I had no choice but to admit to myself I loved him.
Liliac
and all, I loved him. I'd deal with the implications later. Now, I had to help him.
I ran past Temptation Formation, down the long, tight tunnel I had almost lost it in during the field trip. So determined to reach Ryan, it didn't even bother me this time. I just kept going until I hit Headache Alley, then I stopped in my tracts as a swarm of bats surrounded me. Some morphed into humans and seized me by the arms, others stayed in bat form and swirled around me. Knowing they would lead me straight to Constantine, I didn't waste my energy putting up a fight.
As we entered the Crap Room, I noticed Ryan lay in a heap next to the flowstone. Constantine stood over him in attack mode, ready to deal yet another blow. He lifted his arm.
"No! Stop!” I broke free of the goons holding me and rushed to Ryan's side, covering his body with mine. I turned my head and glared at Constantine. “If you hurt him one more time, I swear I'll kill you."
He laughed, evil pouring out of his black soul. “How do you plan to do that, exactly?"
"Why don't you try it and find out? You'll have to kill me first before I allow you to lay a hand on him again.” My breath came out in angry puffs. A haze of red floated in front of my vision. My heart beat hard against my ribs.
He gestured to the two who had restrained me earlier. My gums burned and itched, but this time I didn't even try to control the change. I allowed my fangs to extend and hissed a warning at the two approaching
Liliacs
.
"Stay away from me or I'll rip your heads off."
They stopped in their tracks and sized me up, then looked to Constantine for guidance.
He threw his hand in the air and yelled, “Get her off him now, you idiots. Don't tell me you're scared of a little vampire.” He narrowed his eyes.
They rushed me, pulling me off of Ryan.
"Now, that's better. I can finish what I started.” He glanced back at me and smiled, revealing red tinged fangs—Ryan's blood.
I sucked in a breath and struggled against my captors. “Don't you touch him, you bastard."
Constantine knelt next to Ryan and tore off the remaining portion of his shredded shirt. He raised a sharp pointed fingernail and cut his eyes toward me, making sure I watched his every move. He slid his nail down Ryan's chest, slicing into his skin. Blood pooled around the newly opened wound and trickled down Ryan's sides. He moaned, but was too weak to do anything else.
"Stop!” I twisted and turned, kicking out toward my restraints.
"Why should I stop, Cheyenne? Didn't he betray you? Don't you want him punished?” The hopeful expression spreading across his features made me sick. “Or could it be that you care for the young fool?"
I stopped struggling and stared at Constantine.
His face soured as he studied my reaction to his dig. “Well, well. I do believe you care for him more than you're even willing to admit.” He pushed the point of his nail straight down above Ryan's heart, leaving a small hole. Ryan moaned again. When he lifted his finger, blood filled the gouge. “Go ahead, Cheyenne, admit your feelings. We won't tell.” He raised his finger again to dig another hole.
I sobbed as tears streamed down my face. “Yes! I love him. Is that what you want to hear? Does that make you happy?"
Constantine stood and sauntered over to me. He lifted my chin with his bloodied index finger and stared into my eyes. Anger and ... maybe sadness ... flickered across his face. “Does it make me happy that you love another? No!” His eyes locked with mine. “But, it does make things simpler for me."
I jerked my chin away from his vile touch. “What do you mean by that?"
"It means I now have something with which to bargain. You really are naïve. Tsk. Tsk. You handed me what I desired on a silver platter. How cliché."
"You make no sense.” I scowled.
"Then let me spell it out. You agree to come to me willingly and accept me as your
lifemate
or ... “—he flicked his finger in Ryan's direction—"he dies."
My mouth dropped open before I could catch myself. “You want me to trade my life for his?"
"Don't be so dramatic.” He rolled his eyes and twirled his hand in the air, the scent of Ryan's blood fresh upon his hand.
I glanced toward Ryan. He attempted to lift himself into a sitting position, but fell back down onto the floor, too weak to do much else. I grimaced.
Constantine followed the path of my gaze and strolled back over to Ryan. He stretched out next to him, not caring that he lay in congealing blood. He traced a circle on top of the area where Ryan's heart rested, barely beating. “What's your choice, Cheyenne? You have the power to save him. The fool's life is in your hands. Or should I carve his heart out of his chest and eat it while it still beats in my hand?"
