Devon glanced down at her, his emerald eyes darkening to a deep shade of jade. It was because of her that Devon had abandoned the fight. Because of her that he had not hunted Julian down and destroyed the monster that plagued their area, murdering innocents, and destroying lives. If she hadn’t been so distracted, and horrified to realize that her suspicions about Devon being a vampire were true, Julian never would have gotten hold of her. Julian never would have had the opportunity to nearly kill her.
Cassie shuddered at the reminder of her near death experience. She had come close to losing her life tonight, had come close to losing everything, and everyone, that she loved. Closing her eyes, she tried to suppress the disgust and fear that the memory aroused. Luther was constantly lecturing her to pay attention at all times; she never listened to him. Because of that, it had almost ended her life far earlier than she would have liked.
Sensing her distress, Devon lightly stroked his fingers over her cheek, easing the lingering torment in her. She opened her eyes, comforted by his reassuring presence and touch. “What else are you capable of?” Chris asked softly, apparently deciding to let the fight go.
Devon sighed impatiently as he was once again pulled away from her. “I have the ability for mind control, and…”
“Excuse me,” Cassie interrupted sharply, startled by his revelation. “Mind control?”
“Yes. I am able to sort through people’s minds, I cannot read them, but I can pick out a certain mind amongst the crowd. Or I can pick out a few minds, even a crowd’s mind, if I need to. When I latch onto a mind, I can bend it to my will, inserting memories or altering time.” Cassie gaped at him, horror curdled through her belly. He could control her mind? “I have never done it to you, any of you,” he continued, seeming to sense her train of thought. “I would never do that to you Cassie, don’t fear that I would.”
“That’s how you were able to get into the school,” Luther guessed, his eyes widening in surprise as realization dawned on him. “I’m assuming that you don’t have transcripts.”
Devon grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “No, I don’t.”
Cassie couldn’t help but chuckle softly as she shook her head in disbelief. This was her life, as strange and odd and fantastic as it was. It was far more overwhelming than she had thought it would be at thirteen, but it was hers, and she still had it, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just a few weeks ago there had been many things that she would have changed, but then Devon had walked into her world and completely turned it upside down. She wouldn’t even change the Hunter heritage that she had resented for the past four years. For to alter one thing might mean that she may never have met Devon, and that was a chance she was not willing to take.
“I think they would be a little expired anyway,” Melissa said softly, her dark eyes twinkling with amusement.
“No wonder you’re always so bored,” Cassie murmured. Devon flashed a beautiful, heart stopping grin that melted the last of her worry over his startling ability to control people’s minds. “What were you saying before I interrupted you? What else can you do?”
His grin faded, his eyes became distant and hard once more. “I draw people to me, luring them with an inherent ability to attract them. It is especially strong with women.”
Cassie’s eyebrows drew sharply together. The more he spoke of his abilities, the less she liked them. His looks were more than enough to draw any woman, and she was sure some men to him, never mind adding this to it. “Like a Venus flytrap,” Luther said softly.
“Yes, very much so.”
“Does anyone escape?” Chris asked sharply.
Devon stiffened, anger radiated from him. “I haven’t tasted human blood in a hundred and thirty seven years,” he retorted fiercely. Then his eyes darted to her, lingering on the scratches that still marred her neck. Scratches that had been far deeper, and far more life threatening, earlier in the evening. Cassie felt her face redden as horror curdled through her. He had gone so long without tasting blood, until her foolishness had nearly gotten her killed. And if it hadn’t been for the healing agent in his saliva that closed her wounds, she would have bled to death. “Until tonight,” he mumbled softly.
Hunger flared briefly through his eyes, heating them and turning them dark as he met her startled gaze. Need poured from him in waves that left her breathless and frozen. She could feel the fierce battle he waged with himself as he struggled to control his desire for blood. Her blood. Though she should be petrified by his obvious longing to drain her, she was amazed to discover that she was also oddly tantalized and fascinated by it. She was terrified and excited to realize that she wanted him to taste her, that she wanted to know what it would feel like to have him do so. She wanted to be the one to ease his hunger, and his desire.
Excitement tore through her at the thought, her toes curled as yearning flared hotly through her body. He was the only thing she saw; he became the only thing in the room as every cell in her being focused upon him. Eyes widening slightly, they darkened even more as he picked up on the longing tearing through her. His hand tightened around hers, his body went taut as he pinned her with his intense, loving gaze.
Luther cleared his throat loudly, coughing forcefully. Heat flared through Cassie’s face as she was torn away from Devon, and back to the room, and reality. Chris and Melissa were studying the far wall, obviously trying to ignore the scene before them. Luther had pulled his glasses off, and was cleaning them gently with his shirt. Face burning, Cassie could not bring herself to look at her grandmother, she was sure she would burst into flames if she did.
“What made you stop drinking human blood?” Luther inquired after a few more awkward seconds. He blinked at Devon as he slipped his glasses on, apparently happy to see that Devon was no longer looking at her.
Devon shrugged, shifting slightly. “Things change.”
Cassie frowned her eyes darting hesitantly back to him. She was also relieved, and slightly disappointed, to find his attention focused on Luther. Eyebrows drawing questioningly together, Cassie couldn’t help but wonder what had caused this change, and why Devon did not seem to want to elaborate upon it.
“And before this change, were you a killer?” Chris demanded, his hands fisting at his sides.
“Yes.” The simple word, and the cold tone of it, hung heavily in the air. Cassie’s heart thumped loudly as she bit on her bottom lip, trying hard not to judge him harshly. “I cannot change the past though; there is nothing that I can do about it. I have spent over a hundred years trying to atone for my sins.”