“Evelyn, don’t move,” he says, and I hear the bottom step creak.
Thaddeus’ head whips towards the noise. A growl escapes him, and I hear the movement stop. Thaddeus turns back to me, and I feel his tongue run across my neck before I feel him sniff where my mark is. He then licks it, and I curse myself inwardly when I moan at the sensation.
Thaddeus seems startled by my reaction, and I see his eyes flicker for a second going green so quickly I think I might have imagined it. His nose goes to the crook of my neck, and I move my hand. He growls when I place it on the side of his face, but then, he suddenly purrs deep in the back of his throat.
His stubble prickles my skin. I feel his tongue on my neck again and he bites me, making me whimper. He pulls his head back, my hand still on the side of his face, and shakes his head. I can feel my hand shaking in fear; I’m still worried he will bite it off. His eyes flicker again, and I know he is still in there; there is some piece of him, holding on, refusing to give in, though I feel nothing of him through the bond, which I think is odd.
Taking a chance that will either kill me or save me, I grab his face, catching him off guard, and smash my lips against his. His teeth go through my bottom lip, but I ignore the pain and blood running down my face, shoving my tongue in his mouth. He growls as his claws dig into my side above my hip.
I think I am done for good when I suddenly feel him kiss me back. His claws retract along with his fangs. His tongue plunges into my mouth hungrily, and I feel his hand go to the back of my neck, pulling me closer. I feel his body shudder, and the fur covering his arms and chest disappears.
The lights flicker and turn on, hurting my eyes when they open as I feel him take a shaky breath. Thaddeus suddenly tears up as he pulls away, but I pull him against me, holding him there. He grips me like I am his lifeline, pressing against me, and I don’t know what to do other than hold him and hope he doesn’t turn homicidal again.
Ryland walks up the stairs slowly, his eyes make contact with mine; I see relief flood him when he sees I am okay underneath him. Both mine and Ryland’s heads turn when we hear Orion groan on the floor below us.
I can feel blood dribble down my chin and spill onto my neck from my lip. Thaddeus finally stops crying, and my shirt –well, what’s left of it– is wet with his tears. Thaddeus suddenly gets up.
He looks down at me, clutches my face with both hands and gazes into my eyes. “I love you,” he says, then lets go of me and walks upstairs.
I hop up off the stairs, and I find Orion sitting on the floor, Ryland by his side rubbing his back. Walking down the stairs, I rush over to them. Ryland’s head wounds have healed, but he is still covered in blood.
Orion’s clothes are torn to shreds. Ryland pulls me toward him, hugging me, and I wrap my arms around his waist when I hear movement on the floor above us. The entire railing on the stairs is smashed above our heads from where I fell. My stomach turns when I see Thaddeus walk down the stairs with a bag. He drops it at the foot of the stairs and walks into the kitchen. Ryland and Orion look at each other as confused as I feel. He returns with his car keys.
“Where are you going?” I ask, and his eyes snap at me. The anguish behind them nearly knocks me over, and I step back as he walks toward me. Orion and Ryland jump to their feet.
“I’m not going anywhere; you are.” I feel my stomach drop; what does he mean?
“Thaddeus, what are you doing?” Ryland says, grabbing his arm, and I can see the fear in Ryland’s eyes, feel it hit me through the bond.
“What’s right. We never should have let her get involved with us,” he answers, shaking off his arm.
Thaddeus reaches for me; grabs my face and I feel the fog rush over me. “No,” I gasp, but he doesn’t listen.
“You will take my keys and the bag and leave. Go live your life away from me. You are free to go where you want; just don’t come back here,” he says, and his words suddenly sound very reasonable. But if so, why do they hurt so badly?
He lets go of my face, and I stumble back. Tears fill my eyes. He is letting me go, but why does it feel so hollow inside me? Why does it feel so wrong?
“You can’t decide that for all of us, Thaddeus. I won’t, I can’t be without her,” Ryland growls, grabbing my arm and stopping me from leaving.
“She is right; I only hurt her, all of you. You’re free to go with her,” he says, and turns on his heel to walk up the stairs.
I feel destroyed; they look torn on what to do. My choice is taken, and the longer Ryland grips my arm, the worse the nausea gets from not leaving the house and following his order. I grit my teeth as nausea washes over me. Then, I am suddenly pulled toward the door. Ryland bends down, grabbing the bag.
“What’s going on?” I ask, confused. Ryland walks me outside, and the nausea instantly stops. Orion steps out behind us. Ryland walks to the garage, opens it, and gets in the car to reverse it. Cold arms wrap around my own, and Orion turns me around to kiss me. His tongue traces my bottom lip, and my lip’s part, his tongue playing with mine as I feel him pull me closer. He pulls back and grips my face. “I love you, Evelyn. I will see you soon,” he says and kisses my forehead.
“You’re not coming?” I ask as tears fill my eyes.
He shakes his head. “No, I will talk some sense into him.” I look toward the upstairs window and see Thaddeus, standing at the window watching us. It hurts when he turns around and walks out of view.
Ryland places his hand on my lower back, making me look up at him. “Come. We need to go before you end up in pain,” he says, kissing the side of my face.
“You’re coming with me?” He nods and looks at Orion. Orion grips the back of his neck, tugs him closer and kisses him. They look reluctant to pull apart, but Ryland grabs my hand and walks me to the car. I sit in the seat, my stomach churning at leaving them. Ryland leans over me, plugging my seat belt in.
“You will see them again, I promise,” he says, and kisses my head.
I watch him walk around to the other side. Ryland starts the car, turns it around and drives down the driveway. The house disappears behind us.
“Where are we going?” I ask.