Vampires Never Cry Wolf (14 page)

I'm sorry.
Killian's voice floated over, gentle and strong.
I can't imagine how awful that must have been.

It was.
In
spite
of
her
efforts
to
remain
strong, she found herself leaning into Killian's steely embrace. His arm slipped around her and he pulled her gently against him, their hips bumping until finally settling against one another.
Then why did I dream about a wolf chasing me? I mean, why wouldn't I dream about the Apache? Why you?

I don't know.
Killian
kissed
the
top
of
her
head.
This is not my area of expertise. What else do you remember about that day?

I went to fetch the water.
Her
voice
was
barely
audible. As she spoke, the tree line in front of them vanished, revealing the tiny log cabin her father had built. Both of them stilled as a scene began to unfold with every word that Sadie uttered. It was like watching a movie of her past in Technicolor
. It was early, really early. The sun was barely up and it was still kind of chilly. I couldn't sleep so I decided to get the water I knew Mama would need for cooking breakfast. I didn't mind, though—

Sadie
stopped
mid-sentence and Killian's grip tightened around her when they watched a young woman emerge from the cabin with a bucket in her hand. The two of them observed in silence as a young Sadie, clad in the same clothes she'd worn only moments ago, hummed tunelessly and disappeared into the woods on the other side of the clearing.

Go on, Sadie.
Killian
held
her
tighter
but
Sadie
continued
to
shiver
. What happened next?

There were screams.
Sadie's voice wavered and the image of the house was instantly shrouded in darkness, but it did little to drown out the sounds of terror.
My mother and sisters. I—I heard a gunshot and then…nothing.

The
sounds
Sadie
described
ricocheted
around
them
vividly
as
fog
rolled
across
the
field, momentarily hiding the scene from them. With those terrifying noises filling the air, something deep inside her chest ached.

Loss. Pain. Helplessness.

The
sounds
faded
with
the
lifting
fog, and they watched as the young human version of Sadie emerged tentatively from the tree line. The door of the cabin was wide open and the lifeless body of her father lay just outside, the shotgun about a foot away.

I smelled blood.
Sadie's stomach churned as it had that morning when the pungent coppery aroma filled the air.
I wanted to run, to scream, but I couldn't move. I was so scared, Killian. I—

The
distinct
menacing
growl
of
wolves
rumbled
around
them
in
the
dreamscape, and Sadie watched in horror as three of the largest wolves she'd ever seen emerged from the cabin. The pack was led by a large black male with a thick, stocky body, and right behind him were two smaller but equally vicious-looking wolves.

The
leader
stepped
over
her
father's body, and baring a mouthful of sharp teeth, he stalked slowly toward her. His slow, methodical gait reminded her of a horror-movie villain. Jason and Freddy never ran after their victims; they seemed to know their prey had no way to escape. Young Sadie, with her eyes and mouth wide, stood motionless and seemingly frozen in time as the three beasts advanced.

Oh my God,
Sadie
whispered
. The Apache didn't kill my family, Killian… Werewolves did.

Killian's grip on her tightened, but he said nothing as the truth continued to unfold before their eyes
.

Sadie
wanted
to
launch
herself
over
there, to eviscerate the beasts that slaughtered her family. Just when she was about to fly over, the wolves burst into a run. The young girl screamed and ran from the animals, but she was no match for these supernatural stalkers. In a blur, the black one leaped onto young Sadie's back and clamped his massive jaws onto her left shoulder.

The
girl's screams shot through the dreamscape, and at the same instant, white-hot pain seared through Sadie's body. Her back arched and she cried out in unison with her human self from all those years ago. She would have tumbled to the ground if Killian hadn't kept her safe in his ironclad embrace.

Blinded
by
tears, Sadie writhed in agony and clung to Killian. Pressing her cheek to the warmth of his chest, she forced herself to open her eyes and watch the rest. The other two wolves stayed back as the black one let out a triumphant howl. With another cringe-inducing shot of fire sizzling down her back, Sadie waited for the other two wolves to join in the brutal attack.

A
blur
of
red
and
brown
whisked
across
the
clearing
like
a
bullet, immediately followed by a series of growls, yelps, and whimpers. One minute the wolves were there and about to attack. The next, all three lay motionless on the ground, and in a glimmer of light, they shifted into their human forms. A tall woman with long, curly red hair strode over to Sadie and squatted next to her.

Olivia,
Sadie
murmured
. Oh my God.

Olivia
sat
down
and
lifted
the
girl's head into her lap. Leaning close, she looked the barely conscious girl in the eye. A gust of wind whisked through the dreamscape, and with it came the familiar sound of Olivia's comforting voice.

When you wake up, you will remember nothing of the wolves. Your family was slaughtered by a group of Apache warriors who were attacking settlers in the area. Everyone was killed except you.

