“Ooh, that’s not good. What’s wrong with him?”
Julie almost tripped over her own feet. “Oh, nothing big. He just turned into a wolf. Dangit, Mel! Why didn’t you tell me wolves and vampires existed?”
A laugh came over the other end of the phone. “You know why I couldn’t tell you. So, a wolf, huh? How’d that come about?”
“Londyn.” Julie walked into the restroom and grabbed a washcloth. “They got into a fight. Blood exchanged and voila. Instant wolf. Well, not exactly. Taylor is on his fourth day.”
“That doesn’t sound good. I thought wolf transitions were fairly fast.”
“Aston told me a day or two was normal. I’m worried about him.” Julie wrung out the washcloth and headed for the bed. A knock on the door had her rolling her eyes. Taylor sprung from the bed and crashed into the wall.
“Taylor! Go lay down.” Julie went to help him up, but he managed to get to his feet.
“There’s no way I’m going to let you answer that door. Let me check it.”
As Julie followed him, she tried to make sure he didn’t collapse. His skin was extremely pale. “Mel, hold on for a minute. Someone is here.”
Taylor looked out the peephole. “It’s that woman from work.”
“Watch out.” Julie wedged herself in front of him. “Oh, it’s Corinne. There’s nothing to worry about. She’s the office’s secretary.”
Julie went to open the door but Taylor stopped her. He unlocked it and slowly cracked it open. The sound that exploded throughout the room was deafening. Weight flew into her and Julie felt herself falling back. Bells were ringing in her ears, and sound was barely getting in.
Taylor’s body next to her threw Julie in action. Blood was covering his chest and Julie scrambled to make sense of what was happening. “Shit, Taylor, hold on.” Julie grabbed the bottom of her dress and pushed it down onto his bare chest.
“You want a job done, you got to do it yourself.” Corinne stepped over the threshold and pointed the gun at her. “Stupid wannabe killer thought he could do the job until he came face to face with you. I can’t believe that pussy backed out on me. I killed the cop, bitch. Handed him the name tag. Told him all he had to do was point the gun at you and pull the fucking trigger. Did he? No. He just left my package. I trusted him and he failed me. But that’s okay. I took care of him.” A smile came to her face. “I guess it doesn’t matter. It’s sweeter this way. Do you know how long I’ve wanted to do this?”
No words would come out of Julie’s mouth. All she could do was stare at the blonde secretary, bewildered.
“Well, let me answer that. For a long, long time. Every day in Mexico I would dream of this very thing. Now that I see you so helpless, losing the person you love like I did, it’s well worth the wait.”
Lights flashed three times and the popping sound came back. Fire raced throughout Julie’s chest and stomach. Her whole body was ablaze. What had she done? Why hadn’t she listened to Aston and not opened the door?
Green eyes glared down at her and suddenly the barrel was pointed directly over her face. Julie was already having a hard time breathing. Now she was going to be dead for sure.
“Good-bye, Jules. Tell my mother I said hello.”
Just when Julie thought her life was over, Corinne was gone. Black spots covered her vision, but she could have sworn Channing was standing over her. He’d appeared out of nowhere. Blackness was taking over, and as much as Julie tried to fight it, she couldn’t.
* * * *
Aston looked down at the ringing and picked up the phone to show Londyn. “See, it’s Ayden. I told you he would call. Maybe he’s heard something.” Londyn’s face was pale white, and it gave Aston pause. Suddenly he could feel it. There was a weight at the bottom of his stomach that was growing by the second. Aston answered his phone and began to rush for the entrance of the store. Londyn was right behind him.
“What happened?” Aston nearly plowed over a couple as he rushed out of the double doors.
“Get to Julie’s now. I’m not sure exactly what happened, but Channing called me. He’s there. Taylor and Julie have both been shot. Melissa heard it over the phone. Her scream alerted Channing and he appeared at Julie’s to check things out. It doesn’t look good. You get your asses there as fast as possible. I’m on my way.”
Aston hung up the phone and threw open his door to his car. He and Londyn were out of the parking lot in record time.
