Better Off Undead - Cynthia Eden Page 0,78

sides. The white wolf was bounding toward her. Its heavy jaws were hanging open, and saliva dripped from his razor sharp teeth. This was the beast she’d been hunting. This was the beast who would kill her.

She could welcome her end. Her death would stop Aidan’s pain. It would stop her own pain.

Jane started to close her eyes.

But…

Screw this. I’m not ready. The wolf leapt for her and Jane caught him around the neck. Her strength surprised her. She held that wolf easily. She lifted him up—

And Jane drove her fangs past his fur and into his neck. The wolf let out a terrible cry—a scream of pain, a howl of fury—and he thrashed in her hold, but Jane held him fast. And she drank.

His blood is hot and rich. I like it.

And she wasn’t vomiting it up. His blood was flowing over her tongue and she just wanted to keep taking. Taking and taking and taking until nothing is left.

Jane shoved the wolf away from her, throwing him into the stone wall of a nearby crypt. “But I’m…not…a…killer.” Her breath heaved out. Each word was a struggle but she did it. She spoke. She fought the bloodlust. She won. “You’re…under…arrest…”

The white wolf leapt back to his feet. He shook his head. His blood had darkened his white coat. He pushed back onto his hind legs and hurtled into the air, coming right at her.

Because obviously, you want some more, huh, bastard?

But Aidan collided with him. The two wolves hit in a tangle of limbs. They rolled, clawing and biting and fighting with a savagery that she’d never witnessed before. They were strong. They were powerful. They were—

Aidan sank his teeth into the other wolf’s throat, right in the same spot she’d attacked. Only Aidan hadn’t gone for some little bite.

Jane sucked in a sharp breath as she stared at the scene before her.

Aidan ripped out the other wolf’s throat.

The heavy, coppery scent of blood flooded her nose again. And this time…I can smell death. It’s coming. Jane watched as the black wolf backed away from his prey. The white wolf slowly shifted, his fur melting away from his body. Soon a man was on the ground where the wolf had been. A man struggling to take a breath. Wheezing on the ground.

I was like that. So desperate to live.

Jane took a step toward him.

The black wolf spun to confront her, snarling.

Jane lifted her hands. “Easy.”

The black wolf stalked toward her—no, Aidan stalked toward her. Jane didn’t retreat. She locked her knees and stood before him.

Behind him, Quint Laurel wasn’t struggling to breathe any longer. He was sprawled on the ground, his body spread before a crypt, slashed and broken, just as he’d left his victims.

“Jane, get away from him!”

Her head jerked to the right. She saw Vincent running toward her. Annette was right behind him. Jane blinked. How had those two gotten together? “I kept the blood down,” she whispered. She should be revolted. She was but…

But I’m in control now. I can think semi-clearly. And I don’t want to hurt Aidan.

So she didn’t run…running would have just made his hunting instincts even stronger. If she ran, he’d attack. He was moving toward her so slowly. His head was low to the ground, his body tense.

“Aidan.” Jane said his name with longing. “Aidan, I’m so sorry.”

He stilled.

“I didn’t want it to be this way. I wanted to stay with you, always.” She couldn’t look away from his eyes. A man’s eyes in the face of a beast. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Do you want to hurt me? Are you thinking about ripping out my throat, just as you did to Quint Laurel?

“Jane.” Annette called her name sharply. “Jane, are you in control?”

She nodded.

“How is she in control?” Annette demanded. “Vincent, what is happening?”

“She fed.” He’d stopped a few feet away. Aidan’s head swung between Jane and Vincent. “But you didn’t kill, did you, Jane?” Vincent sounded proud. “You pulled back. You didn’t let the darkness out.”

She felt full of darkness right then. Darkness and pain and…power. It pulsed just beneath her skin.

“Her eyes glow like a wolf’s,” Annette said. “How is that possible?”

A low growl shook Aidan’s body. His focus was now completely on Vincent. Uh, oh. “He’s going to kill you,” Jane said softly. “You need to take Annette and you need to get out of here.”

“I won’t leave you,” Vincent yelled back. “I can take you both away from here. He won’t hurt you—”

“I don’t want