Page 46 of Undying
Lifting my head, I lock my gaze on Tobias, where he landed on all fours just a few feet away. I wait for him to attack, ready to move the instant he springs, and I brace myself for his anger.
But instead of anger, his blue eyes brighten as his wolf comes out to play. A wicked smile turns his rugged face into something breathtaking, and my toes curl at having his focus directed only on me. “Let’s see what you’ve got, kitten.”
A reasonable person would be terrified, but excitement zings through my veins at his challenge. Not to mention, I need to know if I stand a chance facing off against a wolf.
I need to know what to expect.
I can’t be vulnerable again.
I refuse.
So instead of backing down, I charge, using a burst of speed. Tobias doesn’t move, his smile only widening. Just before we would collide, I lash out…but he’s already gone. I whirl, ducking the hit he aims toward my back. For the next five minutes, we play a game of cat and mouse, each of us dancing around the other, looking for weaknesses, neither of us landing blows as we block each hit.
Hunger burns through my veins the longer we fight, my fangs aching as my energy level flags, and it stops becoming a game. My movements become jerky and more frantic. When he comes near again, I leap at him, taking him to the ground, and he barely gets his arm up in time to block me from lunging for his throat.
He twists, pinning me below him, his arm braced against my neck to hold me still, his other hand pinning my two arms above my head. Panic drags me under its murky depths, and all rational thoughts flee. I clench my eyes shut and wait for him to tear into me, my body braced for the blows that will break my bones, and wait for the inevitable pain that will shred the last fragile hold I have on my sanity.
A full minute passes before my brain processes the silence around me.
The heavy weight on me eases, the arm around my neck vanishes, and I flinch when a single finger trails down my cheek. My eyes pop open, not sure what new fresh hell awaits me and if I’ll be strong enough to survive it.
Only to find Tobias gazing down at me with an emotion that almost looks like concern, if I were stupid enough to believe it. “You’re safe. No one here will hurt you. I won’t let them.”
I stare at him blankly before his words penetrate, and I realize it’s not the first time he’s said them. It’s almost like he’s trying to reassure me, which is ridiculous…right?
Not wanting to study my emotions too closely, I shove at his shoulder, dislodging him, suspecting that I only manage to move him because he allows it.
Fucker.
He reaches down to help me stand, but I slap his hand away with a huff of annoyance, mostly directed at myself.
I can’t allow myself to soften.
I can’t afford to be weak.
I can’t let myself feel anything for them, or I fear I’ll lose the last bit of myself forever.
ChapterFifteen
CASTLE
After settling the cats in a guest room, I head back down the stairs, not liking the blank, almost empty look on Jolie’s face when we pulled up to the mansion. A lot of newly turned vampires and shifters aren’t sure what comes next or if they’ll survive it.
She pulls on my heartstrings, which is a dangerous thing for the both of us. She’s only been out of my sight for a few minutes, but the need to get back to her is impossible to resist. I pause at the top of the steps when I see Tobias standing over her petite form, arms crossed, the imposing ass towering over her.
I recognize that stance—he’s barely holding himself back from snatching her to his chest and fucking her against the wall. They both appear ruffled, and I grit my teeth in annoyance that I missed seeing Tobias put Jolie through her paces.
We needed to see what she was capable of, test her abilities, but we should’ve done it together in case something went wrong, and a pang goes through me that I missed seeing her in action.
My wolf growls in my head, and I realize that I’m jealous.
It’s such a novel sensation that it keeps me rooted to the spot.
I’ve been numb for so long that I thought I was beyond feeling anything.
I’m not sure I care for the volatile emotions.
Emotions mean conflict, and it took me a long fucking time to pack away personal sentiments and gain control of my beast. There is a reason I’m the last of my line—my wolf isn’t able to be tamed. It’s only my iron fist that prevents my beast from taking over and wreaking chaos as we rampage.
