STEP (The Senses) (26 page)

“No. Not if he knew who I was. He’d have been stupid to come after me.”

She laughed and he swore his heart did a double beat at the sound he hadn’t heard since that day in the grocery store. The day they’d met and then had sex all through the night.

“Cocky, arrogant and . . . not too shabby in bed.”

“Shabby?” he stuttered with disbelief. He might have taken fewer than a dozen women to his bed in the two centuries he’d lived, but he was better than not too shabby. They’d done a marathon and then some.

“I’ll never regret it.” Her voi
ce was soft. “That night we had. Even if we lost something precious from it.” This was the first time she’d mentioned the loss of her child, and he felt a tug on his heart. Her child? No, it’d been their child. “Hey, Damien. I don’t think you should be near me anymore.”

He was about to move away from the comfort of her body and then stopped. Maybe this would be a mistake, but he really had nothing to lose. He did something he’d never tried before— he held her closer, his arm coming around her back and his other curling in the palm of her hand that rested beneath her chin “What if we try and ride this one out together?”

He didn’t need to see the tears to know she was crying, he felt the wetness on his shirt and his own eyes welled up. He silently prayed for the strength to carry this girl through another day.

****

The instant Rayne saw the flashing white fangs she tried to slam the door, but his hand shoved into it, knocking her backwards off her feet, and she tumbled to her butt onto the hardwood floor.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? A present wrapped in a stunning emerald gown.” He kicked the door closed behind him and turned the bolt. She scuttled back on her hands, pushing with her feet until her back hit the wall
, then crawled to her feet as he continued his approach.

He stopped inches from her, leaning
forward, placing his hands on the wall on either side of her head. A strong scent of black licorice plowed into her and she turned her head away. “I was not informed of how alluring you are. A mistake perhaps on his part. I was told to bring you back alive, but he said nothing about taking a taste.” He laughed at her shocked expression. “What? You’ve never been tasted by one of us?” She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat. “It only hurts for a minute then—” he licked his lips, “—you feel weak. Unless of course, we drink too much, then you die.”

No, her mind screamed. She wasn’t going back to being used. Not now. Not ever. His hand came up and she jerked her head away as he tried to brush a strand of hair aside.

“One taste, sugar.”

She made a cry deep in her throat and he chuckled.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.” He ran his finger down the column of her throat and her stomach wretched with despair.

No. This wasn’t happening. Six months. She’d only had six months and now . . . no
, she’d rather die.

She reacted, using the heel of her hand and shoving upwards into his nose.

He shouted in agony as he stumbled backwards, holding his nose. She ran from the room, gripping the walls for support as her whole body trembled with alarm. She banged into the kitchen table and a glass went falling to the floor and shattered.

Run,
her mind screamed.

Kilter.

Oh God, if only she hadn’t pushed him away.

“You bitch!” His shout came from right behind her
, and she screamed as he dove and landed on top of her and they went sprawling into the glass-laden floor. Pain sliced her chest and legs as slivers cut through her dress into her skin.

He took a handful of hair and jerked her head back. “I was going to be nice. Now I’m not.” He got to his feet
, dragging her up with him. “Outside now,” he said.

He shoved her ahead of him
and she stumbled into the wall.
Scream. Scream until your lungs bleed.

Rayne screamed at the top of her lungs. He pulled her around
, clamping his hand over her mouth as he slammed her head into the wall.

Roarke had told her about one spot to use against Ben if he ever got too close. She raised her knee as hard as she could.

He went down in a distorted shriek of agony. Vampire or not, they all had the same equipment.

Rayne pushed him backwards with a hard shove in the chest and ran for the back door.
Open, damn it. Open.
She struggled with the bolt. Which way? Her hands shook so badly. It finally clicked and she flung it open.

The night air slammed into her. She ran out into the back alley. A muttered oath and a grunt came from behind as he came after her.

She kept running.

She staggered as something hit her leg. It was a sharp burning pain that took her leg out from under her
, and she fell to the unforgiving pavement.

She tried to get to her feet, but her thigh was on fire and she could see blood seeping through her gown. He
’d shot her.

She turned.

He was running towards her, eyes flashing a red hue.

She groaned as she tried to use her leg. Grinding her teeth, she managed to stagger a few feet before she collapsed again.

Please no
.

Her mind was in frenzy, past horrors flashing before her eyes
—the isolation, the fear to sleep, to wake. She couldn’t live like that again.

Rise
, my precious Serafina. Breathe. Surface and live again
.

Running footsteps approached and she tried once more to call to her Scar.
Rise, Serafina. Protect me.

Nothing.

She heard his heavy breathing almost upon her then arms wrapped around her waist. She went crazy. “No,” she screamed kicking and flailing her arms. Tears slid down her cheeks and she fought with wild ferocity. She wasn’t going back.
Don’t take me back.

“Babe, babe, it’s me.
Shh. It’s all right. I have you.” Kilter’s voice finally sank into her panicked mind and she stopped struggling.

“Kilter?” He was here? She spun around in his arms and locked him in an embrace, her cheek pressed into his chest. She suddenly remembered the gun. “He has a gun. We have to—”

“He’s gone, baby.” He smoothed back her hair. “He took off when he saw my car come around the corner. I swear he can’t hurt you.”

This was a side of Kilter hiding behind the rude and abrupt comments. Soft caresses trickled down her back, whispers of soothing murmurs as he held her in his protective embrace.

“You came back,” she whispered.

“Told you, just needed time too cool off.”

