“You can’t make me drink. It’s my choice.”
“It used to be,” Sadie conceded, speaking quietly. “That’s no longer the case.”
“No longer the case?”
“You need to able to defend yourself. You can’t do that if you don’t feed.” Bracing herself for the earful she was about to receive, Sadie continued, “What if something happens to me? What would you do then? Your options are limited. The coven isn’t secure. They have weaknesses. And Geneva’s been hiding something. I’m not sure what it is but it’s no good. You won’t be happy there. You need someone to watch out for you, someone who would give his life to keep you safe.”
The silence that followed was almost deafening.
“You think you can force me to take blood from Nathan?” Leigh finally asked, voice shaking. “That’ll never happen.”
The scheming bitch! Sadie caught Leigh’s thought and followed it, delving into her friend’s thoughts. I can’t believe I followed her here. I can’t believe I trusted her! She’s been lying to me the entire time. And why not? She’s finally gotten what she wanted. She’s mated to her werewolf. She’ll turn on the coven and go on her merry little way. Oh God, she’ll try to make me do the same thing. She’ll force me to become just like her.
Sadie accepted the vehemence directed at her but even as she did she knew she’d missed the mark big-time. A face flittered through Leigh’s mind in her panic—of a young man, smiling and laughing. Sadie knew it had to be the man Leigh’d lost after she’d been changed. She’d never imagined Leigh was so affected by the love she’d left behind. Yet Sadie felt Leigh’s hurt, the heartache lancing through her chest like a rusty knife. The terrified young woman would never give up her hope for her past life.
Shit.
Leigh thought she could change what had happened to her. The only reason she’d given up was because she had to. She actually believed there had to be a way to go back to the way things used to be. If magic existed, there had to be a way. She wanted to be who she used to be more than anything.
“I’m not doing this because of Trey.” Sadie knew if she didn’t get this right everything would turn to shit. She had to reason with Leigh and help her understand. “You came to find me, remember? None of this happened because I wanted it to.” She knew she had to tell her the rest as well. “There’s a reason Geneva took you in, Leigh. I didn’t question it at first but I should have. I don’t know what it is but there’s some ass backward shit going down in the coven. I have a feeling Geneva’s been planning something for months. That’s why she tried to trap me at the house. She’ll use you. You’ll find yourself snared in her web if you’re not careful.”
She’s playing you for a fool! Leigh’s thoughts—much louder now—slammed into Sadie’s head. She’s one of them now.
“So it’s Geneva we have to worry about, huh?” Leigh strode from the window as her private feelings crashed into Sadie’s mind. “You might have fooled me once but it won’t happen again. If you’re going to lie, at least come up with something decent.”
Will the coven welcome me back? Leigh wondered. Will they turn me away? Where do rogue vampires go? Is there a place for us?
Every single worry in Leigh’s mind merged with Sadie’s thoughts.
They’ll destroy me for leaving in the first place. They’ll make me suffer. It’ll be worse than before. Will they make me feed? Will I kill? What if they turn me over to…to…the vampire who made me? Oh God. I can’t go through that. Not ever again. What do I do? Where should I go?
“I’m not lying,” Sadie said, trying to stay composed. “Geneva was ready to turn on me. That’s why I told you to phase. She almost trapped me before I could escape. She used her magic against me. She took you into our home for a reason. She wants something from you.”
“Like you don’t!” Leigh screamed.
Sadie used the little energy she had left to raise her head and look at the girl.
Leigh’s entire body was shaking, her eyes brimming with tears. “You brought me here,” she sobbed, eyes swimming. “You brought me to him. You knew exactly what you were doing.”
“I didn’t bring you here for Nathan.” Not intentionally, not with ulterior motives. Sadie would never have done such a thing. “I swear. It’s not—”
“I’m not listening to you anymore,” Leigh yelled while her thoughts tumbled together, making it impossible for Sadie to understand them. “You’re a liar! You’re all liars!”
Oh no. She’s going to phase.
Somehow—someway—Sadie knew she had to reach Leigh before she did.
She stumbled from the bed and grasped Leigh’s arm. Months of starvation had shown her she could push beyond fatigue. As tired as she was, she had enough energy to maintain her grip. But it wouldn’t last, especially if Leigh decided to throw a spell in her direction. She couldn’t reason with the youthful vampire, not right now. Leigh’s mind was too chaotic, too fucking wounded.
“Trey!” Sadie called out mentally, banking on his ability to hear her. “I need you. Come to me.”
In her weakened state she wasn’t sure if it was her demand or the passage of time that caused Trey and Nathan to appear so quickly. The door burst open and the men rushed inside. The shifters’ gazes darted to the women—Trey’s full of worry, Nathan’s filled with alarm—prepared to take on enemies.
“She’s going to run.” Sadie directed the thought to Trey. “Stop her.”
“Get your female,” Trey snarled to Nathan. “Don’t let her go!”
Sadie welcomed Trey’s embrace, leaning against him, allowing him to hold her. Leigh fought Nathan, thrashing about to break free. When she couldn’t, Leigh screamed. Sadie’s heart broke for the woman as she cried, slapping at Nathan’s chest.
Leigh didn’t love Nathan. She yearned for someone else.
In another time and place, Sadie would have fought Nathan if he tried to stake a claim.
It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t right.
Life seldom was.
“No! Get away from me.” Leigh’s defeated cry seared Sadie’s soul. “No!”
“Shh, baby,” Trey soothed, wrapping his arms around her. It was then Sadie realized she was trembling violently. “I’m here.”
He was there but at what cost?
Her attention drifted to Nathan and Leigh.
Nathan subdued the fragile vampire easily, trapping her small form against the wall. The Beta was cautious but determined, snaking his hands around Leigh’s wrists. Even if Leigh tried to phase, she couldn’t. The fledgling was strong but hadn’t yet developed her powers. For the first time Sadie was glad Leigh hadn’t fine-tuned her abilities. Leigh had no idea what kind of danger she was in. In her current mental state she couldn’t be reasoned with. There was nothing left to do but take care of her, keeping her from inflicting harm on herself.
“Tell him not to let her go.” She sagged against Trey, emotionally battered. “She’s scared and hurt.”
No, it was more than that.
The poor woman was maimed—her soul torn apart and bleeding out.
Weakness sapped the last of her strength.
She sank into Trey’s arms, closing her eyes.
If Aldon tried to find them, he couldn’t.