“But it could. And I might not be able to stop myself from tracking you for them if they compelme to do it. I’m not taking your blood and putting you at risk.”
Saxon drew her closer and kissed her forehead when he realized she was being a stubborn fool becauseshewas trying to protecthim. “I can take care of myself, so don’t worry about me. I’m going to protect you.”
Letting herself get closer was abigmistake, but she didn’t have the energy to fight him. She savored his scent as she leaned into him and allowed his strength and warmth to envelop her.
“If we get through all of this, we can discuss it afterward,” she said. “Until then, I won’t take your blood, Saxon. I’ve never had another’s blood inside me, and I have no idea what would happen if I did, but I do know they would use me against you, and I won’t let them.”
He didn’t tell her mates could track each other once the bond was complete; it wouldn’t help his argument. “Donotworry about me. I’ve dealt with these bastards for centuries.”
Lifting her head, she smiled at him as she caressed his cheek. “Then I’ll worry aboutme. I can’t handle having more body parts sent to me and knowing they’reyours. And I can’t hide from the Savages that you’re my mate; you told me vamps recognize a mated vampire.”
He wished he’d never revealed that detail to her, but it was too late to take it back.
“I have to go to a hospital,” she said.
Saxon sighed before nodding. He couldn’t force his blood on her, but disappointment churned inside him as the demon part of him rumbled with displeasure.Itwanted to change her and make her his for eternity. For the first time, Saxon’s control slipped, and his fangs lengthened as his driving instinct to complete the bond swelled to the forefront.
He ran his fingers through his hair and tugged on it as he tried to regain control of himself. He turned so Elyse wouldn’t be able to see the red of his eyes. Lifting his head, he found Lucien’s gaze on him; the sympathy on his friend’s face told him Lucien heard the exchange.
Saxon dug his fingers into the snow and inhaled a ragged breath. He’d gotten the color to retreat from his flesh a little, but now it pulsed back down his arms to the tips of his fingers. When Elyse shuddered and her teeth chattered, he willed himself to regain control. He had to get her out of here.
Finally feeling in control enough to face her again, he smiled when he saw the concern on her face. “I’m going to pick you up,” he said.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t wait for her to reply before carefully scooping her into his arms. He turned to Lucien, but Lucien and Logan were focused on the bar instead of him. On a normal night, there were probably a couple of smokers huddled together, but there were almost two dozen people gathered on the deck watching them.
Maybe the sound of the fight or the falling tree had caught their attention. Then he realized the music was blaring so loudly they couldn’t have heard the tree or the fight even if they were standing on the deck smoking. Someone could have spotted the battle and that could be what drew them, but wouldn’t someone have run inside to alert someone? Wouldn’t the music have shut off if someone reported a murder?
A few of them should be pointing, crying, screaming, or something. Some of them should be on their phones videoing the scene, calling the police, or texting everyone they knew, but they remained stock-still as they stared into the woods with the blank expressions he associated with pod people.
And that’s what they were. These people were under the control of the Savages; they were the eyes and ears of this town when the Savages couldn’t be here or when the sun was up. That was how the Savages found Elyse tonight; someone at the motel reported her. He hadn’t noticed anyone nearby when they entered the room, but anyone could have been watching them from any of the windows.
He and his friends couldn’t have been the ones reported; otherwise, the Savages would have arrived the night they came to town. Unless someone recognized Declan today while he was searching for supplies. Saxon didn’t think someone would recognize Asher, but there were vamps out there who would know Declan. Either way, it didn’t matter; they’d been discovered.
The hair on Saxon’s nape rose as he glanced back at the motel before focusing on the Savages’ puppets. The wind caused the barren branches over his head to click as the two groups stared at each other. How many pawns did the Savages have in this town? How many towns did they have set up like this?
Fuck. The idea of Savage-controlled towns spreading across the country wasn’t something he’d ever considered happening before, but now that the idea was there, he couldn’t shake it. They could be infiltrating towns and taking them over. Maybe they had other people or vampires with abilities stashed in some of those towns.
“That’s not good,” Logan murmured.
“We have to get out of this town,” Lucien said.
Logan glanced at him over his shoulder. “How many more towns do you think are like this one? How many people do you think they have? What is their goal?”
“I don’t know,” Lucien said. “But we can’t stay here.”
For the first time, Saxon detected a note of unease in Lucien’s voice. “Where are Declan and Asher?” he asked.
“Disposing of the bodies,” Lucien said, “and taking care of the witnesses. The motel clerk was under their control. He must have reported us the second he saw Elyse.”
Saxon recalled the innocuous young man behind the counter. The man must not have known who they were, or he would have reported him the other night, but then, the Savages never would have expected them to show up here. They must have put out the word to be on the lookout for Elyse the second she arrived in town; they weren’t taking any chances she might escape them.
When Elyse shivered against him, he held her closer. “Let’s go.”
He felt the eyes of the people following him as he turned and ran back toward the motel. It was only a matter of time before more Savages arrived.
