Reclamation (The Ravening #3)(25)
Author: Erica Stevens

I felt wetness on my cheek and lifted my hand to wipe it away. I stared at the clear liquid trembling on my finger in confusion. I’d never seen it before. It was the first and only tear I’d ever shed. I hadn’t even known we were capable of such a thing, but there it was, the evidence that I was capable of such a human thing. It didn’t make any difference though, I wasn’t human.

***

The haunting memories of that time and place drifted away as I gradually began to become aware of my body once more. Every part of me was tender when I moved and I could feel where the needle had repeatedly pierced my flesh but I knew that I would be fine. There was a haze clouding my mind and I recognized it as the enduring effects of whatever drug Bishop had given me.

It must have been the drug that had triggered the memory of that time and place. A time that I hadn’t thought of since I’d finally escaped that hideous encampment. There was nothing about it that I had ever wanted to recall, not the endless crying of broken humans, the repugnant smell of burning flesh, or the blood that I had consumed while trying to pretend that I was still one of them. I hadn’t killed anyone; there had been no need to as the blood supply seemed endless, and the cups of it overflowing. Though some of my kind had taken pleasure in torturing and slaughtering the humans, most of them were content to listen and watch their misery unfold without getting their hands dirty.

I could taste blood on my tongue now, fresh blood, human blood, but it wasn’t Bethany’s. Her blood was better than the finest wine or sweetest chocolate. Her blood infused me with even more strength and made me feel as if I could conquer the world. No, this blood wasn’t hers but it had helped, as I already knew the thread that had been required to knit my skin back together was no longer necessary.

I could sense Bethany nearby though and the scent of her was enough to drive my thirst to nearly epic levels. The other blood should have been enough to dampen my appetite, but just the thought of her was enough to make me spiral nearly out of control.

I had stayed away from her and in that hideous place to keep her safe, and if I hadn’t felt her intense agony through the bond that we shared when she’d been injured, I might have waited even longer before returning to her. I had been tempted to let her live her life so that I didn’t damage her, but after feeling her pain I hadn’t been able to stay away. I’d told myself I would be able to control myself around her, but I’d never be able to control myself if I felt our bond irrevocably severed by her death and I hadn’t been there to save her.

Now however, as my eyes cracked open and landed upon her I knew that I couldn’t control myself. The golden aura or halo that encircled her, and none of the others, instantly drew my attention. It seemed to pulse with vitality as it called to me, begging me to taste her, to take from her what I had denied myself for years and had only just recently got a brief taste of.

That brief taste hadn’t been enough, I wanted more. I wanted it all and I wasn’t sure I could be denied anymore as my veins lit with fire and hunger blazed to life within me.

Chapter 12

Bethany,

"Bethany?"

I jolted and nearly fell over as my head flew up from my knees. My eyes burned from lack of sleep and my body ached from sitting on the concrete floor. Aiden and Bret stirred and blinked against the light as Jenna subtly moved away from Cade. I leapt to my feet as his face twisted in his sleep. He muttered my name again and his eyelids fluttered open. Aiden rested his hand on my arm as Cade stirred even more but didn’t completely awaken.

The breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding exploded out of me as he remained asleep. I wanted Cade to wake up; I wanted to know that he was going to be ok.

I swore as I spun away. Jenna gasped loudly; I was turning back around when hands grabbed hold of my arms, lifted me off the ground, and pushed me into the wall. A startled cry died in my throat as Cade’s mouth seized hold of mine. His grip was firm, and the wall bit into my back, but I didn’t feel the pain as it was quickly buried by the sensation of his tongue sweeping into my mouth.

The darkness rose up within him to brush against my soul and I gave myself over to it. He supported my weight when my knees buckled. Something inside of me seemed to twist and turn as I felt him latch onto my soul. A slight tug pulled at the very core of my being but instead of fighting against it, I gave myself over to him as I relished in the feel of him within me again.

He pulled away abruptly and dropped his forehead against mine. His ragged breathing caused his shoulders and chest to heave, his hands eased their grip but he didn’t release me. Threading his fingers through my hair, my body instinctively pressed closer to his as his mouth trailed over my cheeks. His breath was warm against the hollow of my throat as he buried his face there.

So vulnerable, I realized.

He’d always been so strong, so sure, and fast. However he was clinging to me like a squirrel clung to an acorn. I was his weakness. I was his downfall. I was the one that could push him over the thin precipice of control he maintained, the one that could make such a powerful man unbelievably weak. He never would have been injured if it hadn’t been for me, he never would have left our makeshift room, and he never would have gone after those things alone if he hadn’t been trying to protect me.

I knew in that instant that there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t give to him, even parts of my soul.

I bent my head to his and tenderly kissed the stitches on his cheek as I savored in his scent and lost myself to the feel of him. He shuddered as he lifted his head. His eyes were filled with black, but they didn’t appear unseeing or enraged as they searched my face with reverence.

"Are you ok?" he demanded in a raspy voice.

"Yes."

"I didn’t hurt you?"

"Never."

I smiled at him, but the tension didn’t leave the chiseled planes of his face. His eyes slid closed before they opened to the clear onyx depths I knew and loved so well. "Never say never," he murmured.

"Cade…"

He didn’t give me a chance to finish as he wrapped his arm around my waist and turned to face the other people crowded into the room. "Thank you."

Their expressions were wary as their eyes darted between the two of us. Please stay ok with this, I pleaded silently. I didn’t know what Cade would do if they turned against him now but I knew that we would have to leave. We couldn’t stay here when there was a possibility they would hurt him, or he would hurt them.

He stood proudly before me but I could sense the fatigue that still held tight to him. I rested my hand on his arm as I pressed closer against him.

Aiden cleared his throat as some of the astonishment faded from his face. "You’re uh… welcome," he stammered.