Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,69

was impossible not to think so. Impossible not to believe it.

But the Oracle had been keeping secrets the day she’d come to see me—I could feel it.

“Grey.”

The sound of my name on her lips made me shudder. I drew deeper on her neck, feeling my strength return.

Stop.

I had to stop.

With every bit of strength I gained, she lost some. She’d recoup it eventually, but if I drained her, she’d die.

With her taste sweet on my lips, I withdrew my mouth.

“Don’t stop,” she murmured, sounding half out of her mind.

“I must.” I licked my lips, cleaning them of any trace of her, and cupped her face. “We have to stop.”

Her eyes fluttered opened, and she looked at me.

Holy fates, her eyes were beautiful. Brilliant green. And her hair. An impossible gold.

Color.

I could see in color. Not just the faint shades of color that I’d been able to see before, but full blown everything. And the scents…

There were so many of them. I could taste the freshness of the air. And my skin felt more sensitive.

The Oracle had been correct.

She was the one who could make me whole again.

A thrill ran through me, followed by confusion and even fear. How the hell was this real?

“Are you better?” The strength was returning to her voice.

“I am. Thank you.” I shoved aside thoughts of fate, forcing myself to my feet. I pulled her up alongside me, banishing the cloud of dark mist that hid us from her friends and my security force.

As the mist cleared, it revealed her three companions standing around us, anger and worry on their faces. Behind them, my security force was working on binding the bodies of the necromancer’s faithful. The Council of Guilds would owe me for this one.

They’d owe Carrow, too, though she didn’t know it yet.

She gave me one last look, her gaze searching, then turned and hurried to the body of the woman on the slab. I could feel the life force inside the victim, and with any luck, she would have no memory of this.

Quinn strode up to me, back in his human form. His brow was creased with worry, and his eyes flickered with anger.

“Is there a problem?” I raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t like what you did with her there.”

“Too bad, because it is done.” I so badly wanted to say that Carrow had enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t reveal that information. It felt too personal. Too hers.

“Be careful.”

The shifter’s voice echoed with power, and I grinned. “You want her.”

“And you don’t?”

“Of course I do.” I wasn't afraid to admit it.

His lips twisted. “I mean it. I’ll be watching you. If you hurt her…”

“I understand.” If it came down to a fight between us, I would win. But it wouldn’t be easy. And it would cost me.

More likely than not, it would come down to a fight between us. Because I would hurt her. If I pursued her, I would hurt her. It was the only thing I was capable of. My past made that abundantly clear.

Disgusted with myself, I turned from the shifter and looked at Carrow. She was taking the woman’s pulse and speaking with Mac and Eve. It was difficult to turn away from the sight of her. With my ability to see color returned, all I wanted to do was stare at her.

But I forced myself away. I was good at forcing myself away from the things I wanted. There was work to be done, after all, and I needed to begin. Getting the police off Carrow’s back wouldn’t be hard now that we had the real murderer. With a bit of mind control, the hired gun could be convinced to confess to his crimes. I just had to make sure it was all airtight.

I strode toward the head of my security force, determined to get it done quickly and protect her. Then I would leave her alone. No matter how damned hard it was, I would do that for her. I had to.

And yet, I knew there was no way I could say goodbye to her. Not a chance in hell.

Carrow

Three days later, it was finished. The necromancer was dead, and Beatrix’s murderer would go to jail for his crimes. He had confessed, and the police had taken him into custody. I hadn’t seen the Devil since he’d bitten me, but I’d heard through the grapevine that my name had been cleared with the police department. Corrigan had confirmed that Banks had led the charge against me with the