Page 16 of Shifters' Fated Summer
I recoiled like he had slapped me.
Luca’s hold tightened. “That’s too much,” he growled. “You’re scaring her.”
“She lived this reality! She probably saw friends killed, so why is she defending them?” I couldn’t look at Cade, my stomach churning. I was going to be sick.
“Evrin isn’t like that,” I mumbled. “He would never.”
“He did!” Cade said curtly. “We’ve told you the truth so why are you insisting on sticking your head in the sand? Because that’s easier than facing the reality of your life? That you were locked up, treated like a juice box?”
“Cade,” Luca said softly.
My body was shutting down. I stared blankly ahead.
Cade reached out and then stopped, dropping his hand. His eyes narrowed as he stared at me.
“Her pupils,” he said simply.
Luca’s hand ran up my arm and jumped to my jaw, turning my face toward his. He leaned closer, and my stomach lurched.
“What?” I asked, fighting a wave of nausea.
“Your pupils aredilated.”
“It’s dark in here,” I mumbled, but the feeling of wanting to be sick was growing. Even Luca shifting his weight on the cushion made it worse.
“We don’t have long,” Cade said, sitting back. His frown deepened, and I hoped it permanently lined his face. That would serve him right. “Do you know where they would have gone? Did you ever visit a second location?”
I wrenched myself from Luca’s grasp and folded over, vomiting on the polished woodfloor at Cade’s feet.
Chapter 6
Detox
The sheets stuck to my skin as I squirmed. Somehow, I was cold and clammy but also overheated. This was hell. Luca came and went, bringing me water to sip. At first, I threw up into a trash can he placed beside the bed. Then I had to run across the hall to the toilet, where I curled around my knees and cried as my soul left my body.
When there was nothing left, I crawled back into the bed, grateful I didn’t need Luca to carry me that short distance. I didn’t think I could manage a second time, and I prayed I wouldn’t shit the bed.
If I lay very still, the room spun, but it was only mild nausea - uncomfortable, but not enough to cause me to vomit again.
My stomach cramped, but it was easy to ignore as a bone-deep exhaustion pressed down on me, like my body expelling everything within it had also drained my life force.
Finally, I slipped into unconsciousness.
Darkness surrounded me. I was back in the den,wandering through the hallway. The doors were open, but the rooms beyond were unfamiliar - clean, modern, simple.
“There’s my girl,” a voice crooned. Turning, I faced Cade. Gilded hair fell over his cheekbones, brushing that manicured beard I wanted to touch so badly. It must feel amazing scraping over my skin.
I wanted to ask why he was in the vampire den, but I couldn’t form the words.
“You belong with me,” he said, suddenly closer. I took a step back, but the distance between us only narrowed until our chests were brushing.
Panting, I tipped my chin up to stare into honey eyes alight with a fire that curled through my stomach down to my toes.
He was painfully handsome with heavy brows, a straight nose, and a soft mouth.
My hand rose without my permission, fingertips grazing over his jaw. He tilted his head, leaning into the touch. Those hateful feelings were gone, leaving a desire that left me breathless.
He pressed his lips into my palm, and I felt him form words that echoed in my mind.
