storm. He’d been keeping it together for her, not letting her see the fury in his heart. But it was getting harder by the day.
That fucker Azel was well hidden, and it was messing with Gunner’s head. After he’d said good night to Luna the day before, he’s gone down to the gym and destroyed one of the punching bags. Beaten it until his breathing was so labored, he felt fucking sick, until his knuckles split and bled all over the floor.
What his precious female had suffered for so long, what that fucker had done to her, it was tearing him up inside. She’d been so closed off, numb in every way, for such a long time. Simple emotions and feelings confused her. Physical touch fascinated her.
He wanted to claim her more than anything else, but she wasn’t ready for him, not yet. Maybe not for a long time. It had to be her choice, and he wasn’t sure that right now she was capable of making such a huge decision.
“Anything?” he asked her.
“Not yet.” A small smile curled her lips. “When can we have pancakes again?”
He chuckled, but the anger riding him made it sound rusty. “Whenever you want them, love.” How the hell could she always make him smile, laugh when he was in a constant state of rage and lust. She soothed him and his demon even while she unknowingly tempted and tormented them at the same time.
“How about when we get back?”
“If that’s what you want.”
She made a little mmm sound that hit him low in the gut, and he gritted his teeth. Before their first kiss, being apart from her, even for a short time, had been hard, but now it was unbearable. He hated that she wasn’t in his room with him, and in the morning when he woke, even though he could sense her in the same building, he couldn’t relax until he sought her out, until he made sure she was there, that she was okay.
Luna jerked in his arms and her eyes squeezed tighter.
“What is it?”
Her eyes snapped open again, and they were filled with terror.
“Jesus…Luna?”
Her body bowed powerfully in his arms, and she cried out.
“Fuck. Talk to me, Luna.”
“H-he’s here. I can feel him.” Another of her painful cries tore through him.
“He’s hurting you?”
Gunner was vaguely aware of his brothers flying around him, closing in, searching the streets below.
Her fingers dug into his shoulder, her nails cutting through skin. “His b-blood, it calls me…” She gasped. “What’s wrong with me…” Her fangs elongated.
Oh fuck. She was like an addict desperate for her next high. Only Luna didn’t want this, she didn’t want that monster or his blood. Her dependence on the toxic shit in his veins did.
“Put up your block, Luna. Put it up now.”
“I c-can’t,” she cried out and thrashed in his arms.
She was fighting him, trying to get away from him, even as high up as they were, trying to get to the monster calling for her. “Put your fucking block up, Luna,” he roared, fear making him shake her.
She hissed and fought harder.
Gunner searched the street below. Nothing—
The road moved, it was a small movement, like heat waves wriggling up from the hot pavement. Only it wasn’t hot, the sun had been down for hours. He was there, right below them, Gunner would bet his life on it.
“Down there,” he called to his brothers.
Zenon, Laz, and Chaos instantly fell away, going after Azel. Kryos stayed at his side, sword drawn.
“D-don’t let me go,” Luna begged, sobbing hard. “Please don’t let me go.” Bloody tears ran down her face as she continued to fight to get away. Her mind and body were at complete odds, and it was tearing her apart.
Gunner growled and spun her in his arms, so her chest was pressed to his. He gripped the back of her head and shoved her face against his throat. “Fight it. Drink from me, now,” he bit out.
She cried out again, and her body went stiff in his arms a moment before she exploded into action, fighting harder than before. “I can smell it. I can smell his blood.”
The fucker had opened a vein down there, trying to get her to go to him—that was the only explanation. Well, two could play it that way. Gunner’s claws extended, and he sliced one of the razor-sharp tips across the side of his throat.
Luna stilled instantly, and he didn’t give her time to think. He cupped her head again and