Page 16 of Caution

“Don’t be scarednow,” he insisted. “This is what you wanted.”

“Stay thefuckaway from me!”

“I don’t think I will,” he growled, suddenly right up on me again, his hands gripping my arms with viselike strength as he hauled my body to his. “You human women come in here with lust in your blood and the whisper of a supernatural fantasy in your mind, praying for a release from your first-world boredom. And then, when you are presented with what you are looking for… youcower.” He grinned down at me, eyes glowing, fangs getting longer, all sending a ripple of terror through me that only tightened my already racing heart. “You will be disgusted by this weakness once I’m done with you.”

“I saidget the fuck away from me!”

The words burst from me in an explosion of…power.

That was the only way I could describe it.

My hands were still locked at my sides where he’d pinned them, buthehad jolted backward, landing several feet away.

Suddenly, no one was moving.

The crowd was dead silent, music stopped, all eyes on me.

All except his.

His were lifeless and black, pointed uselessly at the ceiling.

“No,” I muttered, shaking my head as I took a step back. “I didn’t… this wasn’t… I didn’tdoanything to him,” I insisted, answering questions the crowd hadn’t actually asked as they formed a circle around me.

I could feel it though.

The confusion, the curiosity, the caution in their eyes as they silently communicated with each other.

And then… there was the anger.

The fear.

The… bloodlust.

So sudden and heavy, paired with a rush of smells—the smoke, the sweat, the stench of copper—andsounds.

What the fuck is that?

Just… a chaotic din of chatter, coming at me from all sides, all discordant.

Until it wasn’t.

As I focused, the static faded, and it was clear.

One harmonious message.

Get her.

Absolutely not.

Before anyone else could move, I did, shoving my way through the crowd, forcing myself out of searching grips and grasps. Too late, I realized I wasn’t heading for an exit; I was going deeper into the club.

But I was committed now.

I scrambled down a dark hallway, searching for some unlocked door.

When I found one, I dashed through it, not caring what was on the other side.

I got it latched and locked behind me just in time. I’d barely stepped away before the knocking and pounding began, paired with the heavy rumble of someone clearly trying to kick it in.

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