Chapter Twenty
Michael leaned a shoulder against the wall and watched the dawn rise through the lace-shielded windows. From behind him came a steady beeping—Nikki's heartbeat, recorded by the intensive care instruments that still surrounded her, strong at last.
Not that he needed the instruments to hear her heart. The demon within him had finally woken from its long slumber and was hungry to taste her again.
He shuddered and clenched his fists against the need beating through his soul. Three days had passed since he'd awakened and found her lying still and pale by his side, her life still hot on his lips. He'd come so very close to killing her.
He'd never thought to warn her against offering her blood. It was the one thing he'd never expected her to try. She might share his life force and be impervious to most wounds, but he could still kill her. He was her maker.
He scrubbed a hand through his hair. His need to taste her again was growing. He had to get out of this hospital, had to go somewhere far away from any sort of human habitation until he could bring his demon under control. Until he could, he was a bigger risk to Nikki than Jasper had ever been. The door to his left opened, and Jake entered. Though he still wore the thick white bandage around his neck, his movements were stronger.
"How is she?” he asked, walking across to her bed.
"Alive.” Like a siren song, the pounding rush of blood through Jake's veins called to the darkness in him. His canines lengthened in anticipation. Michael swallowed and looked out the window.
"I was just talking to the doctors. They said she'd lost almost eighty percent of her blood. They have no idea how she managed to stay alive."
She was lucky she'd only lost eighty percent. Lucky he'd awakened in time to stop his demon.
"Don't suppose you'd like to explain how it happened? I mean, you don't take human blood, do you?" He didn't have to turn to see Jake's bitterness and sudden mistrust. It was all too obvious in his thoughts.
“I was unconscious, probably dying. She cut her wrist and offered it to me. She gave me life."
"And you almost killed her in the process!"
Michael closed his eyes. “Yes,” he said softly.
"What about that bastard, Jasper? He still around?"