She wanted to wrap her arms around herself, wanted to shrink from that strangely comprehensive stare, but she found herself unable to move from his penetrating stare.

“Don’t look at her!” Devon spat, taking a defensive step forward. His shoulders were locked tight, his hands fisted at his sides as his body thrummed with fury.

“I’m going to be looking at her for eternity when I’m done with her.”

All the hair on Cassie’s arms and neck stood up as Devon released a sound that was part growl, part snarl, and something utterly terrifying. Trying to ward off the chill of terror that swept through her, she wrapped her arms uselessly around herself. Julian started to grin, giving Devon a come here wave with his fingers that sent a thrill of foreboding down Cassie’s spine. Julian had something up his sleeve. Devon seemed to sense the same thing as he did not rush heedlessly back at him again.

Cassie jumped, a startled cry escaping her when a hand seized hold of her elbow. She spun, ready to fight again until she saw Chris and Melissa standing there, their eyes wide with worry and fear as they scanned her ruined, blood stained dress. Another roar filled the air, snapping their attention back to Devon and Julian. This time however, Devon’s attention was not focused upon Julian, but on them.

Mouth parting in alarm, Cassie swiftly pulled her arm free of Chris’s grasp. Devon’s red eyes continued to gleam, his focus centered upon Chris. Trepidation pounded through Cassie, realization hammered throughout her. Devon was so far gone that he would attack anyone he thought might be a threat to her right now. Would destroy anyone that got between him and her.

Swallowing heavily, she held up her hands, trying to ward him off. “No Devon,” she whispered, praying that she could still reach him. “No, he didn’t hurt me. Chris would never hurt me.”

Devon’s red eyes surveyed her, their blood color more than a little disarming. She had never seen him like this, had never known that he could be like this, and she was terrified of him. Even more terrified that he would hurt her friend. She wasn’t sure that she could stop him, not when he was like this, not when he was so far gone. She did not know this person, this creature before her, but she still loved him. She just had to keep him from killing Chris.

Chris released a hissing breath; taking a small step back he pushed Melissa back with him. “Devon,” Cassie whispered, her gaze briefly darting to Julian.

He was still on the ground, his attention focused upon them. Upon her still. If it hadn’t been for Chris, he would be dead by now, but he was not taking the opportunity to run during his brief reprieve. That did not sit well with her. He had to realize that he had lost this fight, why would he stay?

Devon took another step toward them, his intensity still focused upon Chris. Panic tore through Cassie. She could not let this happen. Instinctively, Chris reached for her again, grasping hold of her elbow as he tried to pull her back. Cassie stiffened in horror, knowing that it had been the wrong thing to do, the wrong move to make.

Another bellow escaped Devon as he raced at them, leaping over the debris generated by the brutal fight. A strangled cry escaped Cassie as he launched himself at Chris. Though he had already told her once never to get in between a vampire and its prey, she did not take the time to think about the consequences of her actions. She just hoped that it did not end badly. Cassie stepped in front of Chris, blocking Devon’s attack with her body, willing to die before she allowed him to destroy her best friend. She ducked her head, holding her hands up as she braced herself for the hard blow she knew was about to ensue.

Devon’s body hit hers; his arms wrapped around her as lifted her up, pulling her away from Chris’s hold. His touch was surprisingly gentle considering his frame of mind, and the murderous intent that hummed fiercely through his body. His hands wrapped into her hair, pulling her tighter against him as he cradled her head against his chest.

The tension thrumming through him eased slowly as he buried his face in her neck, his lips running gently over her skin. Cassie stayed perfectly still, sensing the hunger in him, the tenuous hold he had upon his control. The beast was still there, the demon fighting with the man as it struggled to break free once more. Fought to satiate itself upon her. If she moved even a millimeter she was afraid that she would set it free. That he would bite her.

He shuddered; his hand upon her waist became painful. She could feel the bruises that he was leaving behind, but she did not protest, did not flinch away from him. His lips stopped against her throat, pausing over the pulsing vein that was going haywire with her heartbeat. Despite the fear that pounded through her, she could not stop the thrill of excitement that enshrouded her as his teeth skimmed lightly over her, raking her skin ever so slightly.

Cassie’s knees wobbled, threatening to give out. Despite her best intentions not to move, she could not stop her fingers from curling, digging into his back as she fought the urge to press herself tighter against him, offering her vein. Though she wanted this far more than even she had realized she knew that here was not the place. This was not the time.

He would never forgive himself if he took her here, he would blame it on his lack of control. Nor did she wish for Melissa and Chris to see it, and she especially did not want Julian to be there. This was something that she wanted only the two of them to share, something that she wanted to cherish and remember for the rest of her life. And she did not want the memory to involve the hall of her high school.

Yet she did not fight him, did not push him away. He needed her now, and though she was a temptation that he might not be able to deny, she was also the only one that could calm him down. The only one that could reach past the demon inside, and bring the man forth again.

He shuddered once more, his grip eased on her. She tried not to feel disappointed as his mouth left her neck, but she couldn’t help it. His lips brushed over her ear, caressing her lightly. He was back, she could feel it in the marrow of her bones, knew in her soul that what held her now was the man. The man, whose love for her was even stronger than the demon’s desire for her blood.

“Don’t do that again, don’t ever put yourself in front of me again,” he hissed, his hand tightening in her hair as he kissed her forehead roughly. He was still shaken, still struggling to keep a firm restraint over himself. “I could have killed you.”

She shook her head forcefully, hating the self contempt that rang through his voice. “Never,” she whispered. “You would never hurt me.”

