Cassie swallowed heavily, her hands clenched and unclenched as she fought the urge to scream in frustration. “And what if The Elder’s decide to come looking for us?” Melissa asked softly.
Cassie’s eyes widened, horror filled her at the thought. Devon’s arm tightened around her as he shook his head. “The Elder’s have been in hiding for almost fifteen years, and before that they had retreated for nearly a hundred years. They will not come out now, not even for this. They hate the world, they have for centuries. They may have orchestrated and participated in The Slaughter but that was to wipe out The Hunter line…”
“And now that they know it isn’t wiped out?” Cassie interrupted sharply.
Devon shook his head. “It’s decimated enough not to worry them overly Cassie. They figure the rest of the vampire’s, with any sense, will eventually be able to take the remaining stragglers out. That is why I must keep you safe now.”
Cassie looked helplessly toward Chris, Melissa, and Dani. She wished that they could come up with some other argument, some brilliant plan that none of them had thought of yet. But they looked just as dumbfounded as she felt.
“I suppose we should pack then,” Melissa said softly.
CHAPTER 12
Cassie was standing by the window when he entered her room. Her hair cascaded around her; the light of the moon caused it to shimmer a silvery gold. Her arms were wrapped tight around her chest, her head bowed as she stared out at the dark night. She turned slowly toward him, her eyes haunted and lost as she watched him.
“You will come back to me,” she said her voice a soft whisper in the room.
Swallowing heavily, he managed a small, reassuring nod. “Always Cassie, I will always come back to you.”
She nodded, her arms fell back to her sides. “Really?”
He frowned at her, hating the doubt and fear he felt in her. “Of course.”
She glanced back at the window, a sad, defeated slump to her shoulders. “You told me once that I would have to join you, or that you would have to leave me. You told me that you didn’t think you could continue to control yourself around me, and now it seems as if I will never be able to join you.”
“We don’t know that for sure,” he said softly.
“No, but it is a good possibility. Will you be able to stay around me?”
He crossed the room to her swiftly. She looked up in startled surprise, her beautiful eyes widening upon him. “I was a fool to say that to you Cassie. I was wrong, and I was being selfish. I can stay with you. I will stay with you, no matter what it takes. No matter what I have to do, I will not leave you.”
She shook her head; her long hair fell across one of her eyes to hide half her face. “I felt your need; I felt your struggle Devon. You fed from me; you were a part of me, inside of me. I know how hard it is for you to be around me, and I don’t want you to have to go through that all the time.”
He seized hold of her hands, pulling her forward a step. Gently clasping hold of her face, he pushed her hair aside as he stroked her silken cheek. “Cassie I would go through Hell and back if it meant being by your side, and I mean that. We will get through this, I swear to you we will.”
She bit her bottom lip nervously, her gaze fell away. “But the fight that you have to wage with yourself is…”
“Is easier now,” he interrupted swiftly. “It is much easier now Cassie. Letting me feed on you helped to ease the hunger and need.”
Her eyes flew back up to his, swiftly searching his face. He tried to keep his expression as impassive as he could. Though it was not entirely the truth, it was not a lie either. When she had given her blood, she had helped to ease the demon inside him. However, it would not be entirely appeased until she was by his side, safely immortal, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. Not when there was a chance that he would never be able to turn her.
He shoved the thought aside, unable to deal with it at the moment. The monster inside of him didn’t take well to that knowledge. Neither did the man. He couldn’t stand the thought of her growing old, of her dying while he stayed young and alive. For the first time he wished that the sun’s rays were still deadly to him, because the minute he lost her, he would walk straight into them.
“Devon…”
“It will be ok Cassie, everything will be ok,” he promised. “Once the threat here, and to you passes, we’ll see if we can’t find some more information without drawing attention to ourselves again, ok?”
She stared up at him with wide, questioning eyes. He could see the doubt in her gaze, but she managed a small nod. “Ok,” she said softly. “You had better keep yourself safe.”
“I will,” he promised, bending to kiss the tip of her nose.
Her smile widened as she stood on tiptoe. Holding his face gently in her hands she dropped a soft kiss on his lips. “Will you feed from me tonight?” she asked softly.
Excitement spurted through him as his hands clenched upon her. The thought was so very tempting but he knew that he shouldn’t. “I don’t think that’s a good idea Cassie, it’s too soon…”
“I feel fine, I swear. And we don’t know how long we’re going to be apart for,” her voice broke for a moment, her hands clenched on him. “It will be alright Devon, but I need this tonight, and I think you do too.”
His jaw locked as he glanced out the window. He did need this, he needed it desperately. He needed her. He had almost lost her tonight, she had almost been killed. And there was still the very good, very awful possibility he would lose her. There were so many people, and things out there that didn’t want them together, or even want them alive. Yes, he did need this, but he didn’t want to hurt her.
Then, she leaned up and kissed him again. The soft brush of her lips against his robbed him of all reason. He pulled her tighter against him, holding her gently. She melded to him, pressing flush to him as her legs gave out.
He held her up, swinging her easily into his arms as she burrowed closer to him, nuzzling his neck gently. He tried to ignore the fact that this might be their last night together for awhile. If he dwelled on it too much he was afraid that he may hurt her, or snap, and change her. It was what he wanted, and what she finally wanted. And now that she wanted to be with him forever it could not be done. He didn’t know what she would become if she was changed, or even if he could stop her if she became something truly malevolent.