"I'm sure she will." Mike sounded doubtful as he squeezed Sera's hand and released it.
Liam closed his eyes and bent his head. She was still and cold beneath his touch. He could feel the waning strength within her; feel the tenuous hold she had upon life. Her breath barely caused her chest to rise. "Where are they?" he demanded.
"They'll be here soon."
Liam glanced hopelessly around the small hotel room. A knock on the door snapped his head around. Mike jumped to his feet and hurried to open it. David, Doug, and Jack came into the room, each pulling someone along with them. There was a dull, glazed look in the eyes of the people as they stood soundlessly in the doorway. Doug shut the door and ushered them further into the room. Liam didn't care two of them were women and Sera would be upset. It didn't matter right now.
He climbed swiftly to his feet. "Hold this," he told Mike.
Mike hurried forward as Liam dragged the first girl into the bathroom.
Liam cradled Sera's head as he pressed her mouth firmly against the slit he made at the base of his throat. She was too weak to feed on her own, too weak to even move. He held her close as the blood trickled down her throat and seeped into her veins. He could feel it healing her wounds as muscle and skin gradually repaired itself.
Even though he could feel her healing, she was still weak and unresponsive. If he wasn’t holding her, she would fall back to the bed. He clung to her, praying for her safety, for her life. He had done nothing to deserve her, but if he lost her now, he knew he wouldn't be able to survive it.
Sera please, he sent the desperate plea into her mind through his blood. He felt a small flicker of a response as he continued to plead with her, to wish her to live. Her hands twitched in his lap. He fought back the waves of hope crashing through him. It was too soon to hope, too soon to know if she was truly going to be all right. Please, he pleaded over and over again.
Her mouth twitched on his neck, and she swallowed for herself. His hands dug into her hair as her teeth pressed against his neck. He turned his head as she bit deep into him. He held her as he allowed her to take whatever she needed, whatever would help her. Her hands twitched again, and then her arms wrapped around his back.
Her mind filtered into his. He could feel her weakness, feel her hunger, and hear the tears she shed. Her love enveloped him in a cocoon, and for the first time in hours, he was confident she would survive. He was unable to get her close enough, unable to feel enough of her as relief filled him.
Eventually, she released her hold on him. Her eyes landed on him as she managed a weak smile. "You're going to be okay," he said.
"Yes," she croaked out.
He lifted her off the bed and carried her into the bathroom. Although she was sated, and her wounds healed, she was still incredibly weak. He set her down on the edge of the tub and stripped the bloodied clothes off her. She watched him in silence, her skin so pale it was nearly translucent, and her eyes shadowed.
Blood streaked across her cheekbones, hair, stomach, and thighs. Dark scratches still marred her side. For the first time, her naked body didn't bring him to instant arousal. Instead, all he felt was a need to care for her, to protect her, and shield her. He shed his clothes, scooped her back up, and held her against his chest as he stepped into the tub. He turned the water on and adjusted the temperature before pulling the tab for the shower. The water hit them with stinging hot needles. She rested her head weakly against his chest as the blood flowed off them. The water ran red for a long time as he gently washed it from her hair and body.
Stepping from the shower, he wrapped her within a towel and carried her back to the bed. He crawled in beside her and pulled her against his side. She curled against him, her tiny hand clinging to his chest as she drifted to sleep. He stared at the ceiling as she breathed steadily; her body was warm and comforting against his side.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sera tossed the last of her clothes into a box and closed the lid. She was unbelievably tired and so grateful the packing was finally complete. The past few months had seemed to stretch on for years. Her classes had been endless, and she struggled every minute just to get through them. Where once her whole life had been books and good grades, now it took every ounce of strength she had just to sit through them.
She spent her nights with Liam, but the time apart during the day was torturous. Not to mention the police inquiry into Jacob's disappearance lasted for over a week. Liam had wanted to take her away, but she was determined to stay and face it. If they ran, they would look guilty, and without a body, there was nothing the police could do to any of them. Other than Michelle revealing to the police she told Jacob where Sera was; they had no proof Jacob ever came to see her. Eventually, he was written off as an unsolved disappearance, and the police left them alone, and finally so had Michelle.
Sera was unbelievably grateful they wouldn’t be starting their new lives as wanted criminals, on top of the other complications they already had and would always have. Their lives were never going to