With
Killian's strong arms wrapped around her and with the steady beat of his heart thrumming in his chest, Sadie gasped and watched as Olivia bared her fangs, changing Sadie's life forever. The scene vanished and the tree line shimmered back into focus, leaving no trace of the events they'd witnessed.

Olivia lied to me.
Sniffling, Sadie swiped at her tears as Killian loosened his hold. Stopping just short of actually releasing her.
She glamoured me and
then
she turned me. Why would she do that? What was the point?

I'm sorry, Sadie.
Killian's fingers curled over her hips as he stared down at her through a serious gaze edged with shame.
My people were responsible for the death of your family.

Talk about star-crossed lovers.
Sadie
rolled
her
eyes
and
let
out
a
curt
laugh
before
slipping
out
of
his
embrace.
Hands
on
her
hips, she walked a few steps away from Killian. She let her head fall back, staring at the blue cloudless sky.
Like we weren't screwed enough already?
Sadie
spun
around
and
threw
her
hands
in
the
air.
The universe has a twisted fucking sense of humor. So apparently my family was slaughtered by a pack of rogue werewolves, and then the gods or goddesses or whatever decide to tie my fate to one. On what planet does that make sense?

What are you talking about?
Killian's eyes narrowed.

Well, why should I be the only one to have the shock of my life?
Sadie
clapped
her
hands
and
gave
him
a
sarcastic
thumbs-up. Taking one step closer with every point, her voice bordered on hysterical. Since she felt crazy as a loon, that was no big surprise. To his credit, Killian said nothing and remained the strong, steady guy he always was.
I think it's about time to let you in on the fun. You want to know why I can hear you telepathically? Or how I got your blood memories when we aren't supposed to get memories from werewolves? Or why the hell you and I are in the damn dreamscape when vampires aren't supposed to dream?

Okay.
Killian
held
his
hands
at
his
side
and
held
her
gaze. He was the calm to her storm of crazy.
Tell me.

Killian Bane, you and I are bloodmates. The universe in all of its wisdom has paired the two of us up. If we commit to the bloodmate bond, then I become a daywalker.
Sadie
smiled
broadly
and
shouted
furiously.
I don't know what the fuck the universe was thinking.

What the hell are you gonna tell your old man? “Hey, Dad. Guess who's coming to dinner?”

“No, sorry, Your Highness. I'm not a well-manicured she-bitch, but a leather-wearing vampire.” Somehow, Killian, I doubt they'll be throwing us a party.

Hands
on
her
hips, Sadie stared at him, daring him to come back with one of his smart-ass comments. Yet none came. A smile emerged on that handsome face, and those gorgeous caramel-colored eyes drifted over her from head to toe. Despite the load of crazy she'd just dumped on him, the man was looking at her like she'd given him a million dollars.

Now it all makes sense… That's why you bear the mark.
Killian's voice, barely above a whisper, shimmied around her. He reached out with lightning-fast reflexes and linked his arms around her waist. Sadie let out a gasp of surprise and pleasure as he tugged her against his towering form.
I've dreamed of you for years but I never saw your face. All I saw was the mark.

What mark?
Sadie
swallowed
hard
and
her
voice
was
barely
above
a
whisper. His body tensed with what she could only hope was desire, the same desire that fired through her mercilessly.
What? You guys mark your women or something? Tattoo them?

No,
Killian
whispered
.
He
trailed
his
fingertips
up
and
down
her
spine
with
a
slow, deliberate stroke.
Since I was a boy, I've dreamed of a woman who bore the mark of the moon.
She
stilled
beneath
his
touch. Killian persisted, and Sadie knew there was no turning back. Whispering in her ear, he dragged his hand lightly up her back until his fingers settled over the spot on her shoulder. He traced the dark circle with his thumb as he touched her mind with his.
It's you, Sadie. You bear the mark.

This is crazy
, she whispered through trembling lips.
That can't be true. It's just a scar, Killian. I got it the night I was turned.
Sadie's mouth snapped shut as more pieces fell into place.

You mean when you were bitten?
Killian
brushed
his
warm, firm lips across Sadie's forehead and his hand splayed along her lower back. The heat of his touch practically branded her as his with each passing second.
Bitten by a wolf.

I'm not a werewolf.
Sadie
tilted
her
chin
defiantly
and
tried
not
to
pay
attention
to
the
way
her
body
was
responding
to
his
. I'm a vampire.

Perhaps. But it would seem, Sadie Pemberton, that you are destined to be much more.

Sadie
was
about
to
pepper
him
with
denials
when
a
bone-shattering rumble pounded through the dreamscape like thunder. The ground beneath their feet shook, and with a rush of wind, Killian vanished before her eyes.

* * *

Sadie launched out of her bed in one giant leap. A moment later, she found herself standing on the other side of the room. Body tense and her skin still humming from Killian's touch, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror that hung on the far wall.