Fury boiled inside of him as he clenched his fists. "I know what you mean. I think you better figure out what I mean when I say it's time for you to leave."
"Do you boys want me to leave?" she called over her shoulder.
"We didn't leave you because we wanted to be around you," Jack replied.
Liam let out a snort of laughter. "It doesn't look like you're wanted, Beth."
"I could have told you that," Kathleen said coldly.
Beth's eyes flashed again, and then she smiled. "Yes, but it was your lover who invited me in."
Her head tilted back to gaze at him as she stopped before him and rested her hand on his chest. Hungry and ferocious, her gaze traveled to Sera. The sight brought the beast within him rushing to the front.
"Ah, so it has begun," Beth whispered.
Her words managed to suppress the monster within him. She knew what was going on, knew what was happening to him. "What has begun?" he asked.
She grinned as her hand stroked his chest. He grabbed hold of it and squeezed. Her eyes filled with pain as she fought to pull free.
"What has begun?" he demanded harshly.
She finally managed to rip her hand free. Her jaw clenched as her eyes burned a brilliant, blood red. Then, she smiled as she took a step closer to place her hands on his chest again. "I'll never tell," she taunted.
Liam shoved her back. Beth stumbled, regained her balance, and came up spitting. He braced himself for her attack, but it didn't come. Instead, she took a deep breath and smiled chillingly. "Get out of here!" he spat.
"Yes, I think I will go," she said. "But I will be back." She turned to walk away. Liam launched forward to block Sera before Beth could get near her. Beth's eyes blazed as he grasped hold of Sera's arms and pushed her firmly behind him. Mike and Doug moved forward to stand beside him, while Jack stood behind Sera.
"She's dead, Liam. I will get her," Beth vowed. "I'll get the other two as well."
Her words ripped the beast out of him. His eyes blazed as his teeth instantly sprang forward. "I'll kill you if you ever come near her again Beth. Do you hear me?"
"I'm older and stronger than you."
"Not all of us though," Mike said.
Beth's eyes flickered toward him before settling on Liam again. "I will get to her, and I will drain her dry."
The room suddenly became a shade of red as the bloodlust tore from him. Sera's hand grabbed hold of his arm as he surged forward.
"Liam, no!" she cried as she pulled him back. "Not here! Please!"
Mike and Doug moved forward swiftly. They were certain there would be a bloodbath, certain his rage would cause him to go after Sera, as well as Beth. Mike had never seen him so incensed, so far out of control. Jack seized hold of Sera's shoulders, ready to rip her out of the way if Liam spun on her. They were all stunned when he froze in mid-launch and took a shuddery breath to try and control himself. Beth's gaze flicked to Sera.
"Don't even look at her!" he shouted.
Beth's eyes flew back to his. "I'll see you soon," she vowed.
Liam's jaw clenched, but he made no move to go after her. Sera's hand kept him grounded as it pacified the raging demon straining to break free. Beth turned away from them and headed to the door.
Liam waited for it to open and close before turning to Sera. Fresh anger blazed through him as he spotted Jack's hands upon her shoulders. "Get your hands off her!" he spat.
Jack's hands fell limply to his sides. Sera tilted her head to look at him. There was a wealth of confusion and love blazing out of her. "Are you okay?" he demanded.
"Yes." She stepped forward to wrap her arms around his waist and bury herself in the security of his chest.
He enfolded her, drawing her close. Gradually the beast within him began to ease as he held her. After a few minutes, he lifted his head to gaze at his friends. They gawked at him.
He knew exactly how they felt because he felt the same way. His control was slipping further and further away. Sera could reach him now, but he wasn't sure she would be able to reach him for much longer, and he didn't want to think about what would happen if he lost complete control.
What if next time he turned on her in his fury? He couldn't bear the thought of that happening, but even thinking about letting her go made him want to destroy everything around him. If the idea was enough to make him almost crazed, what would the reality do to him? He didn't know what was happening to him, but he knew he had to figure it out before it was too late. And Beth knew the answer.
"I want to know who that was and what is going on!" Kathleen demanded from the other side of the room. "And I want to know now!"
Sera rested her head on his chest. She wanted to bury herself in him and shut out the rest of the world. "You have to tell them something," she whispered.
"Doug, do you have your cell?" Liam asked.
"Yeah."
"Call David."
"I don't know if it's going to work up here."
"Screw the phone! Give me some answers, or get the hell out of here!" Kathleen commanded. "I'm sick of this crap!"
"Get it to work!" His hands clenched on Sera as his patience began to fray. "Now!"
He turned toward Kathleen. She stood with her hands on her hips; her jaw clenched as she glared at him.
"Until we talk to him, we can't talk to you," he said more calmly. "So, you're going to have to wait."
Kathleen opened her mouth and then closed it. He turned back to