She gave a pained smile. “Ten minutes?”

“Don’t need much,” he replied. “Come on, babe. We have to get you to Anstice.” He swung her up into his arms and she curled into his shielding warmth. “You have to keep pressure on your leg while I drive. It’ll hurt like hell, but we have to stop the bleeding. Can you do that?”

She looked down at the wound in her leg, but he grabbed her by the chin and forced her to meet his glaring eyes. “I need an answer. Can you do that?” He enunciated every word.

Now that was more like the Kilter she knew. She actually smiled, then winced as he placed her in his car. He leaned over to do up her seat belt
, then pressed her hands down hard on her wound. “I said pressure, damn it.” He yanked off his belt and looped it twice around her upper thigh and pulled tight, buckling it. “That should help.”

It hurt like hell but the blood flow ease
d, although it still seeped through her fingers. How much blood could you lose before you passed out? Died?

Kilter jumped in the car. He glanced over at her and his eyes went to her leg. He gave an approving nod then took off like a madman. The streetlights blurred into one
, and car horns blared as Kilter weaved in and out, ignoring red lights and stop signs. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Tired. She felt cold and tired. She’d rest for a while.

“Damn it
, woman.” Kilter’s hand slammed down on her thigh, making the car swerve. “Rayne!”

She gasped in pain and tried to shove his hand away, but he ignored
her feeble attempts. “Kilter?” He looked so . . . so handsome. And . . . worried. He really looked worried. Did that mean she was going to die? She would’ve liked to have at least tasted his lips once more. See those searing eyes fill with desire for her. Once, just for her.

So cold.

She slipped into a black void of coldness.

“Almost there, baby. Open your eyes for me.” Kilter was having difficulty keeping pressure on her leg and driving as they careened in and out of traffic. “Christ.”

How much blood had she lost? Fuck, he had no clue. He skidded around the corner onto the upscale Post Street.

“Anstice, incoming. Rayne’s been shot in the upper right thigh. Could have nicked the femoral artery. It’s bleeding like hell and she’s unconscious, damn it.”

“TO
A?
” she asked.

“
Two minutes.”

Kilte
r slammed on the brakes at the gate, which was already opening. He sped up the driveway, vaulted out of the car and ran around the other side just as Keir came down the steps.

“What happened?” Keir asked.

Kilter undid the seatbelt and swung Rayne up into his arms. Her head flopped back on his shoulder and his heart rate doubled. “Where’s Anstice?” Kilter demanded without answering Keir’s question.

“The
Tomb, second door on the left,” Keir said as he ran ahead. “Timeline?”

“Fuck, t
en minutes, maybe. She just passed out.” Kilter followed Keir into the basement and almost bowled him over trying to get there faster.

Anstice was already in the room with the covers on the bed pulled back and
sandalwood incense burning. Kilter gently placed Rayne in the center of the bed, then leaned over her and softly caressed her cheek. He noticed his hand trembling and pulled back.

Anstice began cutting away Rayne’s blood-soaked emerald gown.

He held his breath as she peeled back the material. “Well?” he asked. Healers were powerful and Anstice was one of the best, but still his heart was beating so goddamn fast, he swore it was going to leap through his rib cage. “Fuck, woman. How does it look?”

Anstice shot him an irritated glare and Keir stepped forward grabbing his forearm. “Kilter, Anstice needs to concentrate. Best you wait outside.”

“Hell no.” Kilter shoved Keir in the chest and moved closer to the bed. “I’m not leaving, so bloody well back off.”

Anstice sighed and shook her head at Keir, who looked fuming mad and ready to haul his ass out the door with one word from his wife. Keir kicking his ass would have to
wait. Right now, Rayne needed healing.

Anstice was the only Healer in Canada and one of only a handful scattered across the world. Not only did they have to
be born with the ability, they also had to be female. Zurina was also a Healer, however Anstice’s bloodlines were stronger as her mother Lillian had been the most powerful Healer known to the Senses. Unlike Zurina, who could only heal Senses and possibly witches, as they were descendents of one another, Anstice could heal any living being—animals, humans, Senses, CWOs, and unfortunately, vampires, hence Keir’s overprotectiveness.

Anstice laid her hands over the wound and closed her eyes. A soft red glow began to emanate from the tips of her fingers
, then grew stronger as they pulsated through her hands, giving the surface of her skin a translucent pink-orange hue. At first, she remained passive to the experience, her body soaking in the warmth as if she were basking in the sun on a hot midsummer day.

It took several minutes before Anstice’s face change
d drastically. Her nose scrunched and her cheeks lost the blushed hue, fading to alabaster. Her hands remained hovering over Rayne’s thigh, but her arms and spine were stiff as if she’d jump away given the chance.

Her sharp intake of breath and her right leg jerking
were enough to make Kilter wince. He knew Anstice was experiencing the gunshot wound. It was called the Healer’s curse—heal them, but in return feel their pain, their emotions and picture exactly what they went through.

He desperately wanted to touch Rayne, but knew if he did, he’d interrupt the healing, and Keir would be throwing him from the room on his ass. Not to mention how furious Anstice would be. He’d seen her massive slobbering dog waiting on the other side of the door and had no need to have its disgusting teeth sink into his leg. He doubted the Newfoundland had it in him, but hurting any animal even in self-d
efense was against his morals.

The scent of
sandalwood grew stronger as Anstice’s heat built into a fierce red glow. She was rocking back and forth, eyes closed and her face focused with concentration