His gaze shifted away but the expression on his face wasn’t masked. Regret and maybe indecision drew fine lines around his mouth and forehead. She understood. What kind of life was she going to have when she woke after the sun fell tomorrow? Perhaps he regretted making the decision to save her. She didn’t blame him.

He wrapped the towels more firmly around her and lifted, carrying her a few feet to the bed. He used his foot to shove down the covers on the mattress situated on the floor. He crouched, easily placing her on it. It shouldn’t have surprised her when he just tore the towels away, his gaze avoiding her body, and pulled the sheet over her nakedness.

“Sleep, Kira. Stop fighting what’s happening to you. The sun is coming up.”

He sprawled out next to her, tugging off his towel. She was tempted to lift her head to glance down his body but he yanked up the covers before she had a chance to appease her curiosity. The sheet remained between them as he rolled onto his side, curling up next to her. His body heat came through the thin material and she wished she had the energy to turn into him.

“I don’t know how I’ll be when I wake.”

He lifted his head, bracing it on his hand. “It’s going to be alright. I’m with you.”

She had wished to share his bed since she was old enough to become aware of him as a man. She was finally there but unable to even lift her arms to touch him. Not that he’d want me to.

It hurt. She’d always had a tiny bit of hope that they’d somehow be able to be together, refused to let go of that dream.

Her heart broke into what felt like a thousand pieces as she realized there was no longer a chance of that happening. He was beside her but they had never been so far apart. He’d mate some VampLycan in a matter of days and she’d become a suckhead. He’d remain with the clan and she’d never be allowed to step foot in their territory again. She would become his enemy.

“You’ll be hungry and probably go for my throat. I’ll be awake before the sun goes down.”

It appalled her to think she might try to hurt him. “No. Don’t let me attack you. I’d rather die first.” She meant it.

“It’ll be okay. I can handle you. My brother is going to bring you something to eat. I have handcuffs nearby so I can restrain you if you’re out of it when you come around. You won’t be able to hurt me. I’ll still be much stronger than you even after you’re fully changed.”

“The master said he was five hundred years old,” she whispered, fearing that Lorn could be wrong. Old Vampires had a lot of strength.

“It won’t matter. A VampLycan is stronger than a full-blooded Vampire.”

It was another reminder that she wouldn’t be human. That part of her was dying as quickly as she lost the ability to feel any part of her body. She opened her mouth to thank him again for saving her, even if he didn’t want to hear it.

A sudden jab of pain stabbed her in her belly and she gasped, blacking out.

Lorn watched as Kira lost consciousness, agony twisting her delicate features. “Fuck.” He pulled her tight against him, holding her close enough to feel every sluggish beat of her heart. “I’ve got you, sunshine. I won’t let you go.”

She felt so cold in his arms. It probably wasn’t safe to press her face against his throat but every slight breath she took helped him remain calm. She wasn’t really dead, just in a deep sleep. She’d wake a Vampire.

Every bit of information he had on them filled his mind. They were cold-blooded creatures, only warm after a fresh feeding. Some of them seemed to lose the ability to have compassion.

He refused to believe that would happen to his Kira. She had the kindest heart of anyone he’d ever known. He might have saved some baby bunnies when he’d been a kid but Kira had tried to save every injured creature, including birds, forever driving him nuts by climbing trees to check on nests to make certain they were secure. She even cushioned the ground under them in case the newly hatched were to fall.

Her Lycan blood had to account for something. It was faint but it existed. The Vampire traits wouldn’t be able to destroy that part of her and change her personality. He rubbed her arm, wishing he could transfer some of his strength to her. He hated feeling helpless.

“It’s going to be okay,” he crooned. “You’re going to still be you when you wake up. You’ll just need blood.”

She slept. He held her.

“I have faith in you, Kira.” He turned a little more and placed a kiss on her forehead. It was something he hadn’t done since they were kids. “You’re a fighter, you never let anything get you down. You’re strong. Fight this, baby. Wake up and be you.”

What if this changes her forever?

The question haunted him. He knew her well, at least he used to. She’d rather die than become a monster who existed just for bloodlust. He’d have to take her life.

Destiny can’t be that cruel.

Chapter Five

The text messages Lorn received on the emergency phone he kept inside the den assured him that Lavos had smoothed out his cover story with the clan. They believed he had left the territory tracking the Vampires who had supposedly stolen Kira. Veso had also been reported missing. The VampLycan hadn’t been found.

Now he’d gotten a message from Kira’s father. Davis waited above and needed to speak to him immediately.

Davis paced under the shade of a tree when Lorn approached. He wasn’t surprised that Kira’s father would want an update but it irritated him that he’d take the risk of coming onto his land, in case someone from the clan became suspicious enough to keep apprised of the man’s whereabouts.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” Lorn stated. “You’re endangering her.”

Davis spun his way. “I’m picking Kira up at sunset tonight. Have her ready to travel as soon as she’s awake.”

Lorn hadn’t expected that. He frowned. “To take her where?”

“I spoke to Velder. His clan is willing to accept and protect my daughter.”

It confused Lorn. Why would Velder offer to take in a Vampire? “What does he want in exchange?”

“I’ve anonymously warned him in the past about things Decker had planned, in hopes the other clans could stop him. Velder knows I’m an ally. I confessed to him that I was the one who made those calls. There’s a small chance Kira doesn’t have to spend the rest of her life dependent on blood.”