A butterfly touch on his cheek drew his eyes open. She was staring at him with a mixture of trepidation, and a love so powerful that it shook him. "I was waiting for you," she whispered again.
Something inside of him broke. He hauled her against him, holding her as close to him as he could. It wasn't close enough. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she pressed herself against him. "What have I done?" he groaned.
Her hands clenched upon him as tears spilled free again. She could feel the distress and self-loathing radiating from him. "I love you Liam. I love you so much that it hurts." Her voice was choked with sobs as she clung to him.
His hands were bruising as they dug into her. She winced, but didn't make a sound. She could feel his desperation, he needed her and she wasn't going to let him down. "I don't deserve you."
She laughed as she buried her face in his neck. Her tears wet his skin, but they were no longer tears of grief for herself, but for him. "Yes, you do. I can't live without you. I can't even breathe when I think about the possibility. If this is what was meant to be, then that's fine. I would have let you change me anyway; it just might have taken me a little longer to come to it. But this is all right Liam. It is."
"Sera," he moaned.
"It's all right."
She pulled away from him and tilted her head so that she could gaze into his tortured face. She pulled her hair away from the wounds in her neck. His eyes gleamed as they fastened upon her wounds and his teeth instantly elongated. He closed his eyes, his face twisted with anguish as he fought to bring the demon under control.
"I can't Sera."
"Liam, it's all right. I want this," she assured him.
"Not tonight. You'll need blood right after. Unless you want to feed off of Danielle and Kathleen, I can't."
Sera froze as that thought hit her. Blood, she would have to drink blood. An involuntary shudder of revulsion ripped through her. He pulled her hair back over the marks before they tempted him even further.
"Blood." She was unable to hide the disgust from her voice.
"I can feed you Sera. You need never feed off of anyone but me, if that is what you want." That was what he wanted. The thought of her even going near someone else twisted his stomach and brought forth a rush of violence.
"Not them," she whispered. "Not them."
"No, never them. I promise. But until I can find someone else, this cannot happen."
She dropped her head to his chest and yawned. He lifted her easily as he stood up. Pulling the remaining blankets back, he laid her upon the bed. He thought about undressing her, but firmly decided against it. The thought of her naked body hardened him. The sight of her naked body would push him over the edge, and all common sense would go out the window.
He could not be with her again until he was ready to change her. She smiled sleepily at him and raised her arms. He climbed in beside her and gathered her into his arms. He closed his eyes as a wave of contentment stole through him. The beast was at bay. She was going to be his, and nothing would ever change that.
***
Sera woke with a start. The night closed in around her as she strained to see anything. She stretched out a hand and felt Liam's solid figure. It reassured her, but she couldn't get rid of the dread that crept through her belly. She sat up and tossed the blanket aside as she walked over to the window.
The moon lit the backyard, revealing bare trees, and an endless sea of white. The howling wind blew snow across the yard. She stared for a moment longer, but couldn't see anything worth worrying about. She turned and crept to the door.
Creeping down the shadowed hallway, she felt her way to where the stairs began. Her hand found the banister and she used that to guide her toward the kitchen. There were still two candles burning within the room, but their flames were sputtering in the small nubs of wax left. She crossed the linoleum to where Kathleen had left some candles on the counter and used the flames to light four more.
Taking one of the candles with her, she moved to the back door and opened it. There was nothing in the dark yard, but the hair on the back of her neck began to stand up. She froze for a second and then spun quickly. Nothing was behind her, but she was suddenly certain that something or someone was watching her. She turned back to the night and took a small step back. The wind howled across her, blowing snow into the room, and knocking out her flame.
Terror suddenly ripped through her as she took another step back. The force of the sudden impact sent her flying to the floor. The scream in her throat was cut off as the air was knocked out of her lungs. Something was on her, clawing at her, and ripping into her shirt and chest. She couldn't breathe, she could hardly even move. Then, the eyes were there, brilliant red eyes that stared hatefully at her.
The air rushed back into her lungs as she opened her mouth to scream. A hand shot over her mouth, stifling her. She gasped as Beth's face appeared above her. It was twisted and evil as she leered down at her. "I told you that I would get you!" she hissed.
Sera bucked wildly in a desperate attempt to get away, but although Beth was smaller than her, she was amazingly strong. Almost as strong as Liam, who could kill her with a flick of his wrist. The sudden knowledge that Beth could do the same sent her heart beating so powerfully that she was certain it was going to rip out of her ribcage.
Beth's eyes gleamed maliciously as an evil smile curled her mouth. Her lips pulled back to reveal her deadly teeth. Sera screamed against her hand, but only muffled cries of fright escaped. Beth surged forward, her mouth ajar, and her teeth gleaming as she lunged at Sera's throat with deadly intent.
Air rushed back into her lungs as Beth was ripped off of her. Sera's lungs were finally able to expand again as she drew in a ragged breath. Rolling to the side, she watched in astonishment as Liam appeared within the candlelight and flung Beth across the kitchen. Beth slammed into the back wall with so much force that the cabinet doors popped open. Pots, pans, and cans fell to the floor with loud rattling crashes, and dull thumps. Beth instantly sprang back to her feet as a hiss escaped her.
The hair on Sera's neck rose as she scrambled backward. The answering hiss from Liam was nearly as frightening as Beth's. She could almost smell the bloodlust emanating from the two of them. Sera's mind and body screamed at her to run, but she couldn't get her shaking muscles to obey the command.
Liam spun around and easily caught Beth as she launched herself at him. She spat and fought in his grasp as she dug her long nails into his forearms. Liam bellowed with wrath and flung her away. She skidded across the floor and crashed into the fridge.