I stared at him aghast. Was I part of some freaky reality show? Eat a beating heart? It was like some B movie on the SciFi channel—creepy and surreal. I shook my head, hoping to clear the fuzzies that had covered my reality like a wad of lint.
"I'm losing my patience, Cheyenne. Make ... your ... choice. Besides, I won't have to kill him if you wait much longer. He'll bleed out. Look at him.” He waved his hand above Ryan's body. “He needs blood. All you have to do is say the word. You can save him."
Left without a choice, I had to save Ryan's life. I'd have to figure out a way to get out of the bargain later. “If I agree, you'll let him live and allow me to give him the needed blood?"
He hesitated, glancing between me and Ryan. He didn't look happy with the choice, but said, “Yes."
I searched my mind, trying to find some other way to save Ryan's life.
Constantine pressed his fingernail into Ryan's chest.
"Okay. Stop, please. I accept. I'll ... do it,” I murmured.
"You'll do what, Cheyenne?” A grin spread across his coldly handsome features.
Ryan lifted his head and said in a whisper, “Cheyenne, don't do it. You must save yourself."
Constantine forced Ryan's head back down and sliced through Ryan's arm, a ribbon of blood forming along its path. “Why don't you just mind your own business?” he hissed.
"Stop! I said I'd do it."
"Do what, Cheyenne? Say it. I dare you."
"I'll be your stupid
lifemate
or whatever it is.” I glared at him with all the hate I had in my heart.
"Now, was that so hard?” He motioned to the two
Liliacs
holding me. “Release her."
I pulled out of their grasp and ran to Ryan's side.
Constantine sat up and watched as I knelt next to Ryan, opposite him.
Ryan opened his crystal blue eyes. “Don't do this."
"How sweet. But alas, it's too late. The deal is done,” Constantine stated.
"Ryan, you need blood. You've lost too much. Tell me what to do,” I pleaded.
"Tsk. Tsk. See what all that domestication has done for your ...
clice
? How sad that a
Vanator
doesn't know how to feed. Once you get used to
our
ways, you will gain so much more pleasure from feeding.” He smiled, a wicked gleam glittering in his eyes, then proceeded to lick the blood from his fingers. “A bit nouveau, but not bad."
"You're sick."
How could such a gorgeous guy be so disgusting and so ... evil? What happened in his life to make him like this? It was hard to believe our
clice
once lived like the
Liliacs
. I shuddered at the thought.
I lifted Ryan's head and cradled it in my lap. Not knowing what else to do, I offered my wrist, placing it against his lips like I had seen in the movies.
Ryan turned his head, refusing to cooperate.
"Well, if he doesn't want to drink from you, then I guess that's his choice.” Constantine chuckled to himself and leaned back on his elbows.
"Ryan, you must drink. You can't heal on your own. You're injuries are severe enough you'll die,” I pleaded. Desperation laced my voice. “What's wrong with you? Just do it.” I pressed my wrist to his mouth once more. Again he refused. “Why won't you save yourself?"
"Because he knows he will be forever tortured with your memories and experiences once he takes your life force into his body. And once he has a taste of your essence, he'll forever crave it ... as I now crave it.” Desire glazed his eyes. “He would rather die. Weak fool.” Constantine spat next to Ryan, barely missing him.
Crave? An idea popped into my head. I extended my fangs, then bit into my wrist. Blood filled the holes left from my teeth and flowed onto my skin. I held my arm over Ryan's mouth, allowing blood to drip onto his lips.
His tongue snaked out and lapped the fluid. His eyes widened and he grasped my wrist, bringing it to his warm lips. As he drank, I felt the energy flow back into his body. A warm electrical field surrounded us, crackling and popping. He'd be okay.
"Enough!” Constantine bellowed. His eyes glowed yellow and his face colored red.
I furrowed my brows as I studied him, trying to figure out what had him in such a pissy mood when he now had everything he claimed to want. Jealousy? How gay! He just wanted me for my blood and the
lifemate
thing. He didn't really care for me. Or did he? The haunted look in his eyes seemed to betray his true feelings. No way could a
Liliac
be capable of love.
