Dark Illusions: The Beginning
Page 23
After Kat finished taking the last bullet out, she grabbed Julian’s face and turned it to look at her. His eyes opened, which told her he was still with her. Relief rushed through her. She knew the only thing left for Julian was blood. He needed a lot of blood so his body could repair. He’d already lost too much. She wasn’t sure if he’d make it unless he drained her, but she didn’t hesitate. He needed blood, and she would give her life for him.
“Julian, wake up,” she sobbed. “You need blood. You need to feed.” She grabbed his face and reached her arm around, struggling to pull him up to a sitting position. Julian worked hard to hold himself up, grabbing hold of her as much as he could.
“Need too much,” he muttered.
Tears poured down her cheeks. “Do it, Julian. You need the blood.” She reached around and cut her neck, knowing his animal would overpower the human.
A moment later, Julian’s grip tightened and his teeth sunk into her neck. Pleasure trickled within her and she heard him growl. The grip on her tightened more and more as Julian’s strength, and animal, began taking over. She grew weaker as Julian drank more blood than normal, and she found herself wondering whether he would even have the ability to stop himself.
The animal in him took over, and it wanted food, only food. She’d already been without blood. She couldn’t handle too much more without putting herself in the same situation Julian had been in. She heard herself whisper his name, but it ended up being only inside her head. She was too weak to open her mouth.
The darkness enveloped her.
Fifty Nine
Kat peeled her eyes open and looked around the bedroom. Julian’s back faced her. He stood near the window, looking up at the moon. She was covered by a blanket, lying with her head on the pillow. When she tried moving, her entire body screamed like it was her who had been shot and needed to recover. She tasted blood in her mouth and played out the events, trying to remember what happened. She didn’t remember anything else after whispering his name.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked, pushing herself up, groaning when her body told her the movement wasn’t appreciated.
“Yes. How do you feel?” He turned to look at her.
She managed to sit up and smile. “Like I was ran over by a freakin’ dump truck. What happened? I remember blacking out, nothing else.”
Julian walked over to sit next to her on the bed. He stroked her face with his hand, “I took more than I needed. You did black out. I had to feed you once I’d healed.” He leaned forward and gently kissed her. “I’m sorry for that.”
Kat looked down at the covers and smiled, then looked back up at Julian’s mouth. “I’ll survive. What happened, Julian?”
“Raaka ambushed me in the woods, close to where you found me. That’s all you need to know. Honestly, I’m a bit surprised your blood healed me so fast.”
Kat’s eyes began tearing up. “I’m sorry, Julian—” Before she could say another word, Julian placed his fingers on her lips, shaking his head.
“It’s not your fault.”
Tears fell down Kat’s cheek as she whispered, “But I almost lost you. I am a part of that clan. If it wasn’t—”
“Kat, don’t. It has nothing to do with you. True, Cameron used you as more of a reason to do this, but again, this had nothing to do with you. Do you understand me? Nothing. The Raaka and Runsasi have been enemies longer than you’ve been alive. Cameron is no better than Vincent was. It’s a battle which has raged for centuries, but as of late, it seems to be growing worse. They both wanted you because they want power; and with you, they knew they could achieve that and more. Cameron wants my position as all Raaka have, but moreover, he has always wanted to avenge for the past. It’s a battle that has never reached an end. Now that I have you—which I do and will never give up—it has only just begun.”
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About Ariana Browning:
Charismatic Goddess & Butt-Kicking Billionairess in the Making.
Inspire | Encourage | Love | Teach | Create | Give Back.
Thriller writer of kickass females
Born and manufactured in Washington State (aka Goddessland), most of the books Ariana Browning writes comes from her dreams. Where her bubbly nature turns to the dark side. The characters constantly knock on the door in her head and adamantly refuse to go away, until she tells you their story. Thrilling her to no end.
Ariana is active on her Facebook profile, Instagram, Pinterest, as well as on Twitter. She posts on a variety of topics, including quotes, animals, music, life, recipes, and her own books. She welcomes discussion on her posts, with the wonderful fans and friends she calls her family. She frequently asks questions on the above subjects, and loves to partake in the responses.
She is the current author of: Dark Illusions: The Beginning, Dark Illusions: The Next Chapter, Dark Illusions: The Final Chapter, and Always Consequences. Her influences are Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Anne Rice, Keri Arthur, Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, and Michael Crichton to name a few.
