Authors: Nicole Grane
“I should have killed him for touching you like that,” Damen said with regret as he looked down the path Brian had taken. He looked back to me. I could see him deliberating whether or not he should go after him. I gripped the tree tighter, hoping my body would somehow merge with the trunk so I could escape.
“I should have been watching you closer . . .” he growled. “I knew the risk.”
I looked at him with confusion.
“He couldn’t help himself you know, he was obviously attracted to you before, and with the change, you’re more appealing to him than ever.” He spoke casually like there was nothing unusual about our conversation. “He’s drawn to you, like an animal in heat. It’s part of your allure now. It’s what makes them easy prey for us.” I watched him closely, taking in as much of what he was saying as I could. My mind was reeling . . .
“You’re probably wondering how I found you?” he asked lightly. “I went to see you. I found the note you left on your table and followed you here. A good thing too, wouldn’t you say?”
I shifted a little. The pain in my ribs was becoming unbearable with each breath I took. I held my arm against it, trying to hold it as best I could. I had to admit, a small part of me
was
glad he’d come.
His eyes softened. “My heart sunk when I heard you scream for help. Phoebe . . .”
I flinched away from his touch.
“I got here as fast as I could. I’m sorry it wasn’t fast enough,” he added with remorse, as he looked me over once again. “No one will touch you like that again,” he promised darkly. “I can make you stronger.”
I pulled my legs up closer to my body, trying to get as much distance from Damen as I could.
“I understand you don’t trust me, but you need to let me help you.”
“NO!” I shook my head. “Don’t touch me! I don’t want anyone to touch me!”
With considerable effort, I got to my feet and started backing slowly away. My hand shook as I extended it out between us. “I won’t let you hurt me again.”
“Again?” He looked confused. “Phoebe, I’ve never hurt you.”
“I saw what you did to that other Phoebe in the woods!” I shouted, tears falling from my eyes. I held onto my forehead, trying to steady myself. I could feel the world spinning around me.
“No! You couldn’t know that.” Then realization must have claimed him. “You misunderstood. I never meant to harm her—you. I. Loved. You!” I could hear the desperation in his words. He’d somehow managed to take hold of my arms without me seeing him move.
“I’ve never stopped loving you. It’s
always
been you.” He pulled me to him, his eyes piercing mine.
I shook my head, clearing away the fog. “This is madness, I’m not that Phoebe!”
I tried to pull away, but he held me firm. “I have your memories,” I blurted out. “I saw what you did to her body. I saw you kill her—and her baby!” I looked at him with such loathing. “How could you?” I added in disgust. “You were supposed to protect her!” I cried. “You swore you’d always protect her! You were her friend.”
He looked as if I’d just stabbed him unexpectedly. “No,” he breathed. “Phoebe.” He gripped me tighter, causing me to cry out in pain.
Damen released me. His eyes searching—they settled on my arm protectively holding my side.
“You’re hurt,” he snarled. His eyes showed no sign of mercy now. He looked back toward the direction Brian had fled.
I turned and ran aimlessly through the forest. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t care. I needed to get away from Damen. I kept looking over my shoulder to see if he was following me—he wasn’t.
I turned my head back toward the direction I was running when I ran right into Marcus's open arms, and collapsed.
I lay there frozen while my eyes looked around my bedroom—I was alone. I was lying in bed, wrapped snuggly in a blanket.
It was a dream, I thought thankfully. I was just about to sit up when Marcus walked through the door. I flinched—a painful mistake. I clutched my side in agony. It wasn’t a dream.
“What’s wrong?” I could hear the dread in his voice.
“Nothing,” I lied. The pain had subsided some. I breathed out slowly, trying to calm myself.
“Phoebe.”
“Really, I’m fine. You just scared me; that’s all.” I forced a small smile.
He studied me for a moment. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you woke up,” he said with regret. “I brought your car back for you.”
“Thanks. I just opened my eyes actually.”
He sat down beside me. His face looked strained. I knew he had questions for me . . . questions I didn’t want to answer.
I could feel the tears building up and spilling over. “I should have stayed home,” I cried, the very act causing my body unprecedented pain; which only made me cry harder. “I shouldn’t have gone out alone.”
“No, no.” He lifted me gingerly onto his lap and began rocking me. The gentle movement causing me to winced mentally. There was no way I could tell Marcus I’d been injured.
