***
Cassie ducked and covered her head as shards of bark and branches rained down around her. It seemed like forever, but was probably only moments before the debris stopped falling. She slowly uncurled and rose to her full height. Betrayal twisted through her as her gaze found Devon across the clearing. His teeth were so long and sharp they cut into his full bottom lip. The same lip that had kissed her so reverently now had blood seeping from it. The magnificent face she'd come to love so dearly was now twisted into that of a monster. Twisted into the face of the one thing she hated most and had been born to destroy.
Though she had already expected this betrayal, had already known what she would find here, to see it so closely was like a knife to the chest. The red in his eyes vanished as the beautiful green of them blazed to life once more. She saw the confusion in his gaze, but also the realization, the dawning comprehension of what she'd come here to do.
"Cassie."
He breathed her name. He sounded so surprised; he looked so surprised. If he'd known who she was all along, and had been toying with them, then shouldn't he be expecting her to show up to stop him eventually? She was completely confused, for a moment she was disarmed by the speculation in his eyes.
Then her gaze flickered to the body just feet away from him. Marcy lay curled on her side, her coffee colored hair gleamed in the moonlight. Her eyes flew back to his. "You bastard!" she spat. "You murdering bastard!"
She took a step toward him, determined to ignore the guilt and agony slithering through her like a poisonous snake. It was a snake that would only hinder her movements if she acknowledged it for too long. The negligent look he gave Marcy only served to infuriate her more.
"I can explain this. Look out!" he shouted at her.
The terror in his voice rattled and unsettled her. She caught a brief glimpse of Devon lurching forward as she swung toward where he was looking. Her heart lurched as someone, no something, swiftly moved from behind the splintered tree. She'd been so upset and infuriated with Devon, she hadn't taken the time to think about what had caused the shattering of the giant oak. It was now coming at her like a bat out of hell. She had only a brief glimpse of ice cold eyes and white blond hair before it was upon her.
"Delectable."
The word was hissed at her, the malevolence behind it caused nausea to twist in her stomach. She was overcome by the same evil she'd felt at the beach, B's and S's, and then the cemetery. With an awful, crushing sensation descending upon her, she realized only too late she'd been completely wrong. Devon may be a vampire, but this was the real monster.
This was the creature who was determined to destroy her and her loved ones.
Instinct took over, all of her training blazed to life as his face twisted into a vicious snarl. His teeth tore into his bottom lip as they lengthened to deadly, sharp points. She turned at the last second and ducked as he lashed out at her. A shrill cry escaped as his fingers snagged hold of her hair and he pulled her back. Cassie flung herself at him and forcefully threw her head back. She was rewarded with the satisfying crunch of his nose from the force of being hit by her skull.
Stars momentarily swam before her eyes, and her vision blurred, but his grip loosened. Relief filled her as she fell away from him and tumbled toward the ground in what felt like slow motion. She had a brief glimpse of Devon, charging across the clearing with a look of fury on his face that caused her blood to run cold.
It seemed as if she were tumbling into a bottomless abyss. She was just inches from the ground, inches from safety, when she felt it.
Horror boiled through her as her heart skipped a beat. Her entire body stiffened against the agony exploding through her. The monster had grabbed for her again, but this time he missed her hair and his fingers swung further down. His nails tore into her, spilling her blood as they sliced deep into her neck.
She landed painfully upon her hip as she rolled away. Disbelief and panic filled her as she fumbled at the vicious gash in her throat. Blood pooled over her fingers, coursed down her arm, and dripped soundlessly to the ground. Devon skidded to a halt near her; astonishment filled his eyes as they met hers.
And then the beautiful emerald of his eyes became a violent shade of red as his hunger began to cloud his sanity.
Kindred (Book 1 The Kindred Series) Page 36
