She couldn’t kill him, but she couldn’t let him go either. The chemicals released in her bite would paralyze the man without harming him and she would be able to erase his memories of her.
Distaste and distress washed through her as she sank her teeth into his neck. The foul taste of Ray’s blood washed through her mouth, gagging her. Unfortunately, along with the blood came the man’s sad, tortured memories of his life.
Tory tried not to swallow any of the blood, but her starving body demanded it. The raw steak she had purchased was forgotten. A loud snarl filled the air, followed by heavy curses.
Her eyes flickered up in time to see Howie turn to look between two large tombstones. His eyes widened in terror before he turned and bolted, leaving his friend behind. Simon’s dark shape flashed out from where Howie had been looking.
Tory knew that she would have to stop Simon or he would kill the other man. Sending a swift command through the link she now had with Ray, she sent him into a deep slumber. Withdrawing her fangs, she let him drop to the ground.
“Watch him,” Tory choked out. “I have to stop Simon.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the soldier said with a nod.
Tory didn’t wait. She took off running after Simon and Howie. She ignored the fierce burning that was boiling in her stomach and threatened to choke her. She needed fresh blood. Fresh blood that she could drink to dilute the tainted blood she had in her system. She needed Simon’s blood.
She weaved in and out between the headstones. She tried to shift, but her strength and the churning pain building inside her prevented it. She gasped as she heard Howie’s loud scream and the vicious snarl of Simon.
Breaking around the side of a curving oak, she gripped the rough bark to steady her shaking limbs. Drawing in a deep breath, she gazed at where Howie was crouched against the front of a headstone. His left pant leg was torn and the scent of his blood filled the air, adding to Tory’s misery.
“Simon,” she called out weakly. “Simon, please. I need your help. Please, it hurts.”
Chapter 7
It had taken Simon several minutes to pick up the men’s trail. They had parted ways several times and it had made it more difficult. He had finally decided to focus on the tall, lanky male. Out of the two males, Simon was confident that he was the ringleader of the pair.
A red haze had covered his eyes when he saw Tory trapped between the two men. The beast only recognized that the female he had claimed was in danger. When the man he was focused on turned and ran, the instinct to hunt overwhelmed him.
Simon dodged another headstone as he closed the distance between him and his prey. He stretched out with his paw and dragged his razor sharp claws down the male’s left leg. A strangled scream escaped the man as he twisted away.
Harsh sobs filled the air as the human tried to make himself smaller. Simon’s lip curled, revealing his sharp teeth. A loud, menacing snarl escaped him as he stepped closer. His only thought was to rip the male apart for threatening Tory.
He took another step closer. In the distance, he could hear the sound of running feet. Youssef and the select few that knew about him had arrived. He would save Youssef the trouble of hiding this body.
A low growl escaped him when the man tried to reach into his jacket pocket. Simon could smell the faint scent of gunpowder. He turned when he heard Youssef call out a warning.
“I wouldn’t if you want to live,” Youssef warned, aiming his own pistol at the man. “Hands behind your head, roll onto your stomach! Now!”
“Are you fucking crazy! Shoot it! Shoot it!” Howie screamed.
“If I shoot anything, it will be you,” Youssef replied coldly. “You have to the count of two to roll onto your stomach. Otherwise, I will look the other way while he rips you to pieces.”
Simon howled loudly when Howie rolled over onto his stomach on the ground and covered his head with his hands. Huge white paws raked the ground. Dirt, leaves, grass, and moss flew up behind him as he fought the urge to attack.
“We have the other male as well,” Youssef said after a voice spoke in his earpiece. “The girl is missing, though.”
“Simon,” a soft voice called out weakly from the dark shadows of a tree to their right. “Simon, please. I need your help. Please, it hurts.”
Simon’s massive head turned. His glittering blue eyes locked on the bent figure holding onto the tree. A low whine escaped him when he saw Tory slide down to the ground. Her body heaved as if she was about to vomit.
Twisting away from where Youssef and another of his security detail were handcuffing the human male, he padded swiftly over to where Tory half sat, half lay on the moist ground. He pressed his face up against her outstretched hand. A low rumble of approval escaped him when her fingers tightened on the hair at his nape.