He shuddered again, his body shaking with doubt as he clung tighter to her, needing her to ease him. Though he was hurting her again she offered no complaint, she would give him everything, and anything, that he needed.

Devon’s head snapped up, a low growl escaped him as Julian launched to his feet, finally managing to stay on them. Julian’s icy eyes gleamed with contempt as he surveyed them. Cassie clung tighter to Devon, not wanting to release him, needing the safety and comfort of his arms. “How the mighty have fallen,” Julian murmured, shaking his head in disgust.

Though Devon did not release her, he shifted her subtly, moving his body more in front of hers. He cradled her head gently against his chest, but she was not fooled into believing that he couldn’t move swiftly back into attack mode. She knew the only reason he didn’t attack again now was because of her. He was frightened that next time he would not be able to come back, that next time he would be lost, and that he would hurt her.

Though Devon remained holding her, he took a small step toward Julian, his muscles going rigid. Julian flashed a bright grin, flicking his fingers through his disheveled white blond hair. “Now now Devon stay calm, things are just starting to get interesting.”

Fear flickered through Cassie. Julian was too cocky, too sure of himself. He had to be planning something. “What are you talking about?” Devon demanded fiercely.

Julian’s grin only widened, his eyes flickered behind them. The fear turned into full-fledged panic as Cassie realized that he was not looking at any of them, but over their heads. Foreboding stole through her, twisting in her gut, making it difficult to breathe. A new presence reached her, one just as malevolent and cold as Julian, but this one also emitted a jealousy and loathing so thick that it was nearly choking.

Cassie turned slowly, her fingers digging into Devon’s back as she braced herself for what was to come. She was beaten down, wounded, wary but she tried to gather her strength, and her courage. She knew she would need both.

A woman stepped around the corner of the hall, moving toward them with the eerie grace of the undead. Cassie’s mouth parted slightly, her eyes widened at the stunning beauty of the woman. She was tall, lithe; supple. The black dress she wore swayed gently with her hips and provocative walk. The pale beauty of her face contrasted sharply with the color of her dress and ruby red lips. Her features were delicate, elegant and refined; her cheekbones high, and her nose slender. Dark auburn hair spilled down her back, swaying against her knees in gentle waves as she moved. She looked like a perfect, porcelain doll.

Devon stiffened against her, straightening to his full height as he clung tighter to her. The tension in his body reached a whole new level, anger hummed through him. The woman stopped walking; she lifted a dark eyebrow as she studied them with amused disdain. She had the most stunning, coldest eyes, Cassie had ever seen. They were the color of pure molten gold as they shone brilliantly in the bright light of the hall. Cassie had never seen anything like them before; they were eerily beautiful, yet malicious. Those eyes landed upon Cassie, pinning her to the spot as the full force of the woman’s hatred and disgust blasted against her.

“Forgive me,” Devon breathed in her ear.

Cassie glanced questioningly up at him, but he was not looking at her. Forgive him? Forgive him for what, she wondered in confusion.

His jaw was clenched tight, his emerald eyes flashed with hostility. His gaze was focused intently upon the beautiful woman, his body hard and stiff. “Isla.” His voice dripped icy disdain.

The woman smiled slowly, seductively, revealing her already extended fangs. “Hello lover,” she purred.

The breath wheezed forcefully out of Cassie, the beat of her heart stopped for a frantic moment as uncertainty and hurt tore through her in equal measures. If his hands hadn’t been clenched upon her, she would have fallen down. Lover? Her gaze darted between them, pain snapped through her with the force of lightning bolts.

She had known that there were women in his past, there had to be. But this woman, this woman! Cassie trembled slightly as she looked back at the stunning doll before her. This woman was something Cassie had never even remotely fathomed. She was exceedingly beautiful and radiated a raw sexuality and poise that Cassie could never possess. How could she possibly compete with her? Her confidence shaken, her world a crumbling mess, Cassie simply tried to breathe through the tight constriction in her chest.

Struggling to stay composed, she met Isla’s feral gold eyes once more. From the gleam in those eyes Cassie knew she had already let too much of her emotions slip.

CHAPTER 16

Devon felt the tremor that rocked through Cassie, the anguish that tore through her body. His hands tightened around her as he cradled her head tighter against him. He wished that he could take her away from all of this. Take her somewhere that she would be sheltered from the hurts and cruelty of the world. Somewhere she would be sheltered from the mistakes and wrongs of his past.

But there was no escaping this, and it seemed as if his past had come to a head with his future, in of all places, the hallway of a freaking high school. Hatred blazed through him as he met Isla’s malicious golden gaze. Merriment and fury radiated from Isla as her small smile widened and she tilted her head slightly to the side.

“You were right Julian, she is delicious,” Isla purred, licking her lips. Devon stiffened, a small growl escaped him. “Such a little innocent though, how could she possibly satisfy your twisted needs Devon?”

Self hatred and fury tore through him as Cassie trembled again, her fingers dug briefly into his back. He had done this to her, he was causing her this pain. Isla took a step closer; hunger throbbed out of her in rolling waves. Chris and Melissa instinctively moved closer, their eyes darting briefly, frantically toward him. Devon kept his gaze focused upon Isla, but with his mind he monitored Julian’s movements, which were still none. He had been injured, but Devon was not fooled into thinking that he was incapable of fighting.

Devon didn’t know why Julian was not rushing into the fray, or why he had been studying Cassie so intently. There had been no desire in his gaze, no bloodlust as he had watched her keenly, apparently trying to decipher something about her. What that something could be Devon didn’t know, but Julian’s hesitance and scrutiny were unsettling. Just what was Julian’s plan, and why was Isla here?