Constantine stood and snapped his fingers. Two beautiful
Liliac
females appeared within a shimmering mist. One had long blonde hair that reached her lower back, porcelain fair skin, and stark blue eyes. The other was the polar opposite in coloring—black hair, olive skin, and chocolate brown eyes.
"Prepare her,” Constantine ordered the two women.
"Yes, my lord,” they answered in unison.
My lord? What was that about? They moved toward me as if they glided across the cave floor, not walked. Their wispy black gowns floated on their curvy forms. Mesmerized by their ethereal presence, I had all but forgotten about their intentions.
As one cool hand grasped my upper arm, I jolted. “Don't touch me. I'm not going anywhere."
"Mmmm. I think you will. Remember our bargain?” He turned his head toward Ryan.
The two behemoth guards bent over Ryan, forcing him to rise to a standing position.
"Hey! Where are you taking him? We had a deal. Let him go!” Fury swelled in my chest and shot through my body.
"Oh, Cheyenne, my little naïve vampire. I said I'd allow him to
live
. I never said I'd release him. He'd be a danger to us from here on out. Freeing him is not an option. Besides, don't you want your lover boy to be near? Kind of like a special ... pet. Maybe I'll allow you to visit him in his cage every now and then."
Unable to control the reactions of my body any longer and not sure I even wanted to, my bones began to creak and snap. I cried out as my muscles burned and twisted. Claws sprang from the tips of my fingers. My fangs elongated. Slick, black fur covered every inch of skin. I hunched on the ground as my body finished its transition, my clothes ripping and shredding with the change of form.
Power surged within me, giving me a freedom I had never quite experienced before. I licked my lips, staring straight into the eyes of my intended prey. A blood curdling scream burst from my lungs.
Startled, Constantine moved back a few steps. I'd have laughed if I had the ability. Slowly, I stalked closer, enjoying the fear skittering across his face.
What to do? Rip his throat out or maim him until he bleeds out?
Horrified, I stopped my approach and sat back on my haunches. Where had those thoughts come from?
Constantine took advantage of my shock and gathered his wits. “Cheyenne! Stop your nonsense. That is if you want your lover to remain healthy,” he sneered.
I twisted my neck around to glance at Ryan. A sharp blade poised above his throat glistened in the candlelight. Another shrill scream emerged from my mouth.
"Ah. Ah. Ah. I know what you're thinking—that I'd break the bargain. Not so. He will remain alive. I'll make sure of it. Tsk. Tsk. Have you forgotten that vampires heal abnormally fast? I don't have to kill him. I can injure him over and over. And as you've found out, we still feel pain. Is that what you want for your precious Ryan?"
Vibrations of anger rocked me. One swipe of my claws and I could take him down, then rip the smug smile right off his face. I glanced at Ryan again. The blade now pressed into his neck, and a fresh stream of blood oozed from the wound. Growling low in my throat, I fixed my stare back on Constantine.
"Ah. I see you understand. Good. Let's be done with this foolishness."
All the fight in me left and I morphed back into my human form. My clothes had all but been ripped apart, so I huddled on the ground, covering as much of my exposed flesh as I could.
Constantine flicked his wrist toward the two guards. “Take him and see that he's cleaned up. He has a ceremony to attend."
"Ceremony?” I croaked, my voice raw and strained.
He unbuttoned his silky black shirt, sauntered over to me, and draped it over my shoulders. “Why, yes, little
Vanator
, our
lifemate bonding
ceremony. Don't tell me you've already forgotten? Now off with you. I expect you will act the part of the good little vampire, Right?"
Unsure of what blew me away the most—his kindness in covering my scantily clad body or his six pack abs and rock hard pecs—I could only stare with my mouth wide open like the gawking teenager I apparently was.
Why did he care about my modesty anyway? Unless he didn't want any of the other
Liliacs
to see my so called charms. Not that I had any charms to speak of. And where did he get that body?
Careful to make sure I held the shirt together with my hands, I stood, his scent wafting into my senses—almonds and fresh earth, a disturbingly comforting blend of smells. Comforting? What was wrong with me?
The two women approached once more. I moved away from their grasp, but I didn't fight them, knowing Constantine would gain pleasure from inflicting pain upon Ryan at the least provocation. The blonde one led the way while I followed, the other trailing shortly behind.