Crave - Teresa Mummert Page 0,75

begging me to defend myself or flee to safety. My legs couldn’t carry me any further.

Grayson stepped heavily toward me, using all of his energy to push through the agony of his final death. I sobbed louder, losing control entirely. Grayson drudged just feet from me. His knees shook as he reached his arm out in front of him, struggling to touch me. I covered my mouth with my hands and watched in terror as he fell to his knees in agonizing torture.

“Grayson,” I choked as he growled and writhed in agony. His body twisted and contorted in an inhuman manner. His hands curled and froze in a stiff claw-like pose. I choked on my breath as he fell to the ground motionless. “No,” I screamed and lurched toward his lifeless body. Elijah’s anger washing through the air, but I didn’t stop. I placed my hand on his hard chest and the floodgates opened.

I wailed aloud in the middle of the now brightly lit meadow as birds chirped happily, oblivious to my pain. “I’m so sorry for all of this,” I whispered to Grayson as I wiped the tears from my face. I glanced at the tree line and spotted Elijah, hunched behind a giant spruce. His face was hard and unreadable. He stood slowly and hung his head.

I wondered for a moment if this is what my life would always be. Would I lose everyone one I love this way? A dull thud emanates from beneath my fingers and I jumped, startled at the sudden disturbance. Grayson’s face looked rosy and his cheeks full, his hair shiny and healthy. I pulled my hand back in shock as his eyes flash open and he sucked in a hard labored breath.

“Eva,” Elijah shouted from the forest, his voice panicked and thick with fear. I watched in horror as Grayson’s arm reaches toward me. I jumped back instinctively, placing myself out of his grasp. He drew in another hard, long breath.

“Eva,” Grayson struggled to call for me in a raspy choked voice. My mind spun as I try to understand what is happening.

“Grayson?” I asked as the wall of tears built back up behind my eyes, threatening to spill over my lashes. His lips twisted into a grin as he held his hand out in front of him in the sunlight.

“I’m alive,” he called out to me, his face beaming brighter than the sun. I let out a nervous laugh as I cupped my mouth and tried to understand what I was seeing. He pushed to his feet and stood before me, arms outstretched.

“You’re…” I begin, but I was suddenly at a loss for words. I stepped closer and reached out my hand, touching his chest ever so slightly. The dull and steady thudding of his heartbeat pushed back against my fingertips. “You’re human,” I sputtered in shock. His grin spread showing all of his pearly white teeth, minus the fangs. “Do you know what this means?” I asked, unable to believe what I was seeing.

He took a deep breath and his expression became serious. His eyes locked dead onto mine as he wrapped his fingers around my hand and held it firmly in place on his chest. He seemed older. He had aged a lifetime in these few short weeks.

“I can save you,” He replied, his voice just above a whisper. My heart melted at his words and I instinctively wrap my arms around his neck. His skin was warm to the touch and it was a soothing and welcomed sensation. His arms laced around my body and squeezed me painfully tight.

His body was hard and muscular beneath me. I suddenly realized he was much larger than his old self. I felt… safe. Anger washed through the air and I pulled back as I looked off into the trees for Elijah. I scanned the woods, unable to locate him. Grayson’s arms wrapped tighter around my waist and I was pulled back into the moment. I reached up and stroked his cheek, not believing my eyes. He grinned and turned his face slightly to kiss the palm of my hand. I blushed involuntarily as happiness blanketed me. It was my happiness. The anger that floated through the air had evaporated with Elijah as he retreated further into the woods to avoid the daylight. I wanted to run after him, soothe him and let him know he had nothing to fear. My heart belonged to him now. Grayson gripped me tighter, nearly squeezing