Kara finally stirred in his arms hours later. Thomas and Inola shot up from their seats, going to stand beside the bed.
Gabriel’s body shook. She was alive. She was ok. He knew he wouldn’t feel better until he saw her looking at him. He knew her eyes would be filled with hatred, but she was alive, and that was all that mattered to him.
He looked down at Kara just as her eyelids fluttered. He lifted up the corner of her shirt, eyeing the smooth skin, the silver wounds gone for good.
The first thing she said was his name.
Chapter 8 Betrayed
“Gabriel?”
I knew he was the one holding me; his scent was stronger than usual.
Actually, everything was stronger than usual. My sight, my hearing. My perception of touch.
Was I connected to Gabriel? Strange . . . It didn’t feel overwhelming. My body was processing the enhanced sensations better than it normally did.
“Thomas? Inola?” I said. My eyes searched the guest room and locked onto them.
Thomas grinned warily. “Hey, Red.”
Inola was crying. She reached out and took my hand. “Hello, sweet girl.”
Gabriel tensed against me, as if bracing himself. I turned to him, my movements too fast. Too fluid.
“Gabriel, the connection. Something’s not right. I’m like you too much. It’s never been like this before . . . ,” I said, my voice trailing off as I looked at his face.
He looked the same, and yet, he did not. Had he always been so handsome? His eyes were brighter than usual.
“Something’s not right . . . ,” I repeated uneasily.
The memories came crashing back. Elias. Gabriel. My dogs.
I got up off the bed, and immediately, Thomas went to stand in front of the door, and Inola went to the draped window. Gabriel rose as well.
“Kara, try to stay calm,” Gabriel said carefully.
The emotions—there was no word for how strong they were. I had felt Gabriel’s before, and the difference had been staggering, but unlike my senses, my body wasn’t processing the emotions well at all.
Something was not right. . . .
“My dogs?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
Gabriel’s face became racked with pain.
“I buried them, Red, in a really nice place. We can go see them when the sun goes down if you want,” Thomas said gently.
“No,” I gasped. “No, no, no, no . . .”
Tears fell from my eyes as my gaze scanned Gabriel’s body. “But you’re ok,” I said in relief, seeing so clearly in my mind how badly he had been hurt.
Then I remembered him coming toward me, his eyes a bottomless, soulless black.
“You drank my blood,” I said in disbelief. “You drank my blood when I was hurt. . . .”
I backed away from him, registering how loud my footsteps were. I whirled around, my hand going to my throat.
It burned. It was bearable, but it was very unpleasant and annoying.
“Are you thirsty?” I asked desperately.
“Kara, listen to me, please,” Gabriel said, his voice pleading.
And it was too late. I had whirled around again, glancing at the mirror on the wall. My eyes were glowing—a beautiful mixture of blue, green, and gold.
This was no blood connection making me feel this way. I felt this way because I was . . .
“You didn’t.” I looked at Gabriel. “You did not!”
“I had no choice.”
“No choice?” I seethed. “You promised me!”
“You were dying. You would be dead had I not saved you.”
I started to laugh and was unable to stop. The sound was hysterical, and tears fell from my eyes faster.
Inola and Thomas actually looked scared.
Minutes passed before I was able to breathe properly. The air I sucked in to fuel my words were tinged with iron and bleach. “You, save me? When have you ever saved me, Gabriel?” Immediately, I was angry again. “You drank my blood!”
“It was the blood frenzy. Words cannot express how sorry I am. I know I have wronged you, but—”
“Wronged you,” I mimicked. “That’s how you word it? You lying coward! You betrayed me! You turned me!” I screamed.
“Kara—” Gabriel began.
“Shut up!” I said. “Oh, I hate you. I hate you!”
Gabriel reached for me, his face no longer wary, but determined.
I smacked his hand away, hard enough that I could hear and feel the snap of bone. He didn’t even flinch.
“Don’t you dare touch me!” I warned.
Gabriel flexed his hand, the bones snapping back into place. “What was I supposed to do? Let you die?” His voice was rising, matching mine in anger.
“Yes! Or, how about this?” I said, flinging my arms out. “Maybe you should have left me alone completely! You know, instead of kidnapping me like a homicidal maniac!”
Gabriel had the audacity to smile. “So we are back to square one, are we? I remember you telling me that you no longer resent me for what transpired that night.”
I screamed, the sound almost hurting my new ears. I lunged at him, shoving him into the wall. He fell against the mirror. The glass cracked.
“Kara, stop it!” Inola shouted.
I whirled on her. “And you two! Were you in on this?” I asked, my voice dripping with venom.
Inola appeared shocked. “Of course not! How could you ask that?”
I turned my accusing glare to Thomas. He stayed where he was, leaning against the door almost casually. Only the drumming of his fingers against his side indicated he was upset about the situation. He shook his head at me.
I could smell that Gabriel was close to me again. His scent cascaded over me, filling me with a hatred so potent it made me sick.
“Get. Away. From. Me,” I said, enunciating each word through clenched teeth.
Thomas raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you should listen to her, friend,” he said dryly.
“Heart,” Gabriel said softly.
His voice cut through the hatred, and just as soon as I hated him, I loved him
