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I stared at her.
Her transformation took seconds, not hours like mine had, one minute she was human and the next, her beauty transcended anything I’d ever witnessed. I had seen a couple of transformations in the last two millenniums, but none of them survived the first pangs of thirst after the sun rose. They burst out of the dark caverns into the burning sun and were reduced to a pile of smoking ash.
I prayed she’d be able to resist, to survive the remainder of the change.
I vaguely recalled that need, but I had been so close to death, I didn’t have the strength to pull myself out from under the pile of slaughtered vampires until the next sunset. Lucifer tossed me in that pit, never expecting me to survive, but I fought, just like this vixen before me, sacrificing my soul for vengeance.
I survived the initial bout of thirst by feeding on dead vampires and because of that horrid experience, my taste for humans wasn’t as acute as the rest of my shadow kin.
My thirst thrived on the destruction of anything Lucifer coveted.
And Lucifer coveted this beauty.
I stalked her from the shadows, harboring a hatred that clouded my judgment. If I had taken a closer look, I might have seen the hypnotic power of the life light shining in her heart. That first burst of her blood was sweeter and more soul affirming than any human I had ever tasted and I lost my focus long enough to let my guard down.
Long enough for her bite to puncture my skin.
I let my gaze travel from her dark locks over her lovely curves all the way to the killer cowboy boots and sighed. Lust was normal for me, but this was beyond lust, I wanted to protect her, to never let her leave my sight.
I was ensnared and there was no escape.
“What’s your name?” I asked, hoping to diffuse some of the anger radiating from her.
Her lips thinned and her eyes narrowed. “What?”
I should have expected her hostile response. Hell, when I was in her shoes, I tore the monsters limb from limb, relishing their death, so I don’t know why her fury surprised me.
Gulping my unease, I tried again. “I’m Damian,” I said and looked at the ground. Unsure if I should offer her my hand or my throat as a peace offering, I shoved my hands into my pockets and did neither.
“So?” Her hands found her hips and I met her stark glare.
“We need to get out of here,” I said, casting a glance at the sky again. Light was just piercing the horizon and the sun would make an appearance within the next hour.
Her gaze followed mine and then snapped back in my direction.
“I refuse to live in the shadows,” she snapped.
“And I refuse to let you become a pile of ash,” I said and willed myself to morph as I charged toward her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I jumped from the roof, feeling the change and relishing her gasp as my mighty wings took us higher in the air.
While the subway systems seemed like the most logical place for me to take her, I knew that would be the first place Lucifer would search for us. By now, he knew I screwed up his plans and if he found us during the day, there would be no defense against his strength or fury.
Instead, I turned, heading into the northwest hills of Connecticut, to one of the few places of mine that Lucifer hadn’t tracked down. I landed in the back yard just as the sun’s rays lit up the horizon. With her in my arms, I swung the door open and rushed her down to the windowless basement, setting her down on the plush couch.
Before I was out of her reach, her palm stung my cheek, sending me back a few steps.
“What makes you think I want to live like this?”
“Maybe you’d like the same shot at vengeance that’s kept me alive all these years.” I didn’t mean for the bitterness to sneak into my tone, but there it was; just as loud as a bull horn.
My words struck her silent and she studied me.
Silence descended and I turned, flipping the switch that filtered the soft glow of fluorescents through the room. I didn’t know what else to say so I took the chair opposite her and fiddled with my hands, folding and unfolding them before shifting in the chair.
“Naomi,” her soft voice caught my attention and I met her gaze.
“My name is Naomi. Naomi Hawk.”
My eyebrows rose at the irony.
She allowed a half smile. “I’m hungry,” she whispered and her gaze landed on my throat again.
“You can’t go out, yet,” I said hoping she’d understand. “The sun...” I shrugged and stood. “I’m going to clean up. You’re welcome to do the same.”
For the first time since I attacked her, she looked down at her blood soaked shirt. When her gaze lifted, I saw the spark of ravenous hunger.