Julian’s face twisted into a leering grin, his sharp canines gleamed in the dim light of the moon. “Oh you silly silly fool. Have you been that blinded?”
Devon was growing more aggravated by the second. He did not like being toyed with, especially not by Julian. He was the one that had taught Julian, the one that had molded him; he was not going to be played with by him. “Don’t mess with me Julian,” he growled.
Julian quirked a black eyebrow, his mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I would never,” he replied, his voice light and lilting as they continued to circle. “I am simply pointing out what you have missed.”
“And what would that be?”
Julian’s eyes gleamed, flashing momentarily red. “The delectable treats in this town. Three little treats to be exact, just so plump and ripe for the taking. Especially the blond, that sweet, delicious blond that you have been cozying up to at night. She is so young, so innocent and pure, so full of powerful blood just begging to be savored. I give you credit, to be that close to such a wonderful temptation, and not taste it, not take it. I could never be so restrained.”
Fury tore through Devon, shaking him to the core of his being. For a brief moment a red haze clouded his vision, his protective urges drowned out the rest of Julian’s words. He didn’t understand what the hell Julian was talking about, but he didn’t want him anywhere near Cassie, or even remotely thinking about her.
“You stay away from her, or I’ll rip your damn throat out!” he snarled, his fangs elongating at the mere thought of Julian getting close to her.
Julian grinned back at him; his white blond hair fell into one of his ice cold eyes. “Temper temper,” he taunted lightly. “We’ve shared before, we can share again.”
“I’d kill you first!”
Anger blazed from Julian, his lip curled in a contemptuous sneer. His ice eyes raked Devon with a hate filled glare. “You truly have changed Devon; you’re such a disappointment, turning against your nature, your own kind!”
Devon met his gaze, trying hard to keep the fury boiling through him under control. He couldn’t let Julian bait him into losing his temper. Julian was too deadly for that. “You will die before you ever touch her.”
“And if she kills you first?” Devon blinked in surprise, unsure what Julian meant by that statement. “You truly do not get it, you stupid fool! She has you completely blinded. Could it be that Devon, the master of death, destruction, and torture has been blinded by love?”
“I have not been any of those things in a very long time Julian!” Devon hissed. “You need to leave this town, you are not welcome here.”
Julian laughed coldly and shook back his tussled hair. “I am not leaving until I get a taste of that treat Devon. It will be delicious,” he purred. “Maybe I’ll even keep her for myself, she is a beauty.”
Rage tore through Devon, shredding the thin control he had managed to keep. The very thought of anyone touching Cassie, of turning her, of taking her for themselves was enough to bring the bloodlust surging forth. With a roar of fury, the beast burst free of him, clamoring for death and destruction.
He sprang forth as Julian tossed Marcy aside, his eyes lighting with red fire as he braced for Devon’s attack. They collided brutally, slamming into each other with the force of two Mac trucks. The sound of their attack rumbled through the forest, their snarls echoed through the air. Devon swung hard into him, slamming his fist into the underside of Julian’s jaw, and snapping his head forcefully back. Julian spit and hissed; his face twisted in pure fury as he swung out wildly, his claws raking deep across Devon’s chest. He didn’t feel the pain as Julian flayed his shirt and skin open, spilling his blood. Seizing hold of Julian’s shoulders, Devon picked him easily off the ground. Spinning around, he used his full strength to heave him into the air.
Julian flew backward, his face mutated and furious as he sailed across the clearing. Slamming into the top of an ancient oak, the force of his impact shattered the top of it. Julian fell over the back of the tree, momentarily disappearing into the darkness of the woods. Satisfaction spurted through Devon as he braced himself, waiting for Julian to renew his attack.
His satisfaction was quickly doused with horror, and shock, as his eyes landed upon Cassie. She was standing at the edge of the clearing, her hands fisted at her sides, her shoulders thrust proudly back. Her hair cascaded around her, a golden ray of light against the dark night. She looked beautiful and furious as her startling eyes smoldered with barely contained rage.
He blinked in surprise, unable to fully believe that she was here. Confusion tore through him as he met her fierce gaze. What was she doing here? And why she was standing there glaring at him instead of running away screaming in terror?
He knew what he looked like now, knew that he was ugly and twisted into something she would barely recognize. At the sight of the monster inside him she should have been fleeing in horror, running for her life. Bolting like any sane person would do. Instead, a small tremor was wracking through her; however it was not a tremor of fear, but one of pure anger.
His gaze darted to her fisted hands, widening as he took note of the stake clenched tight in her right hand. He stood for a moment, trying to deny what was before him, trying not to recognize the truth that was slapping him in the face. But it was impossible. Understanding and shock tore through him, rocking him with the awful realization of what Julian had meant about her, and what had drawn Julian here. What had more than likely drawn him here, though he had been to blinded by his feelings for her to realize the truth.
Now everything made sense. Now he knew why he had so many questions about her, and her friends. Why they had seemed so odd and different to him. He knew exactly who and what she was now.
His enemy.
***
Cassie ducked, covering her head as shards of bark and branches rained down upon her. It seemed like forever, but was probably only moments before the debris stopped falling about her. She uncurled slowly, rising swiftly to her full height. Pain and hurt twisted through her, anger blazed hotly forth as her gaze found Devon across the clearing. His teeth were extended, so long and sharp that they cut into his full bottom lip. The same lip that had kissed her so gently and reverently now had blood seeping from it. The magnificent face she had come to love so dearly was now twisted into that of a monster, and a murderer. Twisted into the face of the one thing she hated most, and had been born to destroy.