Davina (Davy Harwood #3)(55)

“Why?”

She asked that one word, but instead of the impatience or even understanding that the old Davy would have, she sounded careless. It was like she was curious, as if the idea of exhaustion was a new concept to her.

He gritted his teeth and tried to quell his anger.

Davy’s eyes sharpened. Her head tilted to the side and the age-old hierarchy was switched. He was no longer the predator that every vampire was to a human. He was her prey. Gavin knew it, and Davy knew it. A faint grin teased at the corner of her mouth, but it only remained a faint glimmer. Her eyes remained cold and soulless.

He shifted to the back of his heel. “The humans need to rest.”

Davy stepped aside so she could see Cal and Spencer. As her dead gaze left him, Gavin could breathe. He’d been under her attention, which was a spell in itself now. He had to do something. This couldn’t continue. She would be gone and the allegiance he owed his best friend, to watch over his lover wouldn’t be upheld. He would be letting Lucas down. He couldn’t do that. As Davy continued to study the humans, Gavin cast a quick look at Tracey and Gregory. He saw similar unsettled looks in their faces.

“You are too tired?” Davy asked Cal and Spencer.

Neither answered. They glanced behind them, tucking their hands against their sides. Their shoulders hunched down, like they were trying to make themselves seem smaller. They wanted to run from her.

Davy’s eyes narrowed. “You are not too tired? Why are you not answering me?”

Gavin cleared his throat. His hand went to his sword, but he only gripped the handle. He didn’t pull it out. “Davy, this is enough.”

She looked back. He braced himself, knowing how her gaze now felt, and as it settled on him, he felt all his breath being stolen. It was being drawn out of him, slowly, and at a torturous rate. Her eyes fell to his sword and though there was no reaction on her face, he felt her attention sharpen.

She asked, “You would use that on me?”

“Davy . . .” He wavered, but he had to address the problem. “You’re different. You’re almost unrecognizable.”

He searched her face, but nothing. There was no response. There wasn’t even anger. Just . . . nothing. Her face remained flat as she asked, “How so?”

“Come on,” Tracey burst out. She surged forward, throwing her hands out. “Look at you. You’re not even like us anymore. We have emotions and with you—there’s nothing. You’re cut off. You’re empty. You’re—”

“Bat shit crazy,” Spencer supplied, moving forward.

Cal snorted behind him. “Ditto on that. I used to think she was hot.”

“Yeah.” Spencer said over his shoulder to him, “If you’re into Terminator Dominatrix.”

Davy was quiet, but she asked, “I’m like a robot?”

“No.” Cal and Spencer started to talk at the same time. Gavin threw both a look. “Shut up.”

They did.

He turned back to Davy and held a hand out toward her. “Davy, this isn’t you. This is The Immortal taking over you. It’s happening. What you didn’t want to happen, losing yourself to her, it’s happening. You’re losing your humanity.”

He waited, almost hoping for a murderous reaction from her.

“My humanity?”

He closed his eyes. She was gone. That one question was spoken as if she’d been asked the weather. There was nothing left. He saw that now. His anger buried deep in him, but alongside it was an anchor, pulling it low and helping to drive it further inside of him. She was gone. He had let Lucas down.

He cast a sideways look to Tracey and Gregory. A deep sadness clung to both.

She was gone.

“Davy—” Gavin cleared his throat.

“The humans are tired. That’s what you’re saying.”

She didn’t get it. So much more happened here than just those few words, but he nodded. He felt a heavy weight on his shoulder, heavier than he ever remembered experiencing before. He murmured, so softly, “Yes, Davy. They’re tired. They can’t keep up with you.”

“Then stay here with them.” She angled her head to the side again. “Or kill them.”

“Dude!” Spencer cried out. “What the fuck?”

Cal groaned. “Why do I get the feeling this isn’t going to end well?”

Davy started toward them. “If you cannot keep up, you’re no longer useful. I can relieve your pain right now.” Her hand stretched out, a single finger pointing toward them.

Both jumped back. Their hands came up, and they were shaking their heads. Their arms began waving back and forth in front of them.

“No, no.”