As he reached Bel’s side, a sweet, coppery scent danced in front of his nose, teasing him. Rafe closed his eyes and breathed deeply, desperately trying to drag more of that delicious scent into his nose. A tiny, horrified voice in his head was screaming that it was the scent of blood, Aiden’s blood, but a darker urge was stomping down those cries. It didn’t care what the cause of the scent was. He needed it. Wanted it more than his next breath.
Sharp pain exploded in his mouth, and Rafe rocked back away from Bel, his hand slapping across his lips as he cried out. The pain flashed through him a second time, but it didn’t feel as sharp, and it was already starting to fade.
“There they are,” Aiden said softly, a smile in his voice.
Rafe lifted his eyes from Aiden to Marcus, who was also smiling at him, some of the tension and worry starting to leave his expression.
Very carefully, Rafe moved his tongue around his mouth, slowly poking at the tender areas that had radiated pain only seconds earlier. Fangs. Sharp, slightly curved fangs now protruded. It was true. It had worked. He was a vampire now.
“Come on, Bel. Open your eyes for us,” Aiden whispered, drawing Rafe from his moment of wonder.
“What’s going on? Is something wrong with Bel?” Rafe demanded. He crawled toward his twin, preparing to shove Aiden out of his way if necessary.
The smell of blood wafted around him, causing his stomach to cramp with his first hunger pangs. He knew without question—this wasn’t something that could be cured with a nice pudding. His body craved blood. His stomach twisted and his veins burned like they were drying up along every inch of his frame, but he shoved the discomfort down as he stared at his unmoving brother.
Sweet Bel. Their mother claimed only six minutes separated them from entering the world, but there had been moments in their lives that Rafe felt sure years of experience separated them. He loved Marcus and Winter, but his bond with Bel was special. They’d whispered countless secrets—worries, fears, hopes, and dreams. Bel was the only one who knew of his loneliness.
“Bel, open your eyes,” Rafe commanded in the sternest voice he could muster.
He didn’t twitch. Didn’t shift a single muscle. He wasn’t breathing. Rafe had begun to fear his brother wasn’t in the lifeless husk any longer. He’d left him. Left him alone when Bel had sworn to always stick by him.
“Give him a moment,” Marcus said. There was a slight waver in his voice. A little note of uncertainty that was unlike Marcus.
“Bel!” Rafe screamed. Marcus grabbed his shoulders to pull him back. Or maybe it was Aiden. He didn’t know. He jerked against the person’s grip, leaning over Bel’s quiet form. He slammed his hand down on the floor right next to brother’s head. “Bel! Open your bloody eyes!”
Bel’s eyes snapped open and for a heartbeat, Rafe was drowning in the absolute blackness staring at him. Bel shot upright, his body slamming into Rafe’s and knocking him on his ass. Familiar thin arms wrapped around him, and Bel buried his face in Rafe’s neck.
“Rafe?” Bel said. His voice was rough and shaky. He still remembered the feeling of intense disorientation in those first few seconds of consciousness. He hugged his twin and closed his eyes, letting relief flow through him. Bel was still with him.
“Rafe, you need to release him and move away,” Aiden instructed calmly.
Rafe’s eyes flicked open, and he glared at the man he’d come to view as a father over the past sixteen years. He trusted Aiden with his life, with the lives of his brothers and mother, but he wasn’t releasing Bel yet. His brother needed him.
“Rafe…” Marcus started and Rafe tightened his grip on Bel.
“You’re going to be just fine, Bel,” Rafe murmured. “Right as rain.”
Bel’s hold on him was loosening and the rapid pounding of his heart against Rafe’s chest was slowing. “Yes. I’m fine,” Bel repeated as if reassuring himself. “That was…strange. Incredible.”
Rafe smiled to hear the wonder entering his tone. That great scientific mind was returning. Silly emotions like fear, panic, and sadness were being overwhelmed with questions and the collection of empirical data.
Bel jerked away from him and cried out in pain. His hand jumped to cover his mouth and Rafe smiled at the phantom pain echoing in his own mouth. The old link was still there. Sometimes it was a feeling or a whisper in his head. An ache he couldn’t explain. Regardless, he always knew it had something to do with Bel. That his brother needed him.
There was nothing Rafe could do this time, but at least the pain was brief. It was just Bel’s fangs coming in.
“Rafe! Move now!” Aiden snapped.
Rafe stared at Aiden for a moment, confounded by the man’s urgency.