When she's not writing, she tends to her animals and garden, or rebuilds and repairs the house she lives in, hoping to reach Narnia. Never one to sit still for long, she constantly works on something that involves her hands in the cookie jar.
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Other Titles by Ariana Browning
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Always Consequences
In the Dark Illusions Series:
Dark Illusions: The Beginning
Dark Illusions: The Next Chapter
Dark Illusions: The Final Chapter
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The Next Chapter Preview
Sean acknowledged being stared at so he shifted to regard Cameron without a care in the world. One shoulder raised before Sean continued watching Kat. Watching her with that fixed interest that would get his ass kicked soon if he didn’t stop ogling what belonged to him, not Sean.
Cameron cleared his throat. “Does someone know when the fuck Cyrus plans on joining us?” He slammed his hand down on the desk. Everyone jumped. Even Kat did despite having seen him about to strike the surface. Sean received the point and lounged back in the chair, regarding Cameron with an impatient glare. Not before giving Kat a final once over with clear interest.
Kat glanced at Sean and back to Cameron, sensing the tension. Cameron swore he caught a glint of amusement in her eyes.
“Soon,” Sean growled. “Said he had a phone call to finish, then he’d head over.” Cameron stared in shock at Sean. “And how long does a goddamn phone call take?” he snapped.
“How in the fuck would I know that, Cameron? Relax.” A slow grin crept along his lips. Sean was fully aware he pissed Cameron off with the ideas brewing in his mind regarding Kat. He didn’t care one iota, which got under Cameron’s skin like an itch he couldn’t reach. Cameron’s skin crawled and the beast within prickled, wishing to show itself, to rip into Sean.
Cameron cracked his neck left, right. Rolled his shoulders. Curled his fingers in, out. Sean’s caught it and his own jaw muscle ticked away faster and faster, his back stiffened. The beast within Sean whispered in response to Cameron’s reaction, craving release, desiring a fight, a hunt, death—
Kat cleared her throat and made both the men shift their attention back to her. “If you gentlemen are done with your little tissy fit, can someone please explain why I’m standing here?” She dropped her hands to place them on her hips. “Or did you plan on me being eye candy the whole fucking day, Cameron?” She gave him a sneaky grin and Cameron leapt to his feet. She added to the anger and he’d had enough.
The door opened. Cyrus finally chose to show his face. With a brief glance around the room, he knew what he dealt with, without having to ask.
Cyrus shook his head and pinned Kat with a knowing stare. “Well aren’t you up to your normal tricks. Is it always necessary to rile a room full of men?”
Kat shrugged and Cameron sat back down. “Why not? I find riling people enjoyable. In this case, I haven’t done a thing.” She pointed Cameron’s way. “You can talk to him.” Glancing back at Cyrus, she said, “And it’s nice to see you too, Cyrus.” The smile she gave Cyrus trickled down Cameron’s spine, his skin crawled. His jaw clenched and a deep growl slipped out, causing the phone on his desk to shiver across the surface.
Kat watched the phone move and flicked her gaze to Cameron. Her eyes twinkled when he shoved the phone back.
“Are you finished, Kat?” he snapped.
She waved her hand, remaining quiet.
Cyrus cut in, “Have you told her Cameron? I am taking a big guess and assuming not. Since she’s still picking on you, rather than trying to kill you.”
Cameron narrowed his eyes at Cyrus. No, I haven’t had a chance you idiot. Kat’s soft laugh made Cameron jerk his head her way and pause. Did he say that out loud? He shook his thoughts away. No, he was certain she picked up on the way he regarded his sire.
Sean was once more watching Kat with that look. Cameron leaned forward on the desk, suppressing the urge to snap Sean’s neck. A low rumble swept through the room. They all glanced at one another before facing the source.
Cameron.
Kat stared at Cyrus before casually shifting her attention to Cameron. “What does he mean? Tell me what?”
Cameron glowered at her for so long she fidgeted. She glanced at Cyrus to avoid Cameron’s intensity. He grinned. Served her right. “I planned to continue our discussion from earlier.”
“Oh. The one you didn’t finish when I’d mentioned wanting to talk to Julian. Or, I should say, needing to.”
Cameron stood up from his desk with deliberate slowness. Kat pulled back and even took a step back the moment he moved around the desk. He sat on the edge that faced her and smiled. “I love that compliance. It’s nice to know I still get it.”
The muscle in Kat’s jaw pulsed. “Don’t get too comfortable. As I said before. Some things will change around here.”