He should leave and not look back; instead, he found himself remaining before her as she lifted her head to stare at him. At first, she didn’t seem to see him as her strangely colored eyes remained unfocused. Then she blinked, and those eyes widened on him.
Pulled irresistibly toward her, Killean rested his fingers against her cheek. Despite the abuse she’d endured and the grime caking her skin, her flesh was softer than a feather against his. Some of his newly reawakened hunger ebbed as the touch of her calmed him in a way he’d never experienced before.
Never had he wished to hold and protect someone as badly as her.
Awe filled Simone as Killean caressed her cheek and the red bled from his eyes to reveal their striking gold color. That color was nearly identical to the color of a tiger’s eyes, but she suspected he could destroy someone faster than any tiger; yet, he touched herwith unfailing gentleness.
And the weirdest part of all was shelikedit. She should spit in his face, recoil from him, yell at him to go away, or try to attack him. He was theenemy! She shouldnotbe turning her cheek into his touch or inhaling the resin scent of his skin.
Had she been mistaken about this man? Was he here for some reason other than to be a beast who thrived on killing innocents? She had to be wrong as no monster could be so tender toward another, or at least all the ones she’d seen here couldn’t.
Simone’s eyes closed as his scent enveloped her, but beneath his natural, woodsy aroma, she detected the rot of a Savage.
No!She inwardly moaned. Hewasone of them; there was no denying or hiding that smell, yet she still found her lips resting against his palm as tears burned her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t deny this man made her feel something she’d never felt before him—passion.
It surprised her to discover she felt it more as a vampire than she had as a mortal hunter. His nearness caused her skin to tingle with electricity as his touch warmed her to the tips of her toes. She was so cold before; now his body heated hers.
Killean closed his eyes as he leaned forward. He almost cupped the back of her head to draw her close to him, but he didn’t dare. Up until now, he could attribute his actions to curiosity over the turned hunters, but if he kissed her, there would be no denying there was something more between them.
Killean turned his attention to the thick chains binding her to the wall. By the looks of them, they were specially designed to keep a vampire restrained, and not just any vampire, but a hunter turned vampire. Starved, they were weakened, but turned hunters were stronger than a human who became a vampire. Joseph wouldn’t take any chances either; these chains would be strong enough to keepanyvamp secured, even a purebred.
With the essence of life flowing through his veins, Killean was stronger than he’d been before, but he didn’t know if he was strong enough to break these bonds. And he didn’t dare try without being certain; besides, if he could get her free of this place, what would they discover outside?
For all he knew, they were in the middle of nowhere and could break free only to plunge into an open field with nowhere to run or hide. In which case, with as weak as she was, they would be caught and brought back before they got far. Once recaptured, they would torture and kill him, which would leave Simone forever at their mercy.
No matter how badly he wanted to free her, he couldn’t risk it until he knew more.
Simone’s fangs throbbed when she detected the pulse in Killean’s wrist. Her scorched veins felt like they were breaking apart and turning to ash as each beat of his heart teased her with the possibility of nourishment. She didn’t want to hurt him, but his blood smelledsogood!
Only a little taste to make it stop hurting!
No! No! No!She would not drink his blood! She wouldn’t,couldn’tbe one of them!
But no matter how forcefully she told herself this, her lips skimmed back and her whole body hummed with anticipation of tasting him.
Before she could sink her fangs into his flesh, his hand dropped and he rose. Startled out of the trance his pulse lured her into, Simone lunged after her food source, but the chains pulled taut and yanked her back. A wail of anguish rose in her throat and strangled there.
Killean stepped away from Simone when Joseph glided into the hall. He didn’t look at all surprised to see Killean standing there as a smirk curved his cruel mouth. “Killean,” he greeted.
“Joseph,” he replied.
Simone’s eyes darted between the two powerful creatures. In here, misery was her ever-constant companion, but the undercurrent of tension between them caused fear to coil in her belly. However, this time, her fear was for Killean and not herself.
“What brings you here?” Joseph inquired.
“I was curious about the hunters; how they react to the change, what they’re like, and how far gone these prisoners are in their hunger,” Killean replied.
“Why?”
“Because it’s a fascinating process, and there is nothing like watching those who believe they are untouchable fall. And the hunters have believed themselves above us for far too many years.” He waved a hand at Simone. “I want her.”
Joseph glanced at Simone. “Ah, yes, she is a beauty, more so before the chains, of course. She’s a bit too dirty now for my liking, but nothing a shower and some blood won’t fix. I changed her myself.”
Killean had been striving to remain impassive, but this revelation caused his jaw to clench. If Joseph changed her, then he made sure the experience was horrific for her. She never should have known the agony that came from having her blood drained against her will and the change forced on her, but more than that, she was supposed to have beenhisto change.
Ornotchange, he reminded himself.
They would never complete the bond, butnoother’s blood should have entered her, especially notthisbastard’s. Joseph would have made it degrading for her, and Killean knew how it felt to be helpless against the abuse of another. He’d wanted to comfort her before, but now the impulse was almost impossible to withstand, but he did. She deserved better than this, and she would have it once he got her free and returned her to her brethren.
