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Chapter 8
“What the fuck happened?”
Gabriel’s voice faded in and out while I struggled to remain coherent. My body shook with consistent tremors as I shivered violently—such cold. Icy venom traveled through my veins, freezing every cell it touched. Under my comforter and two additional blankets, I fought the unending wintry attack, but my core temperature wouldn’t rise fast enough.
“Someone attacked her,” Damian announced.
Gabriel sat on my left, Damian on my right. They held my hands, rubbing warmth into my chilled skin.
Ryder stood at the foot of my bed; his brow furrowed with concern. “We need to do something.”
“Agreed,” Damian replied, scooting closer, but the Lycan pushed him away.
“The warmest creature should be the one to help her, and that’s me, bloodsucker.”
Damian flashed his fangs and hissed. “Fine.”
The blankets pulled away as I moaned.
Ryder blew out a breath. “Hurry.” He winced. “She’s fading.”
A growl left Gabriel’s throat as he slid his big body onto my mattress, tugging me against him. As our limbs entwined, his body smashed close to mine, sharing his Lycan heat.
Damian’s eyes flashed from silver to red to silver again as he covered us with the blankets. He tucked us in, and I couldn’t help thinking it was the oddest thing to see a vampire do.
Ryder stiffened, narrowing his eyes at the wolf. “You’re going to smother her.”
“No, I’m not,” Gabriel retorted. “She needs this. I can feel it.”
The vampire cracked his neck. “Calm those mutt hormones down. Your libido stinks.”
“All of him stinks,” Ryder grumbled.
“Fuck off,” Gabriel replied to them both, rubbing his cheek against mine while his hands smoothed over my back, bottom, and thighs as he wrapped me around him. Folded around his large muscular body, I felt the chill begin to fade.
Ryder’s shoulders relaxed after several minutes as he sank onto the edge of the bed. “It’s working.”
“Because Lycans have a high body heat index. Helps our bond with our wolf.”
“I know that already,” Damian spat, his lip lifting in a snarl.
Ryder sighed. “Enough. This doesn’t help Cassie.”
“I’m fine,” I added weakly, sensing my aunt outside my room.
Aunt Gwen entered as Gypsy ran around her. “What happened?”
My cousin didn’t wait for an explanation but launched herself onto the bed, shoving Gabriel aside and hugging me fiercely as I groaned. The pain from the attack wasn’t as intense but still unpleasant.
“You’re hugging me too tight, Gyps,” I croaked, my throat dry.
“I’m sorry!” Tears slipped down her cheeks as she hiccupped. “Forgive me, Cas.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” I rasped. Damian lifted a cup of water and placed it against my lips as I took a few sips. Once he returned the cup to the nightstand, I continued. “You were right. Magic is never used to harm intentionally.”
