“I’m not going to die on you. I promise.” He reached to touch my face, streaking blood along my cheek in the process. “It will never be that easy to leave you.”
“Don’t talk about leaving me. We’re going home. You need to shift.” I tugged at what remained of his clothing. Shifting would speed the healing process, and near the full moon, that would be even more effective.
He didn’t fight my attempt to unclothe him. His eyes rolled from me to where Arys stood over Harley who continued to howl like a wounded animal. I wrapped my hand around Shaz’ forearm and pulled him to his feet.
“You know I love you, right?” He tried to give me his amazing grin, but it was pained and said more to me than he would ever admit.
“Is that why you dared to get yourself slaughtered? He isn’t worth it. I need you.
Alive.”
Shaz was so far gone already. It was eating him alive to resist the natural pull to be wolf. His eyes shone with pain that echoed inside me.
“Shift dammit! You need to. I’m getting us out of here.”
I turned to find Arys hovering over his injured sire. To my utter surprise, he held Harley’s face cupped tenderly in his hands. As I stared in wonder at the two vampires, Shaz was a burst of white fur beside me. I really hoped I wouldn’t have to restrain him. In that form, he had a very distinct weight advantage over me.
A long, angry growl rumbled from his chest, but he didn’t move. I reached a tentative hand out to touch his resilient yet impossibly soft fur. His cold, wet nose nuzzled my palm as if assuring me that he was calm enough, but the low growl never ceased.
A small bloodstain stood out on his shaggy white coat but already the flow from the vampire bite eased. Without doubt, he would be fine.
“Arys?” I spoke softly, aware that his focus was elsewhere.
With Arys gazing deep into his eyes, Harley grew calm. His cries stopped, and I knew Arys was doing that soothing thing that he did so well with me on occasion. In addition to the rush of power enveloping us, the calm emotion was somehow lulling.
I watched, curiosity silencing me, as Arys leaned in so close I thought he was going to kiss the other vampire. Inches away, his lips moved. He spoke so low that even with my enhanced hearing I had to strain to make out the words.
“Never again will I stop her. Next time, you die. And, though a part of me loves you still in some perverse way, I will have no regrets.” And then, he did kiss Harley. The barest brush of lips so brief I had to question if it had been imagined.
Kale stood a few feet away, watching silently. He was an amazing friend. It’s too bad that Kylarai hadn’t been able to love him the way he needed.
When Arys rose to his full height, there was no missing the red tears that filled his blue eyes. I realized more had just passed between them than I was really aware of.
Harley never budged from where he knelt. His head bowed and hands clasped, he seemed to be awaiting our exit.
In just a matter of mere moments, the entire dynamic had shifted. When a crimson tear hit the carpet, I took an involuntary step backwards, into Shaz. Ignoring Shaz’ noise of protest, I grabbed my purse and pushed him toward the door; Kale followed with soundless footsteps. The hallway beyond remained eerily quiet.
Of all of the things I wanted to bear witness to right then, Harley Kayson in emotional distress was not one of them. I was simply too sensitive tonight, and I hated him. I couldn’t allow myself to be swayed by his much deserved personal torment. I wanted him to suffer.
When I stood framed in the doorway, I looked back over my shoulder. Each vampire remained as I’d left him.
A strange energy tickled along the back of my neck. The feeling was unexplainable, like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“I want her, Sindarys.” There was a noticeable tremor in Harley’s low voice. “And, you owe me. What’s one werewolf to you?” His words ignited the fire in Shaz, and I had to throw my arms around his neck to keep him from barreling back in there.
The chill that ran through me at Harley’s calmly spoken words almost hurt. I didn’t like being spoken of like a possession. An object. A power source.
“You never learn, do you my friend?” Arys’ reaction was nothing like Shaz’. He merely regarded Harley with a look filled with scorn and pity. “I’m sorry it always has to be this way.”
He wanted to say something else; I could feel it. With a glance at Shaz and me in the doorway, he shrugged his wide shoulders and turned his back on the vampire that made him.
Chapter Eighteen