Page 91 of To Crave Deeply
“How did you get in here?”
“You need to wake up. It’s me—”
He let out a feral roar as he leapt for me. His hands instantly found my throat and he threw me back into the wall.
“You’re dead. I know you’re dead because I watched the light fade from your eyes.”
My heart rate kicked up a notch. This was bad. No one would hear me scream down here and I didn’t want to use my power on Cassian. It wasn’t his fault.
His claws extended into the soft flesh of my neck, and I let out a whimper. Although, if I didn’t do something, I was pretty sure he was going to kill me.
“Where’s your brother now, Sanna? Or did you stab him in the back like you did me? Did he not satisfy you enough?”
I had no idea who Sanna was, but my guess was that she was the Princess from his past. There was a sharp sting as the lethal points of his claws pierced the skin on my neck. Shit. I couldn’t let him sink them in any further or he was going to rip my throat out.
I slammed the heel of my palm into his chest and pulsed some of the energy I’d consumed into the hit. He flew backwards across the room, crashing into the bedside table and breaking it into a thousand pieces.
Blood trickled down my neck where his talons had sliced my skin. I was grateful it wasn’t worse, but those cuts stung like a motherfucker. They weren’t life-threatening so I’d heal them later. Provided I survived this interlude with Cassian.
He let out a growl as he got back to his feet.
“Don’t make me do this, Cassian. You need to wake up. It’s me. It’s Lori.”
“Lies,” he spat. “I know no one of that name.”
Oh boy. That wasnota good sign.
He stalked towards me, and I couldn’t help but admire the way his muscles rippled with the restraint he was clearly using to hold back from attacking me outright. His pyjama bottoms hung low on his hips, and I had a front row seat to the glorious dips and planes of Cassian’s torso. Hot damn but he was fine. And I was totally ogling him and now was not the time for that. Especially since he was staring at me like he wanted to bathe in my blood.
“You must remember me. I’m Lori, the girl you hate. The woman who died trying to save your ass because you went all macho and tried to take on the angels yourself?”
His eyes flickered briefly, and I thought I was getting through to him, but then he snarled again, and the deranged Cassian was back.
“Come on, Cassie. Youmustremember me?”
Still nothing. Not a single sign of recognition. Alec was right. He wasn’t all there, and I hadn’t changed anything by taking his nightmares. It was going to take much more effort to bring him back than one mere feeding.
He charged for me again, but I ducked beneath his arm. He spun quickly and came at me again. I didn’t want to hurt him. He was already suffering, and I didn’t want to add to his pain.
I dodged his attack again and he growled in frustration.
“Stop fighting me, Sanna.”
“That’s not my name.”
He pointed his finger at me. “You lie. You always lied. You made a fool of me, but no more.”
Cassian charged again and he hit me square in the chest, throwing me backwards onto the bed.
“Cassian, stop!” I screamed as I scrambled backwards onto the bed. I kicked my foot out and his head snapped to the side, but he just laughed.
“You always were feisty. That will just make this all the more fun.”
His eyes were wild, filled with the hate of his past, and I suddenly felt true fear. Was I even going to be able to reach him?
He grabbed my leg and pulled me to him. I flung my hand out as I got closer, meeting his jaw with a right hook. It didn’t seem to stop him. I pulled my dark energy to the surface just in case I needed something a bit more forceful, but I was reluctant to use it. I had to get through to him. Ihadto save him.
“Please, Cassian. Come back to me,” I begged but he grabbed my throat and pulled my face to his. His eyes bored into mine with a hatred I’d never seen before.
