Devon nodded briskly. “Get her out of here. I don’t want her around these people anymore. I have to go, but I’m leaving her in your hands.”
Cassie blinked away her tears as his gaze turned back to her. She wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him, but she instinctively knew that she should not. He was close to completely unraveling and her touch might just push him over the edge. Though his eyes were tormented, love also shone from them and that would have to be enough for now.
With a shaking hand, he reached out and briefly caressed her cheek before turning on his heel and disappearing into the gaping crowd. Cassie blinked rapidly, startled to realize that they were still in the middle of the crowded, oddly silent cafeteria. Questioning, condemning stares were focused intently upon her. Chris stepped forward, still looking slightly shell shocked as he slid his arm through hers.
“Come on Cassie,” he said gently.
She stared helplessly up at him, wishing that he could offer her answers to the questions and confusion enveloping her. For so long Chris had been her rock, the one person that she could turn to when she needed solace. Right now he was just as lost as she was. He led her swiftly through the crowd as it began to come alive again; the comments were no longer whispered as accusations were hurled at her. She barely heard any of them through the haze that surrounded her.
They reached the cafeteria doors as Melissa came strolling around the corner, her books held tight against her chest. Her eyebrows rose in surprise when she saw them, her mouth parted slightly. Her gaze darted behind them, narrowing as the buzz in the cafeteria increased. “What happened?” she demanded fiercely.
“A lot,” Chris muttered. “We’re leaving.”
Her gaze darted to Cassie, who was still too numb and shocked to even begin to explain. Melissa didn’t question them further as she fell into step beside them, her narrowed gaze darting back to the cruel crowd still gathered within the cafeteria walls. Cassie made it all the way to Chris’s car, and was even settled into the backseat, before she started to cry.
CHAPTER 6
Cassie paced her room restlessly, her gaze darting continuously to the darkened night. Devon should be here shortly, if he came at all. The thought froze her briefly in midstride, before she continued on. He had to come. She couldn’t allow herself to think that he wouldn’t. If she did, she would start crying again, and it had only been a couple of hours since she had completely regained control of herself.
It had taken another hour to convince Chris and Melissa that she was fine, and to go home. They had been reluctant to leave, but she didn’t want them here when Devon arrived. She needed to speak with him alone. Turning on her heel, she paced restlessly back to the other side of the room. She felt as wound up as a yo-yo.
She glanced at the clock on her nightstand, dismayed to realize that it was almost ten o’clock. Where was he? What would she do if he didn’t come tonight? Terror tore through her at the thought. Her chest constricted, making it difficult for her to breathe.
It had happened so swiftly, her love for him had been rapid and all consuming. She wanted to be frightened by it; she should be frightened by it, but she wasn’t. To be this dependent on someone else was something that she had never wanted. Loving someone this much left her vulnerable to all of the hurt and cruelty that she knew resided everywhere in the world. But it was too late, she was helplessly in love with him, lost to him, and she could not lose him. She would do anything to keep that from happening.
All of her pent up, nervous energy, deflated from her as fear consumed her. She slid limply to the floor, dragging her legs up against her chest and hugging them tight as she dropped her chin on top of them.
***
Devon released the last fox he’d caught. He watched it stagger away, trying to regain its balance from the loss of blood it had sustained. Though he tried to keep the animals alive when he fed from them, the first two foxes, three rabbits, and one coyote he had captured had not survived. He had been too unstable, and full of bloodlust, when he had seized hold of them. He barely even remembered draining them dry, but he clearly recalled their limp bodies left brokenly on the forest floor.
And he was ashamed.
Though it was far better that it was animals, and not Cassie he was draining dry because he had been that close today. A shudder ran through him as he recalled exactly how close he had been to ravishing her in every way, and not caring who watched. He could not allow that to happen again. He could not be that unstable around her again. It would not end well.
But when she had run her tongue across his teeth, showing no fear of him as her excitement blazed forth, he had nearly unraveled completely. He shuddered, the memory rousing his bloodlust and desire once more. She was far too innocent to know what she was doing to him, but she was going to be his undoing.
Their relationship had come to a crossroads much faster than he had expected. Rising slowly, he wiped the dirt from his jeans, watching as the fox disappeared. He had glutted himself tonight, stuffing himself to the point of near bursting in the hopes that it would keep him from desiring her blood as fiercely. He didn’t think it would work.
His head fell back as he stared up at the thick canopies of oaks and maples. Dropping his head back down, he used all of his senses to search the dark night. He could feel nothing out there except for a deer, and a pack of coyotes. Julian was being quiet, staying low.
It was very uncharacteristic. Once Julian made his presence known, he liked to keep it known. The fact that he was staying quiet was more than a little unsettling. He was planning something, and Devon didn’t like it. He had to find him, and soon. As long as Julian was out there, Cassie was in danger.
Turning away, he blended swiftly into the woods, bracing himself for what was about to come. He raced to Cassie’s house, moving swiftly through the thick forest, easily dodging any obstacles in his way. Reaching her house, he stopped at the edge of the forest to study the graceful Cape house before him. The weathered grey shingles, and light blue shutters, were bright in the light of the full moon.
Cassie’s room was dark, but the TV was flashing in the window pane. He knew that she was still awake; he could feel her up there, lost, worried; confused. He hated himself even more for putting her through this, for leaving her to stew while he gorged himself on blood.
Climbing swiftly up the tree, he paused at the edge of her window, taking her in. She sat upon the bed; her long legs were drawn up to her chest, her golden hair cascaded around her shoulders in thick waves. The delicate beauty of her features was highlighted within the flickering light of the TV. His chest constricted as he studied her, he was amazed and charmed by the effect she had over him. An effect that only increased as time went by.