Once Forbidden(15)
Her hands were shaking. What happened to the super strength vampires were supposed to have? She felt as weak as a newborn kitten. “Why am I so weak?” she asked after she’d tied the robe tightly at her waist.
“You need to drink,” he said calmly, crossing his arms against his broad chest. He leaned against the door and watched her.
She shivered. “I have to drink blood?”
“Of course,” he said.
“Oh God, you’ve turned me into a monster,” she said, her voice breaking.
Devlin’s eyes darkened and narrowed. “No, Sarah, I gave you a chance to live,” he snapped angrily. In a blink he was gone.
Sarah sagged against the floor and sobbed. This wasn’t what she wanted. Did she have the nerve to kill herself? How would she even survive on her own?
Unfortunately, the only one with the answers had disappeared.
She suddenly realized that he wasn’t gone, though. He was just in the other room. He’d gone back to the bedroom. Obviously enhanced hearing was a perk. She tried to stand up, and realized she was simply too weak. “Devlin?”
Devlin was kneeling next to her in the next instant. “I’m sorry, love. I shouldn’t have gotten angry. Let me help you.” He lifted her easily into his arms and carried her back to his room.
He’d removed the bloody clothes and comforter, and he placed her on the cool sheets. “I’m sorry, but you have to drink,” he said quietly.
“I know,” she said. She watched as he poured the blood from the donor bag into the wine glass. With shaking hands, she took the glass. “Is it terrible?”
Devlin shook his head. “No, love. You’ll like it, actually.”
She doubted that, but took a tentative sip of the warm liquid. Instantly, she felt her incisors grow and her hunger grew. The blood was marvelous! It wasn’t at all coppery as she’d remembered. This was actually sweet—delicious. She drained the glass and almost immediately felt better. “I feel better.”
“Yes,” he agreed. “I’d imagine you do.”
“So what happens now?” Why was he looking at her like that? His eyes were dark and his breathing had quickened. “What is it?”
“I want you,” he said huskily. “But now isn’t the time.”
Sarah shivered. She touched his cheek. “I’m—not sure I want to make love.”
His smile was sad. “No, I don’t imagine you do. Tell me about the attack, Sarah. Who hurt you?”
Sarah sat up and leaned back against the headboard. “I don’t know who it was. He just said it was a warning for you.”
“For me particularly?” he asked quickly.
Sarah nodded. “He said ‘Tell Devlin, if you see him that is, that vampires are not to mix with humans.’”
“Sarah, did you tell anyone about me?” he demanded. “How did anyone even know I’d been with you?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m sorry, that was all he said before he stabbed me.”
Devlin shook his head. “That makes no sense, Sarah. How would the Hunters know about you? Are you a Hunter?”
She shook her head. “Of course not! I don’t even know what exactly a Hunter is!”
“They kill our kind. Then how could he possibly have known about us? About me? I don’t exactly make a habit of consorting with humans, you know.”
Sarah clenched her fists. “I said I don’t know.”
“And I’m not buying it!” he snapped. “No one knew about us—except us!”
Chapter Nine
Sarah felt an unaccustomed surge of rage. She pounded on him with her fists. “I said I don’t know! Who would I tell?” she shrieked. “Who would have believed me?”
Devlin sighed. She was right. He’d barely left her alone since he’d gone to her. Had it really only been the night before? Devlin grabbed her pounding fists and kissed each one. “I am sorry, love. I almost lost you,” he said, mildly amused at the fire shooting from her eyes. This was the first time he’d seen her angry, and damned if it didn’t turn him on. Her blue eyes were narrowed and she was glaring at him.
But it was the pain that caused all thoughts of amusement to fade. “Forgive me, Sarah. I have to figure this out—or I can’t protect you,” he explained. Sarah had finally stopped struggling and trying to pummel him, so he released her hands after kissing them again. “There is much I need to teach you, love.”
Sarah was still glaring. “But you believe me?”
“I believe you.”
She nodded once jerkily. “So, what now, Devlin? What happens with me?”