Liam tried to push her back, but she held onto his shoulder, refusing to back down. If he died, then she died, but she was not going down without a fight. Without warning the one holding Liam was ripped away. Sera caught only a glimpse of Mike's twisted face before his back was turned. David and Doug were suddenly beside her as they pulled the others away. Jack was holding the throat of the one with the broken arm and shattered nose.
Sera slumped forward; relief flowed through her as Liam straightened. His eyes were still ablaze as they settled upon her. A cry of horror escaped as she stretched a hand out to touch his sliced cheek and torn neck. He took hold of her hand, halting her from touching him.
He released her hand and it fell limply back to her side. His gaze drifted over her, a snarl curved his mouth as his eyes landed upon her torn side. His hands convulsed as he turned away. She knew there would be no reaching him now, not now.
Sera slumped against the wall, her head bent as she inhaled a shuddery breath. Her whole body hurt. Her fingers clutched at the ragged wound in her side. Blood coated her fingers, but beneath that she could feel muscle, and bone. Nausea and weakness rolled through her as she slid to the ground, tired and drained. Black swarmed across her eyes, but she forced it back as she lifted her head to gaze dully at Liam.
He was holding Beth above the ground. She struggled weakly in his grasp as blood soaked her shirt. His claws dug deep as he ripped through flesh and sinew as he tore the life from her. He threw her body aside and turned toward his friends. Their gazes held the same bloodlust that he felt as they stood over the remains of the men.
"Liam."
Sera's weak voice dimmed the fury in him as he turned toward her. She was staring at him, her face bloodless and her lips nearly white. Her eyes were dim as she lifted her blood-coated hands. His heart froze in his chest as her hands fell to her sides, and she slumped to the floor lifelessly.
CHAPTER 23
"I'll get some towels!" Mike yelled.
Liam barely heard him as he strode across the room with Sera in his arms. Her head lolled against his shoulder. Blood had seeped through the shirt he had wrapped around her; it now ran down his stomach to wet the edge of his jeans, and his skin. Normally the amount of blood she had lost wouldn't be a concern, but she was still so new, so weak and unsure of her abilities. She could staunch the blood flow on her own, from the inside out, and she had done some of it, but not enough. Her body would do the rest on its own, but Liam wasn't sure if it would happen in time. One thing was for sure, she needed blood, and she needed it now. Unfortunately, although he had fed earlier, he was now weak and drained from blood loss himself.
He laid her on the bed and sat beside her as he pulled back the shirt to examine her wounds. Deep claw marks had torn through her flesh to reveal the sharp white of the bone beneath. The marks that she had managed to heal still showed some of the muscle. The wounds in her neck had healed completely, but blood still streaked her skin, and wet the collar of her shirt.
"Here."
Liam took the towels that Mike offered and pressed them against her side. Sera moaned, but remained unconscious. Liam's brow furrowed as Mike hovered anxiously by his side. "She doesn't look so good," he murmured.
"I know that!" Liam retorted. Mike's eyes darted worriedly to him, but he refrained from saying anything else. "She'll be fine as long as we get some blood in her."
Liam brushed her hair back from her brow. The ends of it were streaked in vivid red. He desperately hoped that it wasn't too late already, that she hadn't already slipped past a line that he wouldn't be able to cross. He couldn't lose her. The thought tore his heart and soul to shreds. He wouldn't lose her. He couldn't allow it. Blood seeped through the towels to wet his hands again.
"Take these." He gave them to Mike and he disappeared into the bathroom to get more. Liam examined the wound again. More muscle had formed, but the process seemed to have stalled. He pressed a fresh towel against her side.
"She'll be all right," he whispered.
Mike didn't say anything as he handed over more towels and knelt by Liam's side. He gave him a questioning look before taking hold of her hand. Liam shot him an incensed look but didn't say anything. "I'm sure she will." Mike sounded doubtful as he squeezed Sera's hand and released it.
Liam closed his eyes and bent his head. She was still and cold beneath his touch. He could feel the waning strength within her; feel the tenuous hold she had upon life. Her breath barely caused her chest to rise. "Where are they?" he demanded.
"They'll be here soon."
Liam glanced hopelessly around the small hotel room. A knock on the door snapped his head around. Mike jumped to his feet and hurried to open it. David, Doug, and Jack came into the room, each pulling someone along with them. There was a dull, glazed look in the eyes of the people as they stood soundlessly in the doorway. Doug shut the door and ushered them further into the room. Liam didn't care that two of them were women, and that Sera would be upset. It didn't matter right now.
He climbed swiftly to his feet. "Hold this," he told Mike.
Mike hurried forward as Liam dragged the first girl into the bathroom.
***
Liam cradled Sera's head as he pressed her mouth firmly against the slit he had made at the base of his throat. She was too weak to feed on her own, too weak to even move. He held her close as the blood trickled down her throat and seeped into her veins. He could feel it healing her wounds as muscle and skin gradually repaired itself.
Even though he could feel all of that, she was still weak, and unresponsive. If he hadn't been holding her, she would have fallen back to the bed. He clung to her, praying for her safety, for her life. He had done nothing to deserve her, but if he lost her now, he knew he wouldn't be able to survive it.
Sera please, he sent the desperate plea into her mind through his blood. He felt a small flicker of a response as he continued to plead with her, to wish her to live. Her hands twitched in his lap. He fought back the waves of hope that crashed through him. It was too soon to hope, too soon to know if she was truly going to be all right. Please, he pleaded over and over again.
Her mouth twitched upon his neck and she swallowed for herself. His hands dug into her hair as her teeth pressed against his neck. He turned his head as she bit deep into him. He held her as he allowed her to take whatever she needed, whatever would help her. Her hands twitched again, and then her arms wrapped around his back.
Her mind filtered into his. He could feel her weakness, feel her hunger, and hear the tears she shed. Her love enveloped him in a cocoon, and for the first time in hours, he was certain that she was going to survive. He was unable to get her close enough, unable to feel enough of her as relief filled him.
Eventually she released her hold upon him. Her eyes landed upon him as she managed a weak smile. "You're going to be okay," he said.
