Page 36

But who do I call? I have Xander’s number, but each time I ring, it’s gone straight to voicemail. Do I call the police? What would they do? Open a missing persons case on a century-old vampire?

I nearly chuckle.

But my heart pounds heavily in my chest, and it shakes my entire diaphragm as I breathe out a worried sigh.

My untouched sandwich sits before me. I would have made something nice for dinner, but I’m glued to my seat where I face the back door.

Every minute that goes by, I half expect Xander to wander in with a smile on his lips and a cheerful explanation for why he’s been at the cabin all day.

For the most part of the day, Nyx hadn’t left my side. Even when I went to the bathroom, she sat at my feet watching me without an ounce of embarrassment. But now she’s gone too.

Pumpkin is just as worried as I am as he paces the space before the door, his tail flicking with agitation, giving me an odd, frustrated meow. He hasn’t touched his dinner either.

“Where the hell are you, Xan?” I groan, wiping my sweaty palms on my pants.

The world beyond the house is quiet, with just a gentle breeze blowing through the nearby trees and distant chirps from crickets in the garden. If I wasn’t buzzing like a vibrator, I might have enjoyed the serenity.

It isn't until a quiet shuffle at the back door has me perking up in my seat, a smile spreading across my lips.

“Finally! Took you long enough!” I call out.

More shuffling.

“Xander?”

Nyx’s growly meow echoes back at me, and I’m quickly on my feet and reaching for the door.

Pulling it open, I’m met with a scene my brain simply can’t comprehend.

My vampire boyfriend lies splayed out on his back. Blood covers every inch of his body, including his face, which is lax and unresponsive.

Pumpkin is quick to reach Nyx’s side as she watches Xander closely before looking up at me.

“What happened?!” I cry out, sinking to my knees at Xander’s head and cupping his face, feeling his sticky blood between my fingers. It’s cold. He’s cold.

Why is he cold!?

“No, no, no. Shit!” I panic and shake him. His shirt is torn in all directions, and I'm sure I can catch a glimpse of his organs poking out from a huge gash in his flank.

“Xander! Wake up! You said you couldn’t die!” Tears blur my vision, and I'm now grateful I hadn't eaten my sandwich, as my stomach clenches, threatening to revolt whatever is in it. Beneath my palms, Xander’s body seems to grow colder by the second. His chest doesn’t move and, besides my strained sobs, his breath is so faint I have to lean down to listen properly.

“Come on, breathe,” I whisper. “You can’t die on me. You said you were going to protect me. So, you can’t die, you old man.”

I nearly think it’s a fragment of my imagination as his Adam's apple bobs ever so slightly. “Xander, breathe!”

Hope explodes in my chest as I feel the warmth of his breath fan my cheek. “Come on, you can do better than that.”

His breaths come out stronger, but a small puddle of dark blood pools beneath his side as his chest faintly rises and falls.

“B-blo…”

It’s barely a whisper against the rush of my heartbeat in my ringing ears. “Shh, you’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”

I’m not sure if I'm saying it to Xander or myself. Hell, I could be talking to Nyx, who prowls slowly behind me, Pumpkin matching her strides.

“B…”

“What?” My brows furrow, and I lean in closer, the shell of my ear sweeping across his lips.