Reclamation (The Ravening #3)(20)
Author: Erica Stevens

"You need me," I stated flatly.

"No," he grated from behind clenched teeth.

I was grateful he didn’t pretend not to know what I was talking about. I refused to back down though. "Yes Cade. You need my blood and you need my soul."

"I said no!" he retorted.

"It will help you heal, you know that. I know that." He shrank away from me as he shook his head. "It won’t hurt me. I’m giving it to you." He was still shaking his head when I grasped hold of his chin, the only part of him that didn’t appear to be coated in blood. "It will hurt me more if you die!" I snapped.

His grasp on my hand was surprisingly strong, yet tender, given his condition. There was a fire in his eyes as he leaned closer. "In the condition I am in I will not stop Bethany, not if it’s you. I would rather die than do such a thing to you." The hair on my neck stood on end as his gaze flickered past me. "Now get her the hell away from me Aiden!"

I spun at his words and instinctively leaned closer to Cade as I tried to shield him from Aiden. There was no hiding what Cade was right now, there was no way to deny the darkness within him as it pulsed and swirled throughout his entire body.

"Stay back!" I cried as I pushed myself more firmly against Cade even as he tried to hold me away. "He’ll see," I whispered.

"It’s too late Bethany. Please, you have to get away. You’re smell, ah you’re smell…" His fingers wrapped into my hair as he drew me closer and inhaled deeply. My pulse quickened as I thought he would finally see reason and give into the needs of his body. Give into the one thing that would save him. Instead, he recoiled from me as he shoved against my arms. "Get her away. Aiden get her away from me!"

A protest rose in my throat as Aiden grabbed my arms. I fought against him but in the end it was the tormented look on Cade’s face that caused me to relent to his wishes. Tears slid down my face as I allowed Aiden to pull me away. "Get Bishop," Aiden commanded.

"I’m not leaving him," I said forcefully. "And Bishop can’t know."

I expected to see condemnation in Aiden’s gaze; instead I found only hopelessness as he glanced between Cade and I. "You’re presence is upsetting him Bethany, even I can see that. I’ll do what I can, but he’s going to need medical help. Get Bishop."

Cade’s breathing was rapid as he gazed at me from under lowered lids. Blood continued to seep from the brutal wounds in his chest and stomach. No matter what Cade was, Aiden would keep him safe, I knew that, but everything in me was screaming against leaving him in such a vulnerable state.

"I’ll be fine Bethany, go," Cade urged.

I couldn’t withhold the tears that slid down my face. He was in worse shape than I’d realized if he was willing to let me bring Bishop here. "Don’t leave me."

Cade forced a weak smile. "Never."

"I love you." I spun on my heel and fled down the tunnel before I lost all resolve and courage.

Chapter 10

I returned with Bishop to find Aiden giving Cade his blood. The scene stopped me dead in my tracks and Bishop bumped into my back. Aiden withdrew swiftly and tried to use his hand to cover his cut but blood seeped between his fingers and Bishop was too astute to have missed what was happening.

Bishop’s dove-colored eyes were practically bulging behind his glasses when I turned toward him. "You have to help him," I pleaded, desperate for Bishop to understand.

Bishop’s mouth finally closed, but his eyes were still frantic as they bounced between Aiden and I. "He told me my blood would help, before he passed out," Aiden said quietly. "I think he still got some after."

"What…" Bishop’s voice was garbled as he tried to find words. He was probably the smartest person I’d ever met, but I was fairly certain his brain wasn’t computing what he was seeing. Though he had passed out, the veins in Cade’s arms and the backs of his hands were still more defined against his paler than normal skin. "He’s not human." Bishop looked as if someone had punched him in the gut and stolen all his money as it completely sank in. "He’s one of them."

Aiden grasped hold of Bishop’s arm before I could. "I was stunned too, but I don’t think he’s a danger…"

"He’s not!" I blurted.

Aiden’s eyes flickered to me before he focused on Bishop again. "He saved me. He saved us." Aiden looked at Cade in bewilderment and then at me as he tried to reconcile the fact that although Cade was one of the things that had forced us into these tunnels, and taken our mother from us, he was not our enemy. "He loves her, more than anything."

I couldn’t breathe as I watched the play of conflicted emotions that flashed across Aiden’s face. "Please," I begged as I turned my attention back to Bishop. "Bishop, please help him."

Before my eyes, I watched as Bishop resolved himself to do what he had to. He may have been mostly a research doctor, but he had stitched and sewed and treated live patients before, myself included. Setting the supplies he’d brought with him down, he set to work immediately on treating the numerous cuts and gashes that marred Cade’s body.

Unable to watch, I turned away as I tried not to cry. Cade moaned repeatedly as Bishop worked on him but I couldn’t bring myself to look. A loud shout echoed through the room and caused me to spin around. Bishop’s hand was knocked aside, the needle and thread bounced against Cade’s chest as a vicious snarl erupted from him and he bolted upright. His eyes were completely black; his veins flooded with ebony color once more. Bishop was gaping as he fell back and scrambled to get out of the way.

Aiden grabbed hold of me as I launched forward. Cade’s gaze swung toward us, and though I felt it latch onto me, I knew that he didn’t see anything. Ice pooled through me as I realized he might just rip us all to shreds, and he would never even know what he’d done if he remained trapped within the depths of whatever delusion held him.

I ripped away from Aiden as Cade launched at Bishop with his hands curled. If he got a hold of Bishop he would shred the thin doctor. "No!" I shouted as I thrust myself between them.

Cade fell against me, his face was warped and cruel as it hovered just inches over me. I barely recognized the man I loved as his face lowered toward mine. He would hate himself for doing it, destroy himself because of it, but as of right now the creature hovering above me knew only that it sought my blood and soul. I turned my face away from him as he pressed closer against me. His fingernails scraped against my skin, a growl of pleasure escaped him when the scent of my blood hit the air.

I was barely able to move my hand for fear that it would draw an instant attack from him, but I was able to do so enough to wave Aiden back. If he tried to attack Cade there was no way that I would be able to stop Cade from destroying us all. Aiden froze as he looked between Cade and me.