“What the hell happened, Aston? I know it’s not good. I can feel it.”
He glanced at Londyn. “They’ve both been shot. Ayden said it doesn’t look good.”
“What! Oh, fuck. Fuck.” Londyn placed his hands on the dash and put down his head. His breathing was so deep and fast that Aston feared his wolf would come out any moment.
“I knew we shouldn’t have left. I knew it!” Aston whipped around the corner and accelerated to eighty within seconds.
“Two more blocks.” Londyn was rocking in his chair and Aston could tell he wasn’t doing well in the head. Not only was their mate shot, but also a wolf with a direct link to him.
Aston made the last block in seconds. He turned into the parking lot and threw the car in park. He and Londyn ran forward as fast as they could.
The apartment door was closed and Aston almost tore it off its hinges trying to get inside. What he saw had him falling to his knees. Channing was kneeling next to Julie. Blood was soaked in the carpet behind her. The same was with Taylor, who was only a few feet away. Both appeared dead.
“It was a woman. Blonde hair. She saw me appear and fled.”
Londyn put himself between Julie and Taylor. “A woman? Are you sure? I thought we were looking for a man?” Londyn felt Taylor’s pulse and looked over at them. “He’s alive, but his pulse is weak. I’ll apply pressure, but we need Ayden here stat.”
Channing kept his hand on Julie’s chest. “I’ve already had him call Devon and he’s on his way. He’s a great doctor and a wolf. We were lucky he was at the hospital tonight.” Channing leaned his face toward Julie and shook his head. “Guys, I need your complete attention. I’m going to be blunt, and I need you to listen to me. Do you see my hand?”
Aston watched the blood ooze out between Channing’s fingers. “Yes.”
“The bullet pierced the heart, and she’s losing too much blood. It’s amazing to me that she’s alive at all right now.”
Londyn grabbed Julie’s hand. “Are you sure? How do you know that?”
Channing glared at him. “Because I can hear her heart. I’m telling you, Julie can go at any moment. I need you both to make a decision.”
“A decision?” Tears were coming down Londyn’s face. Aston couldn’t hold his in any more. He could feel his wolf pushing at his insides to be released. There were so many emotions going through him—anger, heartache, rage.
“I can change her, but I need you both to give your okay.” Channing sighed. “And I know you were in the process of bonding with her. I’m going to need you to make your mark while she’s still alive, or else it’ll be erased the moment she becomes a vampire.”
Aston sucked in a deep breath. “But what about Taylor? We can’t mark her without him.”
“We both know he wasn’t going to bond with her, Aston.” Londyn wiped the tears away, but they were quickly replaced.
Channing just stared at them. “Her heart grows extremely weak. Either you bite her or I do, and then you guys are shit out of luck. I can’t wait all day to make a decision.”
Londyn crawled over and he and Aston both lifted each of her arms. In unison they bit down. Lights flashed in Aston’s vision, and he could feel Julie jerk in his grasp.
“Excellent, now both of you move.”
In one swift motion, Channing pulled Julie into his lap. Aston couldn’t fight the tears that kept streaming down his face. His poor Julie was on the verge of death, and if Channing hadn’t shown up like he had, Julie would be dead. Not to mention, her life was about to drasticall
y change. She wasn’t even going to look like the same Julie. Everyone in the paranormal world knew that when a vampire changed you, you took on their appearance. How was Julie going to grow accustomed to that, on top of her new diet? Aston wasn’t sure, but he knew one thing. Julie would be alive, and that was all that mattered.
* * * *
Darkness floated around Julie. No matter which way she turned, there was nothing there. She was trapped. Words refused to come out of her mouth, but she was sure she could taste blood. Lights flickered in a strobe pattern and fire raced up the side of both of her arms. Channing’s face exploded into her view.
“Calm, Julie. We’re here for you. I’m about to make everything better.”
Pain in her chest brought everything back in a flash. Panicked, Julie tried to sit up. Aston and Londyn came into view. They were both crying so hard that it was clear she was hurt way beyond what she could imagine.