“I’ve always been safe there,” I sobbed. “He’s never acted like that before. I couldn’t get him off me. He was crushing me . . . pulling at my clothes . . . I couldn’t breathe.” I cried hard now that I was safe in Marcus's arms. I held on to him, ignoring the shooting pains in my side.
His grip on me tightened. “Who?” he asked flatly.
“Brian,” I sniffled.
Marcus's breath caught. “He hurt you?”
I looked up into Marcus's face. I could see the fear in his eyes as he waited for my answer. I turned away from him.
“Phoebe?” his voice was shaky.
A long moment passed before I had the courage to look at him again. He looked furious. His eyes dropped to the tattered shirt where my fingers where nervously fiddling.
“Brian did that to you?” It wasn’t really a question I needed to answer. He knew.
“Marcus . . .”
“I’ll take care of it.” His face showed no sign of mercy. His eyes, black as ebony, looked sadly into mine as he sat me back down on the bed. “Don’t think on it any longer, my love.” He kissed my forehead and stood up to leave.
“Where are you going?” I grabbed onto his arm desperately.
“To track a different kind of monster,” he said. His words were laced with venom. “I’m not going to allow him to live after what he did to you.”
My heart stopped, and for a moment, time itself stood still. Marcus was going to kill Brian? He couldn’t. I couldn’t let him have Brian’s death on his hands because of me . . . and part of me didn’t think Brian deserved such a horrific death either.
“Don’t leave me alone!” I cried.
“Phoebe, you’re safe now.” He touched my cheek with the back of his hand. His eyes were growing deadlier by the moment. “You don’t have to worry about Brian touching you again.”
“Marcus please . . . don’t leave me alone . . . I’m begging you!”
He stared at me, probably thinking my tears were based solely on fear, if he only knew.
“Very well, I won’t leave, just yet,” he added subtly as he sat down and wrapped his arms around me once more. “I’ll stay with you as long as you need me.”
I sighed with relief. I was safe with Marcus. He’d never let any of them touch me. I snuggled into his body, allowing him to hold me tighter still.
“Phoebe,” I could feel the tension in his arms. “I must ask, did he . . .?”
“No.” I knew what he was implying. “He didn’t get the chance,” I added thankfully. “Although, I don’t think he would have stopped if Damen hadn’t torn him off me.” I shivered as I recalled the attack.
“Damen was there?” he hissed.
“Yes,” I squeaked. “He pulled him off me when he was . . .” I stopped, shuddering once more. I didn’t want to remember Brian’s hands on my body. I folded my arms across my chest protectively.
“I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He rubbed his hands up and down my arms, trying to warm them. “Damen
helped
you?”
I nodded. “He threw Brian into a tree!”
“He didn’t kill him?” Marcus mocked.
“No . . . he didn’t,” I said incredulously, still amazed myself that Damen had let Brian go. “Brian was so jealous you stayed the night with me . . . I’ve never seen him so crazed. He’s never forced himself on me before.”
I shivered, recalling the hateful look in Brian’s eyes. “He’ll be back. He said this wasn’t over.”
“He’s right,” Marcus threatened. “It isn’t over. But I can promise you Phoebe, he won’t come near you again.”
“Damen tried to persuade me into letting him take me home,” I added reluctantly, trying to change the topic a little. “I wouldn’t let him. I know he helped me, and I am grateful . . . but I can’t trust him.” I prattled on nervously. “I won’t listen to his lies. I saw his memories. I
know
the truth.” I was practically ranting now. The events of today had finally cracked me.
“He kept saying I misunderstood things, but I didn’t. I saw him in the woods with Phoebe; I saw him kill her and the baby. What kind of monster—”
Marcus grabbed hold of me, bringing me to attention. He held my face, his eyes wide with wonder. “What baby?”
My mouth hung open. I was speechless.
His face was shrouded in shock as he realized what I’d said, what had been kept from him, all this time.
“You were with child?” His eyes looked down at my stomach as he was trying to comprehend his own question. He looked back at me with a wild, uncontrollable rage in his eyes.
“She,” I clarified.
Marcus looked at me as though I were splitting hairs. “
She
was with child?” He rephrased the question, through gritted teeth. “How do you know this?”
I felt myself recoiling from him. “My dreams,” I admitted. “The night she was killed, she wanted to tell you desperately, but Damen challenged her when she wouldn’t step out of his way. He was going after you!” I exclaimed.
