“I’ll make sure that you are kept somewhere safer…”
“Like hell!” Chris interrupted Devon sharply.
“There is no need to discuss this. They will be involved,” Zane said forcefully.
“Zane!” Devon hissed.
Zane shook his head, causing his golden hair to fall across his forehead. “I want to see what they can do, what they are capable of.” Zane’s honey eyes landed upon her, a spark of amusement filled them. “I especially want to know what your little sweetheart is capable of.”
Cassie glared at him as she folded her arms over her chest. Devon was trembling with anger, his hands fisted, and the corded muscles in his arms stood out sharply. “I do not want them involved in this!”
“It doesn’t matter what you want. We had an agreement, and this is going to be part of it. No matter what happens these creatures must be destroyed, and I will take all the help that we can get on this. Also, I need to know what she is capable of, how strong she is. She killed Isla; we have to know if she is capable of killing us too.”
Devon glanced sharply back at her, fear evident in his gaze. Cassie stared silently up at him, wide eyed and terrified. He had told her that they could not trust them, but she had still been holding out hope that everything would work out, until now. Julian bristled beside Devon, his ice eyes troubled and hooded as he glanced briefly back at her.
“That wasn’t part of the arrangement,” Julian replied coldly.
“It was an unspoken part,” Zane replied lightly. “And it is a part that will be carried out. Now, where should this battle take place?”
Cassie’s heart thumped loudly, she stared silently at Devon’s back as Zane and the other Elder’s hatched a plan. She was acutely aware of the fact that her side remained completely, and frightfully silent.
“It is settled then.”
Cassie’s head shot up, she peered around Devon’s back as Zane folded his hands before him, a pleased look on his face. Devon remained stiff before her, his back ramrod straight. His gaze was hard upon Robert, who was smiling softly back at him. Julian took a step closer to her, his shoulder brushing briefly against hers. She glanced fearfully up at him. She had thought that he would hate her, or at least not want to be near her after what had happened last night between her and Devon. Instead, he stood loyally beside her, his faith in her absolute.
When he glanced down at her, she saw in his gaze an understanding that left her breathless. Without thinking, she seized hold of his hand, enfolding it tightly in hers. She knew what he might see, knew that images of last night may very well be flooding him and tormenting him further. But she also wanted him to see how much she did care for him, how much she loved and appreciated him, and everything that he had done for her.
His hand tightened around hers. He gave her a brief nod, a small smile played across his mouth. How he understood, and still cared for her, was something that she didn’t understand, but she knew that he did, and that he would not abandon her, or Devon. She turned back to the others, still clinging to Julian.
The Elder’s gazes were fixed upon their joined hands, they were smirks of satisfaction. “This is far more entertaining than even I had imagined,” Robert purred. Anger and hatred boiled through Cassie. Devon glanced briefly back at them, but he showed no signs of a reaction as he spotted their entwined hands. “Maybe we should just allow them to kill each other over her.”
“Now now Robert, what fun would that be? Come along now, we have some disdainful creatures to hunt,” Anastasia said softly, her mouth curved into a cruel smile as she stared hatefully at Cassie.
The Elder’s chuckled softly, exchanging a small smile before they slipped outside to stand by the door. Cassie found herself able to breathe much easier as their disgusting presences were finally gone. Devon turned swiftly toward them, grasping hold of her shoulders. “You are to stay near me. For once in your life, do not do anything foolish. For once in your life, please listen to me Cassie. Please, for me, do this.”
She bit on her bottom lip, fighting back the tears that clogged her eyes and throat. “I will,” she vowed, knowing she would do anything to ease his worries.
Julian squeezed her hand tightly, releasing her to Devon. She stepped into Devon’s arms, burying herself against his chest, savoring in what may very well be their last moments together. She didn’t see Matthew until he was upon them, a tall shadow of a broken man, a wraith that had moved silently away from the others.
Cassie started in surprise as Devon swung her away from the creature, a hiss of fury escaping him as his fangs sprang instantly forth. But Matthew didn’t come at them; instead he seized hold of Julian’s arms. “My son, you should not covet another man’s mate. Though they have not sealed the bond, you know that it is wrong to do so.”
Julian’s eyes widened in surprise, he jerked away from Matthew, throwing up his arms to dislodge the man. Matthew stared silently at him, his hands folded before him; his light brown eyes distant. “I am sorry my son, but you must walk a different path then the one you have chosen.”
“Don’t touch me again you crazy freak,” Julian snarled, his eyes flashing a ruby color.
Matthew bowed his head, as he nodded briefly. “Julian,” Cassie whispered. She reached for Matthew, a man that had been beaten down and broken by the cruelty of his fellow vampires. Julian seized hold of her hand before she could grasp the wraith.
“Don’t touch him!” Julian barked. “You do not want to take the chance of him learning anything about you Cassie.”
Cassie recoiled as Matthew retreated toward the others. Zane’s eyes were narrowed upon him, his gaze intent and questioning, but he said nothing as Matthew rejoined them. Julian watched them go, his eyes troubled and distant. He did not turn back to them though as he moved stiffly toward the door.
“Devon…”
“I know,” he said softly.
They both watched Julian as he slipped out the door, the weary slump to his shoulders revealing the fact that something had just passed between him and Matthew. And whatever it was, Julian didn’t like it.
She glanced over as Chris, Melissa, Dani, and Luther moved to join them. Annabelle and Liam hung back, hugging each other tightly as they whispered softly to one another. “They’re going to turn on us,” Luther said softly.
Devon nodded, his hands tightened on Cassie’s back. “The first chance they get.”