My beast can’t pick up anything under the rot, and I’m curious if the ancient vampire can find the source of the threat. He’s about a thousand years older than me, but he might as well be a million for the level of power he exudes.
He lifts his nose in the air, inhaling deeply, then immediately shakes his head. “If shifters attacked, we would’ve smelled them the instant we entered. Not to mention the lack of fur or claw marks anywhere.”
He places his hand over the grooves in the wood along the stairs, his fingers matching the gouges exactly. Then he crouches, his gaze catching something on the floor.
I step forward, then my breath catches in my throat when I see what drew his attention—tiny footprints that couldn’t be larger than the size of my hand.
Prints that are soaked in blood, clearly leading away from the slaughter…and deeper into the house.
“A survivor?” I ask, my voice dubious, even to my own ears.
Stanton gives a low hum that sets my teeth on edge. It’s a sound that he uses when he thinks he’s discovered something important. He looks up at me with a guarded, watchful look in his too observant brown eyes. “The girl.”
My stomach lurches in denial, and I barely bite back my protest, absurdly protective of the woman I just met.
Maybe too protective.
I don’t want to believe she’s capable of massacring an entire house.
She’s just so…fragile.
She’s merely a survivor, her claim to having killed the vampires ridiculous, a trauma induced response at surviving hell.
But if I’m wrong…
I turn slowly toward the door, blindly staring out into the growing darkness, my mind whirling with the possibilities, and I curse myself for being fooled by an innocent face.
Worse…I gave her to two unsuspecting members of my pack.
Fuck!
* * *
JOLIE
The sensation of being restrained flickers through my consciousness. Panic tightens my chest, and I nearly sob at the thought of being dragged back into awareness and the nightmare that has become my life. I struggle against the arms holding me, lashing out before I even open my eyes, then gasp when it feels like I’m falling.
My eyes snap open to see the ground rushing up to smack me, and I twist, somehow landing in a crouch.
Rage replaces my fear, my heart coming to life in my chest with a painful thump. My fangs snap down, and I slowly lift my head, my eyes quickly locking on the vampire standing a few feet away.
I hiss, hunger immediately cramping my stomach, and the need to feed is nearly overwhelming. My mouth waters at the sight of him, and it’s hard to think past the craving for blood. My muscles bunch, ready to leap and take out his throat before he can escape.
Just as I lunge, a behemoth of a man steps into my path. I plow into him, taking him down, and he lands with anoomph. I snarl in his face, but he only raises his hands up in innocence, his eyes glowing a vivid blue.
I flinch at the movements, waiting for a blow that will inevitably take off my head, but he remains still, as if worried he will chase me away.
“Hello, kitten, remember me?” The low, growly tone of his voice resonates in my chest, doing weird things to my stomach.
My mouth snaps closed, my lips covering my fangs, and I cock my head as I study him.
He’s…not a vampire.
Not human either.
I should be intimidated by his masculine exterior, but I find myself more curious.
I lean toward the barbarian, then sniff.
