Bridgette giggled as she ducked her head shyly. Mike and Jack exchanged knowing glances and grinned, Sera rolled her eyes at them. "And what room would that be?" Jack asked.
"Two twenty four," Bridgette answered with another giggle.
Doug grinned as he turned and walked away from them. "Why don't we get rooms?" Sera suggested.
"Oh baby!" Jack cried with a mock raise of his eyebrows. "You're not my type, but thanks for the offer."
Sera snorted as she shook her head. "Any woman that walks is your type," she retorted.
Jack grinned as he shrugged his shoulders. "True."
"We probably could get rooms," Mike said. "If they have any open. I'll go check."
He moved swiftly through the throng until he was swallowed by it. Sera studied the crowd impatiently as she waited for Liam to return. Instinctively she drew within herself in order to search for him. The knowledge that he was feeding slammed into her. Sera pulled immediately back as hunger blasted through her, burned into her veins, and caused her teeth to lengthen.
"Hey, you okay?" Jack demanded worriedly.
Sera shook her head and dropped it into her hands as the pulses within the room beat against her. Sera whimpered as she tried to shut it out.
"Come on." Jack grabbed her arm and began to propel her through the crowd.
Sera kept her head bowed and her hand over her forehead to shield her face. The blazing hunger in her eased as the crowd faded away. She groaned as Jack slid her onto a sofa. She didn't have to look up to know that they were back in the sunroom; she recognized the smell of it.
"Feel better?" She nodded, but still couldn't bring herself to look at him. "It will get easier."
Sera risked raising her head to find him watching her sympathetically. "When?" she whispered.
"It takes some time but eventually you can control it with no problem. I promise."
Sera turned her gaze from his to stare at the night. She was still shaking, and there was a fierce burning making its way through her veins. "It hurts."
"You get used to that also."
She turned back to him, but he was no longer looking at her. His pupils were dilated as he searched the room. "Jack..."
"Get out of here Sera!" he shouted. "Now! Go now!"
Sera leapt to her feet as the side door burst open. They spun toward it as cold air blasted into the room on a rush of wind, and violent red eyes. Jack leapt forward, only to be flung across the room, and slammed into the fireplace. Sera screamed as she lurched toward his lifeless body.
"Jack!" Hands snatched hold of her arms and yanked her backward. "No!"
Her wail was silenced as hands clawed over her skin, and covered her mouth. She thrashed in their grasp, kicking and clawing at the hands that pinned her against a massive chest. She knew instantly that it was not Beth that held her, but one of the other things. She bit deep into his meaty palm; satisfaction filled her as his blood spurted forth. He hissed loudly in her ear as something smashed against her head. Sera was left dazed and disoriented as she went limp in his arms.
Cold air blasted against her skin, she had just started to renew her fight when she was hit again, and the world went black.
CHAPTER 22
Liam froze in the middle of the crowd. The people dancing bumped and jostled into him but he didn't notice. He spotted Mike making his way back toward where Liam had left Sera. David was cutting across the floor toward him.
"Excuse me."
Liam ignored the young girl as his eyes shot toward where Sera had been. His heart leapt into his throat as an all-consuming sense of urgency enveloped him. He shoved through the crowd, ignoring the startled cries and irritated looks shot his way. "Where is she?" he demanded.
"She was here with Jack." Mike gave him a look that clearly said he thought Liam had flipped his lid.
"Where is she now?" he spat.
"Hey Liam, calm down..."