Marcus's eyes wandered the room, as if looking for answers elsewhere.
“She loved you more than anything,” I continued, trying to defend her actions. “She knew she was going to die. She sacrificed herself to save you,” I pointed out, like her sacrifice had been for a good cause.
“For me? She died . . . to save . . . me. She sacrificed
our child
, to save me?” he growled angrily.
I bit my lip, afraid to say anymore.
“I had no idea,” he sounded far away as he thought.
I reached out to touch his arm. He slammed his fist down on my bed, causing me to recoil once more.
“I would never have allowed her to hunt if I’d known!” he thundered.
“Marcus.” My heart ached for him. “I don’t know how long she knew,” I stammered. “Remember, these are Damen’s memories I have—”
“Not all of them,” he hissed, silencing me. “How would he have known?”
“I’m not sure,” I admitted softly. “He was chasing Phoebe. I think he was hoping she’d lead him to you. I . . . I don’t think he would have killed her if it weren’t for . . .” I paused, “if it weren’t for her strong intent in defending you.”
I watched Marcus as he became consumed with anger and loss, all over again. He fell into my lap, hugging my waist. I ignored the pain in my ribs. It was my turn to comfort him.
I played with his hair, smoothing it back while he rested his head on my leg.
“I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that. I’m sorry.” I felt so ashamed. Why did my mouth have to be the size of a cavern?
“I’m glad you did. I needed to know.” His eyes were full of sorrow. “I feel like I’ve lost her all over again, if I didn’t have you now . . .” He held me tighter, and I closed my eyes, wincing at the pain of it.
“You’d never have known,” I breathed. “And you wouldn’t have to be looking after me now. You’d be off somewhere happily killing werewolves.”
“I am happy,” he forced a smile for me. “We’ve been given another chance, you and I. I couldn’t ask for more.” His eyes met mine. There was so much love looking back at me.
“Marcus forgive me but . . . I just assumed that being immortal you couldn’t have children like normal humans could.”
“We can’t . . . unless the woman is part human to begin with,” he explained. “Your mother was human. That made you half human, half vampire. You were immortal but you could have children.”
I listened intently. Trying to comprehend what he was saying.
“If we had had a daughter . . .” his voice cracked. “She wouldn’t have been able to conceive. Her human gene wouldn’t have been strong enough.”
We sat quietly, deep in our own thoughts, letting the silence pass.
“Marcus?”
“Yes, my love?” He absentmindedly ran his fingers up and down my calf.
“Could we have a baby?”
He stilled.
“I don’t mean now!” I interjected quickly. “I meant someday . . . if we wanted to.”
There was a long pause. His silence was making me feel self-conscious. “I honestly don’t know Phoebe. I’m not sure how much of your make-up has changed. Until we know more about you . . .”
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I could feel the blush on my cheeks. Marcus was looking at me like I was a delicate figurine on a shelf.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I have to worry about you so much as it is. The thought of you having a child frightens me. I couldn’t stand it if anything were to happen to you; either of you. You’d be more vulnerable than eve; .more than before. Had I only known,” he growled in frustration. “I’d have made sure you were protected. You would never have been left alone.”
I looked at his tortured expression. My heart broke. I tried to offer words of comfort. “I’m sure
she
just didn’t want to worry you. Your mind needed to be elsewhere.”
“Do you honestly believe that?” he asked.
I shook my head, ashamed. “She didn’t want you to keep her from helping you.”
Marcus nodded. He’d already guessed as much.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. It meant that the old Phoebe was reckless, and in the end, chose her husband over their child. Would I make the same decision if I were in her shoes . . . again?
“I don’t want to think on this any longer,” he announced. “You are my concern now. How are you feeling?”
“My arms a little sore,” I admitted, lifting my shirtsleeve to reveal one of the fingerprint bruises Brian had left there. “Funny. I didn’t think he’d squeezed me so hard.” My voice cracked. I nervously began rubbing my arms as if the action might rub away the marks.
My ribs still throbbed. I looked down my shirt to see similar marks on my chest. I looked up quickly and met Marcus's enraged stare.
“It’s not as bad as the ones on my arms,” I quickly lied. It was worse. I figured I could hide them from him until they healed.
“He had no right to touch you like that,” Marcus snapped. “It drives me crazy to think what might have happened if Damen hadn’t stopped him. You realize Damen could have easily decided to kill you instead of help you,” he added darkly.