“Tay—” Blood filled her pathways and Julie could taste it on the inside of her mouth. “Taylor!”
“Be still.” Channing pulled her harder into his chest. His French accent was so thick it was hard for her to make out what he was saying. Her mind wasn’t thinking straight.
“Julie, please!” Londyn begged. “Let Channing make you better.”
Nothing was registering except Taylor. She needed to see if he was okay. Plus, how was Melissa’s husband going to make anything better? He wasn’t a doctor.
Warmth nestled around the side of her neck and Julie felt her eyes fly open. Reality hit hard as Channing’s palm pressed against her forehead and she felt her skin punctured by his fangs. Pain engulfed her chest from the gunshot wounds as she fought the fear of what was happening. Then Julie stopped moving completely. Thickness slowly moved its way down her throat, and it was so agonizing it locked her joints from even moving.
“Good girl. Just let the venom work its magic. You’re doing great.”
Fuck if she was. She was stuck.
Suddenly, Julie’s heartbeat could be felt throughout her body. Anxiety took over as she realized it was slowing. Her eyes darted to her mates. Aston had his arm around Londyn’s neck. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Devon, Sarah’s husband. Relief kicked in. Now, he was a doctor! Thank God. At least that told her Taylor was still alive.
“Julie.” Channing wrapped his arms around her chest. She could see blood soaked through his white sleeves. “Now, don’t be scared when I tell you this, but you have to know.”
Julie forced herself to listen carefully. Every second that went by she could feel herself getting weaker. The pain was just too much for her to handle. She could even feel her head starting to nod off to the side. Consciousness was slipping away.
“You’re going to technically die. This is normal. All you’ll see is blackness, but it won’t last long. During this darkness you may see a light, you may not. I’ve heard both counts. Regardless, don’t be afraid. When you wake, we’ll all be here. It might feel like you’re gone for hours, but I assure you it’ll be no more than five minutes. Do you understand? If so, blink twice for your mates to see.”
The words were fading out. Julie’s forced her eyes to open wider. She tried to blink two times, but she wasn’t sure if she got the second one out or not. The beating was growing further apart now, and she was so tired. She needed sleep. Julie let her eyes close and didn’t try to reopen them.
Darkness from her eyelids quickly began to take on a new meaning. Julie felt her heart beat for the last time. She kept waiting for it to go into rhythm again, but she knew as the blackness took on a shape of its own that she must be dead. It was no longer a color, but a place. As much as she tried to stay calm, the fact that the pain was gone was a pure indication that wherever she was, it was a realm for the dead.
Movement came freely. Julie could feel herself jet forward. It was as though she was literally flying. Figures deep in the shadows moved all around her and it was scaring the hell out of her. Were these people bad? Could they be the dead, stuck just as she was? Wake up. Wake up!
Something brushed against her back and Julie let out a scream. It was if the sound got swallowed in the darkness. What felt like hours went by and Julie kept moving. Just as she was about to give up, warmth started at the crown of her head and slowly made its way down until it embraced where her toes would have been. A blinding light burst from above and Julie could see her grandma in the distance. Excitement took over and Julie rushed forward. Nana! Oh Nana, come get me. I’m scared.
When nothing happened, Julie screamed louder. The faster she went, the more she realized that she wasn’t actually going anywhere. Nana, please! I’m begging you. I want to come with you into the light. The dark scares me. You know that. Nana!
A soft echo floated around her. She had to strain to hear it. “They’re waiting for you. You need to go back.”
The light started to recede and despair took over. “Nana! Nana, don’t leave me here.” Where Julie’s feet would have been the light faded and with that, needles began to take its place. They followed the beam up her legs and to the core of her stomach. Julie screamed in pain.
This was it. She was going to go to hell for being the person she’d been. Fire was engulfing her and that’s exactly what they say hell was. She was burning alive from the inside out and it was already starting to creep up her neck.
“Julie. Julie, come back to us.”
Channing voice was overpowered by Aston’s yelling. “It’s been almost ten minutes, Channing. You said five. What the fuck is happening? Where’s Julie?”
