Page 31 of Midnight Whispers
I’m not sure if it’s the adrenaline or the cold, but my entire body is trembling.
He runs his fingers through my hair, bringing a chunk up to his nose and inhaling deeply. His cold fingertips glide my neck,sending a chill down my spine. Cedar moves my hair off to the side, exposing my skin to the brisk air.
“I can see why he’s so drawn to you.”
“W…W… Who?”
“Well, Finnian, of course.”
“I… Who?”
Cedar lets out a deep laugh. “Of course he hasn’t introduced himself to you, officially. I’m sure I’m to blame for that.” He lets out a sigh and releases my hair from his grasp, but keeps his arm firmly wrapped across my chest. “Speak of the devil,” he snarls.
“You don’t want to do this, Cedar.”
My eyes widen as Cedar tenses around me. “Hello, Finnian. You have always been such a wet blanket. Where’s the fun?”
I study his face as this stranger, Finnian, storms over to where we stand. The moonlight reflects off his skin, casting shadows against his prominent jaw and cheekbones. His eyes meet mine and I can’t seem to pull my attention away.
He’s breathtaking.
“Release her, immediately. There’s no reason to involve my girl.”
My girl.
Cedar clicks his tongue. “On the contrary, Finn. I think you know exactlywhyI must involve her.”
Anger flashes across Finn’s face only seconds before he lunges at Cedar, his own elongated canines exposed. I’m cast off to the side, hitting the ground with athud.I am completely mesmerized as they fight, bobbing and weaving against each other's movements. The colors of their skin and clothing begin to blur as their speed accelerates. I take this as my opportunity to get out before I no longer have the chance, willing my legs to move from the spot where I sit.
14
I pinCedar to the ground, my hand gripping his throat. Vampire regulations prohibit killing another of our kind without cause, and this wouldnotbe a reason they’d consider worthy. If I were to kill Cedar right now, I’d be forced to change someone of the Counsels choosing. I could run away, evading them for centuries again...
But I couldn’t do that to Asher again.
I couldn’t leave Lillia.
The Counsel wouldnotconsider protecting a mortal to be a good enough reason to kill one of my own.
“Can’t do it, can you? You really are a sad excuse of a man.” Cedar’s lips curl into a smile. “It was such a shame to hear about Wren’s death.”
“I knew that was you,” I snarl. “He did nothing wrong, you sick fuck.” I tighten my hold on his neck.
“Except have a pussy as a maker.”
“Don’t go anywhere near Lillia again, or Iwillkill you. The same way I killed Evelyn.” His eyes fill with hatred at the mention of her name.
He’s right, though. I am weak, but I can’t be a maker again. Losing Wren quickly became one of the most painful life experiences I’ve ever had, and I refuse to go through it again.
Cedar struggles to get out from my grip, and I relent and let him go. In the blink of an eye, he flees. I dust the dirt off my pants and turn in the direction Lillia went. Even if I hadn’t watched her walk away, the scent of her blood is like a pathway that leads me directly to her.
“You’re hurt, love,” I say as I swoop her up into my grasp.
“I can walk.” She crosses her arms in front of her chest and lets out an exasperated sigh, but I can feel her body soften against me as she lowers her shoulders.
“Yet, you aren’t fighting against me.”
“There’s really no use, is there?”