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I raced down the hall and stairs, out the back doors of the mansion, and headed toward the guesthouse.
I stayed along the trees lining the property, keeping to their shadows in the bright day un
til I was able to round the back of the small house.
Conor had been out front but hadn’t seen me.
And now that I was sliding open the bathroom window, I didn’t hear anything coming from inside.
No screaming. No talking. No movement.
Then again, I wasn’t sure how long I’d been consumed in darkness before I’d been able to come back to myself.
Even still, I kept my steps silent as I slipped inside and shut the window. My eyes settled on everything as I moved through the humid bathroom. There were fresh drops of water on the glass doors of the shower and wet footprints along the tile. Just one set.
Relief pounded through my veins and mixed with the agony from the echo of her scream. When I stole a glance into the bedroom, Jessica was there. Only Jessica. Curled on her side, facing away from me. Towel wrapped around her like a blanket, hair dripping onto the bed.
I’d only taken two steps into the room when she spoke, her voice thick and wavering. “What if I was made for you and you were made for me?”
My crushed heart raced.
I moved silently to crawl on the bed and slipped behind her. “Haven’t you realized that we were?” I asked into her ear, then rolled her over so she faced me.
The heartache etched on her face ripped through me. I wanted to apologize for not being there. I wanted to reverse time so I could prevent it from happening. I wanted to kill him slowly for doing this to her.
“Jessica . . .” I brushed away the wet clumps of hair and cradled her face in my hands. “I’ll kill him. I swear to God, I will.”
She nodded and her face pinched, a sob building deep in her chest. “I couldn’t see you. Everything overwhelmed me. It felt like I was being suffocated by it. And I tried to fight, but I just . . . I just . . . It was all there and I couldn’t pull myself out of it until he was leaving.”
It hit fast.
That beast inside overpowered me within a second as soon as I realized what she was saying. What happened. And I didn’t try to fight him.
In an instant, I’d stopped breathing and everything felt like it was both mine and not my own.
Not a sound. Not a trace.
Feed the blade. Watch the light fade.
But for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of having someone in my arms.
I wasn’t afraid of what I could do to this girl.
I wasn’t afraid of the sadistic monster begging for blood, whispering everything he wanted me to do.
Because through the whispers and bloodlust, there was an uncontrollable need to keep the girl in my arms safe. And even the darkness inside was acknowledging that. As if he knew the need to kill was for her.
Not a sound. Not a trace.
Feed the blade. Watch the light fade.
Pull her closer. Keep her safe, safe, safe.
“I’m here. I’ve got you,” I whispered, my voice sounding rough and not my own.
Her depthless eyes slowly lifted to meet mine. “Nightshade.”
“I’ve got you,” I repeated.
