The creature’s claws clicked on the stone floor as he moved around the stone slab. Justin felt his death coming. Elron would do exactly as Justin had feared. He slowly opened his eyes and looked up to see the hatred gleaming in Elron’s eyes. The werewolf intended to finish him.
With a burst of speed he hadn’t known he could muster, Justin raced toward Wulf. He yanked on the chains desperately, but they wouldn’t come loose. “I’m sorry for this,” he said to Demetri’s bodyguard. “If Demetri hadn’t left you to watch over me, then you wouldn’t—”
“I volunteered to watch over you,” Wulf said as his eyes darted to the approaching beast. “None of this is your fault.”
But it felt like it. Since discovering what he was, Caleb had been sent away, Aberdeen had lost his ever-loving mind, and now Wulf was going to die along with Justin. What part of being a vampire was good?
He moved away from Wulf, hoping Elron’s lust for death only extended to him. Justin didn’t want Wulf to die. Not here. Not today. Justin’s back hit the wall, and he eased down its length as he headed for the open door. Elron followed his every move, those sickening nails click, click, clicking.
It didn’t appear as if Elron was in a hurry to finish Justin. Maybe this was some twisted thrill for the creature. Hunting its prey. Justin winced and bit back a cry as his burnt skin scraped over the stones of the wall. He could still feel the burning holes the claws had made. He was losing blood once more.
“Run,” Wulf shouted. “Get out of here, Justin.”
“There is no running,” Justin said. “He’ll catch me too easily. I’m still so weak and wounded.”
Elron moved closer, his long strides eating up the distance. He was a few feet away, his claws in front of him, sharp and ready to tear Justin to shreds. Just as the beast moved in front of Justin, a triumphant gleam in those red eyes, a whistle rent the air.
Chapter Fifteen
The creature backed away and loped out the door. Justin could finally breathe. He hurried over to Wulf and tried once again to free the man. “What was that? Not that I’m complaining, but why did Elron take off?”
“I have no idea,” Wulf said, but Justin could tell the man was lying. He let it go. For now they were safe, but Justin wasn’t sure for how long. Elron could be back at any second, and Justin needed to get Wulf out of the chains. But his fingers fumbled and wouldn’t work. They were still burnt and pulsing with pain as he jammed his fingers between Wulf’s wrists and the iron.
“Stop,” Wulf said. “Don’t put yourself in any more pain.”
“But I have to get you out of this.” Justin tried once more to work the shackle free, but the skin on the tips of his fingers began to flake. He jerked his hand back and stared at his fingers, whimpering and wondering if he would ever fully heal, or would he be left with hideous scars? The skin around the pads of his fingers was charred, and Justin wondered if the rest of his body was this bad. It felt like it. His whole body was one big ball of pain.
Would Demetri still want him if Justin looked like Frankenstein, pieces of him scarred so deeply that even Justin would shrink back from his appearance? He thought of the basement in the asylum when Caleb had joked about freak experiments, and Justin suddenly felt like one. Even under his clothes, his skin was burnt. He could feel the lashing pain ride up his legs and around his chest. The thin material of his lounging pants and T-shirt had done nothing to protect his sensitive skin.
He spun when he heard a sharp intake of breath. Demetri was standing in the doorway, the expression on his face one of horror. He moved quickly to Wulf and yanked the chains from the wall. Justin’s life had turned to hell, yet he stood there immensely impressed by Demetri’s show of strength. Even Wulf—as big as he was—hadn’t been able to break free.
That only told Justin that Demetri was truly powerful. Like you didn’t know that before. He did, but the demonstration only confirmed it.
“Go help the others,” Demetri said to Wulf. “Don’t kill any vampires.” Demetri grunted. “They’re actually on our side. Help them capture Elron.”
Wulf strode out of the room, chains dangling from his wrists. Demetri turned his attention to Justin, and Justin shrank back. “Don’t look at me.”
“What have they done to you, love?” Demetri’s voice was strained as he drew closer. Justin backpedaled until he slammed into the wall. He cried out in pain but tried to keep Demetri from touching him. He was hideous. Why would Demetri want to touch him?
“Just go.” Justin lowered his head as his chest felt as if it were being crushed from the inside. “I won’t be mad if you don’t want me anymore.” But I’ll feel like I’m dying. I’ll never want anyone else the way I want Demetri.