Their voices sounded so far away. Thank God, she wasn’t dead. It was as Channing said. She was going to come back.
“Shut up, Aston!” Channing roared. “Do you want her hearing you all panicked when she does return? Now calm down or else I’m having Ayden drag you out of here.”
“Aston. She’ll come back.” Ayden’s voice was barely audible. He was definitely further away than everyone else.
“How’s Taylor doing?” Londyn asked. His throat was extremely scratchy. Julie could remember him crying. It had broken her heart. She’d hardly gotten to spend any time with him since he’d been back.
“He’s hanging on, but barely.” Julie racked her brain. That had to have been Devon talking.
“Can Channing turn him too?” Londyn asked.
“Are you crazy?” Channing burst out. “You know that’s not allowed. It’s only been done a handful of times and the punishment is death. There’s no way I’m even going to risk it. Plus, only one wolf has ever lived through the change to tell about it. The mix of his disease and venom ultimately drove him crazy. They had to kill him.”
“Not going to happen, Londyn.” Ayden whispered. “It’s not worth the risk.”
“Everyone quiet. Julie’s beginning the change. She might be able to hear.” Channing’s voice grew soft as he began to talk to her. “Julie, I need you to remain as calm as you can when you wake up. You’re going to be in a lot of pain from the poison I put inside of you, but you have to stay as still as possible. Your body is going to heal itself but it’s going to take a few minutes. Your injuries are extreme. I don’t want you complicating anything by moving too much.”
Julie tried to answer him, but the pain was keeping her immobile. She could feel that she was back in her body, but nothing was working. It was as though she was a prisoner within herself.
“Wow, look at that. Her hair is getting really dark.” Londyn said, astonished.
Darker? Why the hell was her hair changing color? She had a feeling that they knew something she didn’t, and if her hair was turning a different color, what else was going to happen?
“Londyn.” The name was said by Channing in such a chiding fashion that it was clear he didn’t want her mate to say anything that might set her off.
“I know you can hear me now. You’re doing great, sweetheart. Just a few more minutes and the pain will stop. I know you probably can’t talk right now. That too will pass. When it d
oes, you’re going to want to scream, and you will, but let’s try to not yell too loudly. The walls of this place aren’t very thick.”
Julie could feel Channing move slightly beneath her. The jolt radiated throughout her sensitive bones. She gasped, sucking in so much air that she felt her lungs stretch to capacity. A bloodcurdling scream came out of her mouth before she could think to control it.
“Welcome back, ma chérie.”
The grip Channing had on her arms felt like shackles. The need to thrash tore at Julie’s mind. Everything inside was telling her to fight the pain, but with Channing holding onto her, she wasn’t going anywhere. His strength was shockingly concrete.
“I know it hurts. Breathe, Julie. Just hold on long enough for your wounds to heal, then I will release you. Okay?”
Julie looked up into his face. His eyes were so light blue that they almost looked white. They were captivating.
“That’s right, keep looking at me.” Channing smiled. “You know me, yes? Who am I?”
What felt like electrical charges shot down the insides of her body. Julie growled and took a deep breath. “You’re my…”
“Think. Reach deep inside your mind and tell me everything you see.” Channing rubbed his fingertips over her eyelids. On instinct Julie shut her eyes and concentrated through the twinges that kept jerking her limbs.
Pictures began to flash before her. The location wasn’t at all familiar, but her mind told her it was France. A scene slowed before her and Julie focused. Channing looked exactly as he did now, except for the clothes. As Julie was concentrating on his appearance a man came up from behind him. It was so fast it was a blur. Channing was bit before he even knew what hit him. As he fell to the ground with the man on top of him, Julie could feel the fear consuming her creator.
The speed of the visions increased, but even as they were barely perceptible to the eye, it didn’t stop her from knowing what was happening in each one. The years flew by and she could feel herself falling in love with this man. Not a love like a person would have for a spouse or lover, but more like a sibling, except it was more than that. She was a piece of him. What they shared on the inside was a connection like she never knew existed. She identified with him from the inside out.
Three for Julie (Blissful Bets #4) Page 9
