Ryan.

The vamp who was supposed to be her brother.

“I have a car waiting on the other side of the mountain. I’ll get you there, get you some blood, and you’ll be fine.”

She didn’t feel fine.

She shoved herself up so she could stop staring at his back. Instead, she looked into the woods that they were fleeing through.

Glowing eyes stared back at her.

“Alerac,” she whispered.

“He won’t find us!” Ryan said, breath panting. He was running incredibly fast.

Just not fast enough.

He’s already found us.

Alerac was in wolf form, and he was charging right for them.

Part of her, deep inside, was glad to see him.

“Alerac,” she managed to say again, trying to warn Ryan.

Ryan just ran faster.

Until he heard the growls. Growls that were now far too close. While vamps could move fast, apparently Alerac was faster.

That’s what happens when you’re an amped up werewolf/vamp combo.

Ryan spun to face Alerac, but her brother didn’t loosen his hold on her. “Stay back!”

Alerac didn’t. He just charged right at Ryan. He hit with an impact that sent Ryan—and Jane—falling to the ground.

“Keira!” Ryan tried to grab for her once more.

But Alerac put himself between them. A big, fierce beast. His body vibrated with fury.

So did hers. Fury and pain and fear. A terrible combination.

“We…have to leave…” She forced the words out. Her neck still throbbed. Burned. Blood soaked her. Was she healing yet? She couldn’t tell. It didn’t feel like she was healing, but maybe the blood loss had just made her weak. Too weak to tell when her throat closed up.

Alerac growled again.

Ryan was back on his feet. “If you can’t have her, then she has to die, is that it?” Ryan yelled.

Alerac didn’t move.

“You sent your men after her. You let them tear into her because she wanted to leave you.” Ryan glared at the wolf. “She doesn’t remember her past, fine, but that doesn’t mean she’s your damn prisoner! She didn’t escape one hell to venture into another!”

No. Jane pushed up to her feet. She wasn’t in hell with Alerac. Alerac hadn’t sent Liam to attack her. Alerac didn’t even know that his men were betraying him.

“Let. Her. Go,” Ryan demanded. “Haven’t you hurt her enough already? She was punished for you. That time in prison should have been your time. She traded her life for yours once. Just let her go.”

She thought Alerac would attack him.

But…

There was no attack.

Alerac looked back at her. No more growls. No howls.

He stared at her, and the shift swept over him. Beast became man, and then it was Alerac who was on the ground before her. He rose slowly, still never taking his eyes from her.

Then Alerac walked toward her, naked and strong, with eyes that were swirling with emotion. “I didn’t send them.”

She nodded. “I know.” Her voice was a rasp.

His gaze fell to her throat.

It was sure easy to read the emotion he felt then—rage flared in his gaze. “Consider Liam dead.”

So easily? Liam had been with Alerac for so long, but he’d go after the wolf now? For her?

“You need blood,” Alerac murmured. He took another step toward her.

Only to be wrenched back by Ryan. “What she needs is to get away from you!”

She took your punishment.

Alerac’s jaw clenched, and he gritted out, “My blood will make her stronger. She’s hurt!”

But now Ryan was the one standing between her and Alerac. “You just want to strengthen the bond between the two of you. A bond you manipulated from the very beginning! Keira should have never been with you!” He jabbed his finger into Alerac’s chest. “Do you think I don’t know the truth? Lorcan wasn’t the only one using a witch in those days. I know what you did!”

Her hand lifted. Touched her throat. The wound hadn’t closed yet.

Her fangs were out because hunger cut through her.

Alerac.

“You used magic in order to get to Keira,” Ryan charged. “She turned on her family because you tricked her! You’re still tricking her. She needs to learn the truth about her past!”

“S-screw the past,” she whispered.

And both men gaped at her.

Did it look like the past mattered right then? “I’m dying here.” The words barely could escape because of the damage to her throat.

Ryan’s mouth dropped. “Keira, my blood—”

Alerac tossed her brother head-first into the nearest tree. “It’s Jane. And I’m here.” He caught her chin in his hands. He titled his head, offering his neck to her. “Take from me.”

Jane didn’t need to hear a second offer. Her teeth sank into his throat. She was so afraid of hurting him—the way that Liam had hurt her—and tears leaked down her cheeks at the thought of causing him pain.

As she stood there, her teeth in his neck, his body against hers, his arms came up. Wrapped around her. Pulled her close.

Thunder rolled across the sky. Rain began to fall on them, hitting softly first, then harder, washing away the blood on her. Soaking her clothes.

“Drain him, Keira!” That was Ryan. Annoying her. “It’s what he deserves.”

No, she wasn’t sure what Alerac deserved, but she didn’t think it was death.

Her tongue lightly licked over his skin. She loved his taste.

She also loved the power of his blood. Just a few sips and she wasn’t weak, not any longer. Her body seemed to pulse with energy and life.

And lust had heated her.

Not lust for his blood.

For him.

She pulled her mouth from his neck. Alerac’s head lifted. Raindrops clung to his lashes as he peered down at her. “I didn't send them after you.”

An understanding sank into her, one that left her feeling lost. “You weren’t coming after me at all, were you?” He’d known that she’d run. Of course, he’d known. Mr. Super Senses.

He shook his head. “Not until I heard the howls.”

The howls had come when the werewolves attacked her. “What happened to them?” Jane whispered.

“Three are dead.” The lines near his mouth deepened. “The fourth will be.”