hurt you again.”

“They killed her,” she cried, her mind reeling with the trauma of being attacked.

As her body succumbed to exhaustion, she whispered her attacker’s identity. “Scott is a vampire.”

5

Rafe’s mind churned as he sat in the chair staring at the intriguing human, hoping the rest would heal her fragile body. But she’d never forget the horrific attack, witnessing a brutal murder. Guilt threaded through him as he glanced at the red ligature marks on her wrists. Like a fucking idiot, he’d left her on read. He’d already told himself all the reasons why it would not work, yet here she was, here they were.

The craving to taste her once again haunted him. He’d argued with Greyson about bringing her back with them. The vampire insisted they dump her at an ER. But there was no way he was leaving her alone after the attack. The vampires who attacked her could likely scent her out, find her and kill her.

They’d only been in Las Vegas for two days, and he already hated the cruelty they discovered. Destruction. Death. Blood parties. Snuff films sold on the black market. Speculations of missing humans persisted; the truth was, it was easy to disappear in Vegas. Tourists came and went, some buried in the desert without a trace, never to be found again.

He and Greyson had been investigating rumors of a coven that had been partying in the desert. Most resident vampires had been driven across the border to California. Transient vampires were either forced into the feedings or murdered. Wolves and witches had scattered into hiding, and what remained were gangs of murderous vampires, their thirst untamed.

They’d tracked down an informer, a bartender at a seedy bar in North Vegas. The warlock had managed to keep himself alive by masking as human. Xavier and Rafe had paid him in wolf hair, and he’d told them of late-night desert parties and women who’d gone missing.

In the dark of the night, Greyson flashed them to the canyon. Rafe had heard the screams, but it was her scent that shook him to his core. What was she doing in Las Vegas? How did she get mixed up with vampires?

Guilt stabbed at him. Though a difficult choice, he hadn’t responded to her text. The decision to squash his desire had been intentional. Greyson was right to warn him away from her. Wolves didn’t mate with humans. Yet again, the Goddess tested him with a temptation that was never meant to be.

Rafe reached for the blanket and tugged it over her shoulders, tucking her into bed. What is it about her? Rafe indulged once more, inhaling her delicious scent. His wolf howled, pleading for him to lie with her. Rafe warred with his desire, aware she was a treasure he could never possess.

The creak of the door opening drew his attention, breaking his pervasive thoughts. Greyson.

“What was she doing there?” Greyson sighed.

“I don’t know.” Rafe fell back onto the dark brown leather sofa and stared into the fire roaring within the huge floor to ceiling stone fireplace. They’d rented a huge log cabin on the outskirts of the city, far from the action on the strip. “Did you catch any more of them?”

“No. I found a few more dead humans. One scented witch. I don’t like this. I don’t like it at all.”

“I think we should go back to visit the bartender again,” Rafe suggested. “I don’t sense many wolves. But there may be a few in the area who are willing to talk.”