Ashes (Page 45)

Devon tried not to think about the many things that Julian could have done to her already. Things that Devon could never fix. His skin crawled as he flew down the hall. The bathroom was right there, just out of reach, but so very close.

The door shattered outward, wood splintered as the door was forced to go in a direction it was not designed to. Cassie and Julian tumbled out of the wreckage; they bounced off the wall before slamming onto the floor. Shock tore through him as he moved. Cassie lurched up, trying to rip free of Julian’s grasp, but he clung tight to her. Swinging around, her fist connected with his cheek, snapping his head to the side.

The scent of her blood, soap, and terror hung heavy in the air but Devon had prepared himself for the scent of her blood this time. Instead of the smell sending him into a bloodlust again, it only served to enrage him further. He would destroy Julian for hurting her; destroy him for even daring to touch her. Julian also seemed to have prepared himself for the scent of her blood this time. Instead of becoming wild and crazed with his need to get at her, he remained in complete control of himself as he reached for Cassie again.

Scrambling forward, Cassie was nearly free of him when Julian reached out, snagged hold of her ankle, and jerked her back. With a startled cry, she fell to the floor, her chin bouncing off the ground with a sharp crack as her hands gave out. Devon winced for her as the sound of her teeth crashing together reached him. She screamed as Julian pulled her toward him. Turning onto her back, she kicked forcefully out. Devon was momentarily stunned by the force of her blow. He knew Julian’s strength, knew his powers, and what he was capable of. But the force of her blow jerked his head back, the crack of his jaw resonated loudly as Julian growled in pain. Though she connected hard, he did not let go of her.

Devon roared, his bellow of fury echoing throughout the halls of the school. Cassie’s head whipped toward him, her relief was palpable; her fear nearly choked him. Julian looked up, his eyes widening as a small smile curved his mouth.

Releasing Cassie, he leapt gracefully to his feet. Devon bounded over top of her, seizing hold of Julian’s throat as he slammed into him. For the first time in over a century he fully released the beast that he had been struggling to keep locked away. It tore free of him with a savage intensity that was more of a relief than he wanted to acknowledge. He would annihilate Julian, not only for hurting her, but for daring to touch her at all. All reason fled, his humanity vanished as the monster in him took complete control and his lust for the kill sprang forth.

The metal of the lockers twisted and folded, bending beneath their weights with a tortured screech. Growls filled the air as they tore at each other with the frenzy of wild animals. Devon was so infuriated, so enraged that he did not feel the blow that sliced through his side, spilling his blood. Nor did Julian slow when Devon shattered his arm against the water cooler in the hall.

***

Cassie crab crawled backward, desperate to escape as Julian’s grip was torn free. She watched in horror, her heart leaping into her throat as Devon collided with him, smashing him into the lockers. The growls and roars that filled the air caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand up. Though she knew she should flee, she found herself unable to move as she watched the brutal fight in horror.

She had never seen so much violence and hatred. They tore at each other with the frenzy she associated with sharks when they smelled blood. The copper scent of blood filled the air, but neither of them slowed in their assault, neither stopped. They were hell bent on killing each other.

She couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe. It was like watching a train wreck, but this wreck involved the love of her life, a person that she did not even recognize right now. His eyes were red with murderous intent, his face twisted into a brutal snarl. His long canines, fangs even longer than Julian’s, extended past his lower lip as he tore at Julian. She did not know this person, but she did know that he would kill for her. That what he wanted right now was to destroy and mutilate for her.

Terror for him filled her. He may be stronger and faster than Julian, but that did not guarantee a win. Anything could go wrong. One small mistake could mean the end of his life.

They rolled along the lockers, twisting and destroying the metal as they moved. Locks were torn off, shattering upon the ground. Devon was bleeding badly, blood dripped down his side, splashing on the ground. She could not leave him here. Not alone, and not with that monster.

Leaping to her feet, Cassie’s gaze darted back to the bathroom. Her purse was somewhere in there, a small stake tucked discreetly inside. The problem was that she did not want to leave the fight for even a second, let alone the amount of time it would take for her to find the thing.

Her attention was snagged back as Devon bellowed loudly, smashing the palm of his hand into Julian’s chest. The force of the blow shattered ribs, their loud cracking filled the air. Cassie’s mouth dropped as Julian flew backward a good ten feet before slamming into a classroom door. The glass in the center shattered, the frame bent, and the doorknob was torn off.

She took a fear filled step back, she did not belong here. This was not her fight, not anymore, but no matter how much she wanted her feet to move, no matter how much she wanted to escape, she knew that she would not leave him. If something were to happen to him, then she was going to be here, and she was going to give him whatever help she could.

Julian shook his head, trying to clear it as he attempted to rise to his feet. He stumbled back, a wheezing sound escaping him. Attempting to rise to his feet again, he staggered slightly forward before dropping again. Devon stepped in his way, a loud growl escaping him as Julian’s gaze darted briefly back to her. Though he was no longer smiling, there was still an oddly amused twinkle in Julian’s ice blue eyes that left Cassie unsettled. He did not seem concerned about the fact that he was losing right now.

She also did not like the way that he was studying her. It was too intent, too questioning, and there was a strange, unsettling gleam in his eyes. It was as if he saw far too much, as if he understood her in a way that she didn’t even understand herself. As if he understood her in a way that even Devon didn’t. His gaze came slowly back to hers, his blond eyebrows drawn tightly together. There was a stunned look in his eyes, a dawning realization that unnerved her as much as it confused her.

She wanted to wrap her arms around herself, wanted to shrink from that strangely comprehensive stare, but she found herself unable to move from his penetrating stare.

“Don’t look at her!” Devon spat, taking a defensive step forward. His shoulders were locked tight, his hands fisted at his sides as his body thrummed with fury.