"It smells though," Carolyn muttered, wrinkling her nose.
"Sulphur," he said, his gaze sliding to the tour guide who was explaining that while tourists used to be allowed to walk to the end of the tar pits, that was no longer allowed because a local tour guide had fallen through the crust, receiving third-degree burns over most of his body.
The story made Christian urge Carolyn back from the edge of the platform. The last thing he wanted was to lose her now that he'd found her.
"Are you all right?" Carolyn asked moments later as they started along the path toward Sulphur Springs.
"Yes, why?" he muttered, relieved to see that the path led into the jungle ahead.
"You're the one looking pale now," she said with concern.
"Would you like my other chocolate bar?"
Christian shook his head. Chocolate wasn't going to help him. "I'm good. Keep it in case you need it later," he said and released a slow relieved sigh as the vegetation closed around them, providing shade.
"I have water too." She offered him her half empty bottle of water.
Christian just shook his head again. It wouldn't help either. What he needed was blood, but he wasn't likely to get the opportunity to get that anytime soon.
"Are you sure?" she asked with a frown. "You really don't look good."
"I'm fine. You drink it." He urged her to the side to make room for people coming from the opposite way along the path.
Shrugging, Carolyn opened the bottle and gulped it down. She was putting the empty bottle back into her bag when they stepped out into an open area.
"Oh," Carolyn breathed as she took in the waterfalls.
"Now this is impressive."
Christian nodded, but almost sighed as he followed her out of the shade. It was pretty, but difficult to enjoy. All this sunlight was beginning to affect him. His stomach was starting to cramp and his senses were all starting to zero in on the sources of blood around him. He could hear every heartbeat of every tourist they traveled with, could hear the blood pounding through their veins louder than the falls themselves, could actually smell the tinny substance rushing beneath their skin.
His fangs tried to slide out in response and Christian clenched his jaw, concentrating on keeping them in.
"Maybe we should go back to the bus."
Christian blinked. Carolyn stood in front of him, concern on her face.
"You really don't look good."
"I'm fine," he said tightly and she snorted at the claim.
"No you aren't. You look ready to pass out. Come on.
You took care of me and now I'm going to take care of you." Catching his hand, she moved past him, dragging him back along the path the way they'd come.
"Really, I'm fine," he assured her, a new concern claiming him. As desperately as he needed blood, the last thing he wanted was to be closed up in a minibus with her where the scent of her blood might make him do something stupid. The temptation to bite would be unbearable.
Hell, being back on the bus with a dozen pounding mortal hearts pumping all that glorious blood through their veins would be even worse. He needed to feed. His gaze slid to Carolyn, zeroing in on her neck. Her na**d and now vulnerable neck he saw with dismay.
"When did you pull your hair up?" he asked with alarm.
"While we were walking through the jungle," she said without glancing around. "Didn't you see me? You were right behind me."
"No," he muttered, unable to tear his eyes from her throat. He'd been way too distracted with thoughts of his need for blood and how to get it, he supposed.
"I have another scrunchy in my bag if you want to pull your hair back too," she offered, glancing over her shoulder.
Christian forced his eyes from her throat to her face with some effort and frowned. She'd gone pale again and her eyes were a little glassy. Her blood sugar had dropped once more, he realized.