Page 53 of The Way You Bite
Chapter Seventeen
“You’re shot?” Vee’s head buzzed. She concentrated on her breaths, trying to slow them down, but the buzzing in her head continued.
Something inside her twisted up hard at the thought of Lexan dying. Doctor mode kicked in, locking down all emotion.
Vee leaned around TC to look, but TC shifted, blocking her.
“Damn it. You got zinged with a liquid silver bullet in the femoral. You ran on this?” TC pulled his finger away and wiped blood off on the back of the front seat.
Her heart raced. She managed to whisper, “Let me see.”
“What’s the point? It’s right into the artery, which has already pumped this shit everywhere. No one can make this magically disappear,” TC said.
“I expected it was something like that,” Lexan murmured.
“Was it intentional?” Eric asked from the front seat.
“Ambrose meant to do it.” Lexan locked gazes with Eric in the rearview mirror.
“Next time I see him, he’s dead. They’re all dead.” Eric slapped a hand against the steering wheel. “What’s your order, sir?”
Vee shouldered in front of TC, which was like moving a stubborn Mastiff who was barely keeping his aggression in check.
Lexan’s eyes were shut tight, his head thrown back.
TC tried to pull her away from him. The buzzing in her brain worsened. A low animal growl came from her throat.
Lexan’s eyes popped open. “Stop.”
TC and she froze at the order, neither sure to whom he spoke.
Lexan grasped her chin. “Vee, look me in the eyes.”
She met his gaze.
“Your pupils are dilating and contracting. The wolf wants out, but you can’t shift right now. When it happens, you’ll need help…probably blood. I can’t let you have blood right now. You are going to get control.”
“I’m fine. I’m not turning into a freaking dog.” She glared at TC, who’d released her but looked as if he was about to lean in and grab her again. “Do you see another doctor around here?”
“Look all you want, Vee.” Lexan waved at his exposed thigh.
She cast TC a warning glare, then probed around the bullet’s entry point. The rich smell of Lexan’s blood had her canines elongating. The buzzing in her brain drowned out all ambient sounds. A part of her wanted to claw her way out of this SUV and run free. The other half of her wanted to sink her teeth into Lexan’s oozing thigh and drink until she was drunk on his taste.
Lexan grabbed her chin again and forced eye contact. “I need Dr. Scarpa right now.”
“I’m good.” She yanked out of his grasp, wondering if she really was in control.
She used the cut areas of his pant leg to dab at blood and fought the powerful compulsion to lick the area clean. There wasn’t much to see other than a pinpoint hole and some fresh bruising. “You feel any silver reaction?”
“A bit.” A wave of pain slammed into her mind.
She gripped her forehead with a gasp. “That’s more thana bit.”
“Burns some.” Lexan threw his head back against the seat.
“That’s enough, Doc. Move away from him. I’m not entirely sure of your motive.” TC put a hand her shoulders.
Vee whirled and grabbed TC’s tactical vest to pull him close with a strength that surprised both of them. “You think I want to hurt him? I already fixed him up once, even if Eric did blackmail me into it. Looks like right now all I have to do is sit back and he’s going to die on his own.”
