"No. I wouldn't stay with someone like that. But Liam would never hurt me. He would chop off his own hands before he ever raised one against me. He really would, Kathleen."
Kathleen's stare burrowed into her. "If you say so. But if I ever see one unexplained bruise on you, or if I ever see him mistreat you, I will beat the shit out of him, agreed?"
The idea of Kathleen trying to beat Liam was even funnier than the idea of Liam hitting her. "Agreed," she vowed.
"What is the matter with you?" Mike demanded.
Liam turned to him as Sera, Kathleen, and Danielle disappeared down the hall. "What do you mean?"
"You didn't see yourself. Are you trying to get us all killed? Do you want to give us all away?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Your eyes were red," Doug said. "For a second Liam, your eyes were red."
Liam frowned as he folded his arms over his chest. "What is going on?" Mike asked.
"I don't know," he admitted reluctantly.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" Jack demanded.
"I mean, I don't know."
"But something is going on?" Mike prompted.
Liam ran a hand through his hair. "She's mine."
"We all know she’s your girlfriend, now what is your point?"
"My point," he grated. "Is that no one else is going to see her."
"It's only a game," Doug muttered.
"Not to me!" he shouted.
"Liam, I think you need to tell us what is going on because it's pretty clear to me you're close to losing it," Mike said.
Liam's jaw clenched as he stared at them. "I don't know what's going on. All I know is I can't control myself when I'm around her."
"What do you mean?" Jack asked.
"Exactly what I just said."
They exchanged bewildered looks before turning back to him. "I think you're going to have to be more specific," Mike insisted.
"I don't know how to be. I've never felt like this. I've never acted like this. I've never lost control like this. You're trying to get me to explain something I can't. All I can tell you is I will kill anyone who tries to harm her. I will kill anyone who tries to take her from me. I will never let her go."
"Yes, we understand that, but there's more going on here, Liam," Mike said. "That doesn't explain your lack of control."
"Didn't you hear me?" he spat. "I can't control myself when I'm around her! At all!"
"Are you afraid you'll hurt her?" Doug asked.
Before his answer would have been a resounding no. Now, he wasn't so sure. "I might," he reluctantly admitted. "I don't want to, and she's sure I won't, but I can't stop myself."
"Stop yourself from what?"
"From tasting her! From having her!" he cried.
"Maybe you should get away from her for a while, at least until we can figure out all of this," Doug suggested.
"That is not an option."
"Liam—"
"No!" he cut Mike off forcefully. "That is not an option!" His teeth began to lengthen as his hands clenched at his sides.
"Jesus," Jack muttered. "Okay, it's not an option, just calm down."
Liam ground his teeth and took a deep breath. What was the matter with him? He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall as he rubbed at his temples. Maybe he should get away from her before he hurt her, or someone else. But even the idea of leaving her brought the beast forth again. Bloodlust and a wave of possessiveness burst through him, seizing his muscles and shaking his control.
"Okay, we'll figure this out," Mike said. "But you need to control yourself, Liam. You're going to lose it, and you can't afford to do that in front of Kathleen and Danielle."
"I know."
"You will lose Sera if something happens to her friends."
His eyes flew open, and they all took an involuntary step back. "Nothing is going to happen to them, and I will not lose her!"
"Hey, guys! Come on!" Kathleen called. "Let's play cards!"
Liam glared at them before turning and leaving the room. "What is going on?" Jack demanded.
"I don't know," Mike said.
"What are we going to do? He's snapping."
"I don't know."
"You're not helpful!"
"I don't see you putting forth any ideas!" he retorted.
"We're not going to figure it out now," Doug intervened. "And he will shred us to pieces if we even try to interfere."
"Yes, he will," Mike agreed.
"Maybe it just needs to work itself out," Jack muttered.
"Well, it's going to have to, or he's going to lose it, and the consequences will be devastating. Come on, let's go."
They followed Mike out of the kitchen and into the living room. Candles were set around the room. Their tiny flames cast shadows over the walls and added a cozy aura of warmth. Kathleen and Sera were pulling the cushions off the couches and plopping them around the coffee table.
They settled in as Danielle began to shuffle and deal out the cards. "Five card draw," she announced. "Nothing wild."
Sera poured herself a glass of Peachtree Schnapps and orange juice. Everyone gathered drinks and sat back to stare at their cards. Liam slipped his hand onto her leg and squeezed her thigh.
Liam stared at his cards as everyone laughed and joked around him. His thoughts were tumultuous; he couldn't get a handle on himself. Sitting this close to Sera, he could smell her temptingly sweet blood; hear it pounding in her veins. He’d always been able to smell blood, and hear it, but not like this. Before, he could shut it out. Before, it never pulsed inside of him in an answering rhythm that enhanced his hunger. It had never called to him like this.
It took every ounce of control he possessed not to take her and brand her again.
Time seemed to drag at an excruciating pace. Every second was pure torture. His hands clenched upon his cards. Sera placed her hand on his thigh. He shifted as he instantly became erect. Seizing hold of her hand, he forced it to remain still. The smile she sent him was completely knowing, and utterly enticing.
"Witch,"
