Only one thing prevents me from lighting the match myself—the place where I died is likely the only place that will keep me safe.
Irony is a bitch.
The sound of a door slamming jolts me out of my downward spiral. I watch through the windshield as Castle stalks around the hood of the vehicle, eyes locked on mine, never once looking away as he makes his way toward me. I get lost in his green eyes, my anxiety settling the longer he maintains eye contact. When he reaches my door, he wrenches it open, yanking the door handle from my numb fingers. With a fierce expression, he grabs my legs and spins me toward him. He steps between my parted thighs and cups my jaw, leaving me unable to look anywhere but at him.
“You’re going to claim this mansion for your own and rebuild it into something better.” His thumb brushes over my bottom lip, effectively distracting me from my freak-out. My anxiety eases a fraction, and I can’t stop myself from leaning into his touch, craving the peace that it brings.
Am I using him?
Maybe, but I don’t really give a fuck at the moment, not when it keeps me from going all homicidal on them.
Tobias leans forward between the seats, flashing me a toothy grin. “Let’s start by erasing Charles Dafoe from existence.”
Savage joy sparks in my chest at the very idea, and I can’t resist giving him a bloodthirsty grin in return. “I fucking like how you think! You should have led with that.”
I nudge Castle away, excited by the prospect of destroying everything that asshole ever touched. Dafoe loved nothing more than being treated as a god, and I’ll take great pleasure in eradicating his memory from the face of the earth.
I hop down from the truck and head toward the mansion, my stride hitching only a little at the first proper look at the monstrosity.
At least this time, I’m not being dragged here by a bunch of thugs.
No, it’s worse—I came here of my own volition.
If I’d had any doubts over the last few months about my sanity, they’re gone now.
I’m absolutely fucking insane.
Letting out a shuddering breath, I brace myself to face my nightmares and push open the door. The bloody horror I expect to see is gone, like it never happened. Someone cleaned the house, erasing the gore like it never existed.
The broken furniture is gone, the shattered banister repaired.
It’s almost like the last few months have never happened.
While part of me is grateful, the dark part of me enjoyed seeing proof of their death painted on the walls. Without proof, the broken part of my brain wonders if they’re actually still alive and lying in wait.
I swear I can almost hear their laughter, hear them jeer at me as they tear into my flesh.
I’m aware of Castle carrying the injured cat into the house, the younger cat following them meekly up the stairs, but I’m frozen, unable to break the hold the past has over me. My muscles are tense as I slowly work my way through the house, my instincts screaming at me to run and hide before they can find me again.
A hand lands on my shoulder. “Jolie—”
Before I’m even aware of moving, I whirl and launch myself at the threat, taking him down to the ground. My claws are at the ready, my fangs at their throat, when the scent of moist earth and dark woods reaches me, halting me on the spot.
I tremble and flinch when my eyes land on Tobias, where he lies sprawled beneath me. I scramble away from him, stricken at how close I almost came to killing him. Before a panic attack can fully engulf me, my anger takes over, and I’m on my feet. I storm over and glare down at him when he doesn’t even bother to stand.
“Were you just going to let me tear out your throat?” I rage at the fucker, battling the urge to beat the shit out of him.
Before I get any further into my tirade, he sweeps his arm out, taking me by surprise and knocking me off my feet. I twist, ready to catch myself, but before I can face-plant, Tobias catches me out of the air. I land against his chest with anoomph, then he rolls, pinning me beneath him.
“Kitten, I would have defended myself if I thought you were a threat.” His smile is downright wicked as he peers down at me, hunger shimmering in his glowing blue eyes.
Maybe I should be offended, but part of me is relieved.
Still, I need to know for sure.
I give him my most flirty smile, only I must be doing it wrong with my fangs, because his eyes narrow in suspicion. Before he can react, I twist my hips and throw him off me, then I kick off the floor and flip backward to land in a crouch.
While I was flexible as a human, I never would’ve been able to pull off half the shit that I can do with my new body. Facing off with Dafoe and his vampires taught me to fight fast and dirty, and I pushed my body to its limits in order to destroy them. I hate to admit anything good about my new life, but I could get used to my strength and speed.
