chapter 23
“I’ll get some towels!” Mike yelled.
Liam barely heard him as he strode across the room with Sera wrapped tightly in his arms. Her head lolled against his shoulder. Blood had seeped through the shirt he had wrapped around her; it now ran down his stomach to wet the edge of his jeans, and his skin. Normally the amount of blood she had lost wouldn’t be a worry, but she was still so new, so weak and unsure of her abilities. She could staunch the blood flow on her own, from the inside out, and she had done some of it, but not enough. Her body would do the rest on its own, but Liam wasn’t sure if it would happen in time. One thing was for sure, she needed blood, and she needed it now. Unfortunately, although he had fed earlier, he was now weak and drained from blood loss himself.
He laid her gently on the bed and sat beside her as he pulled back the shirt to examine her wounds. Deep claw marks had torn through her flesh to reveal the sharp white of the bone beneath. The marks that she had managed to heal still showed some of the muscle. The wounds in her neck had healed completely, but blood still streaked her skin, and wet the collar of her shirt.
“Here.”
Liam took the towels that Mike offered and pressed them tightly against her side. Sera moaned softly, but remained unconscious. Liam’s brow furrowed as he pressed it tighter against her. Mike hovered worriedly by his side. “She doesn’t look so good,” he said softly.
“I know that!” Liam snapped. Mike’s eyes darted worriedly to him, but he refrained from saying anything else. “She’ll be fine as long as we get some blood in her.”
Liam gently soothed her hair back from her brow. The ends of it were streaked in vivid red. He desperately hoped that it wasn’t too late already, that she hadn’t already slipped past a line that he wouldn’t be able to cross. His hand tightened upon the towels, she didn’t even flinch.
He couldn’t lose her. The thought tore his heart and soul to shreds. He wouldn’t lose her. He couldn’t allow it. Blood seeped through the towels to wet his hands again. “Take these.”
He gave them to Mike and he disappeared into the bathroom to get more. Liam examined the wound again. More muscle had formed, but the process seemed to have stalled. He pressed a fresh towel tightly against her side.
“She’ll be all right,” he whispered.
Mike didn’t say anything as he handed over more towels and knelt by Liam’s side. He gave him a questioning look before reaching out and taking hold of her hand. Liam shot him an angry look but didn’t say anything. “I’m sure she will.” Mike sounded doubtful as he squeezed Sera’s hand and released it.
Liam closed his eyes and bent his head. She was still and cold beneath his touch. He could feel the waning strength within her; feel the tenuous hold she had upon life. Her breath barely caused her chest to rise. “Where are they?” he demanded.
“They’ll be here soon.”
Liam glanced hopelessly around the small hotel room. A knock on the door snapped his head around. Mike jumped to his feet and hurried to open it. David, Doug, and Jack came into the room, each pulling someone along with them. There was a dull, glazed look in the eyes of the people as they stood silently within the doorway. Doug shut the door and ushered them further into the room. Liam didn’t care that two of them were women, and that Sera would be upset. It didn’t matter right now.
He climbed swiftly to his feet. “Hold this,” he told Mike.
Mike hurried forward as Liam dragged the first girl into the bathroom.
***
Liam cradled Sera’s head as he pressed her mouth firmly against the slit he had made at the base of his throat. She was too weak to feed on her own, too weak to even move. He held her tightly as the blood trickled down her throat and seeped into her veins. He could feel it healing her wounds as muscle and skin slowly repaired itself.
Even though he could feel all of that, she was still weak, and unresponsive. If he hadn’t been holding her, she would have fallen back to the bed. He clung to her, praying for her safety, for her life. He had done nothing to deserve her, but if he lost her now, he knew he wouldn’t be able to survive it.
Sera please, he sent the desperate plea into her mind through his blood. He felt a small flicker of a response as he continued to plead with her, to wish her to live. Her hands twitched in his lap. He clung tighter to her, fighting back the waves of hope that crashed through him. It was too soon to hope, too soon to know if she was truly going to be all right. Please, he pleaded over and over again.
Her mouth twitched upon his neck and she swallowed for herself. His hands dug tighter into her hair as her teeth pressed against his neck. He turned his head as she bit deep into him. He clung to her, allowing her to take whatever she needed, whatever would help her. Her hands twitched again, and then her arms wrapped around his back.
Her mind filtered slowly into his. He could feel her weakness, feel her hunger, and hear the silent tears she shed. Her love enveloped him in a cocoon, and for the first time in hours, he was certain that she was going to survive. He was unable to get her close enough, unable to feel enough of her as relief filled him.
Eventually she released her hold upon him. Her darkened eyes landed upon him as she managed a weak smile. “You’re going to be okay,” he said softly.
She nodded slowly. He lifted her easily off the bed and carried her into the bathroom. Although she was sated, and her wounds healed, she was still incredibly weak. He set her down on the edge of the tub and quickly stripped her bloodied clothes off of her. She watched him silently, her skin so pale it was nearly translucent and her eyes shadowed.
Blood streaked across her cheekbones, hair, stomach, and thighs. Dark scratches still marred her side. For the first time her naked body didn’t bring him to instant arousal. Instead, all he felt was a need to care for her, to protect her, and shield her. He quickly shed his own clothes, scooped her back up, and held her gently against his chest as he stepped into the tub. He turned the water on and adjusted the temperature before pulling the tab for the shower. The water hit them with stinging hot needles. She rested her head weakly against his chest as the blood flowed off them. The water ran red for a long time as he gently washed it from her hair and body.
Stepping from the shower, he wrapped her within a towel and carried her back to the bed. He crawled in beside her, and pulled her gently against his side. She curled against him, her tiny hand clinging to his chest as she slowly drifted to sleep. He held her tightly, staring at the ceiling as she breathed slowly, easily, her body warm, and comforting against his side.