With a quick pivot, Cate left Noble standing in the middle of the hallway and started for the side entrance. Favoring her bruised leg, she glanced over her shoulder. “He could’ve killed me. Could’ve had me by the throat—easy.”
“He break any skin?”
Unable to stop herself, she ran her hand over the back of her jeans. Shredded in spots, ripped in others, holes the size of razor-sharp teeth. A shiver rolled through her. “A little. Nothing serious.”
“Lucky he likes you, Cate.”
“I don’t feel lucky.”
Noble chuckled.
“Not funny,” she grumbled, reliving her terror-driven flight across the garage.
As recall shuddered through her, Cate upped her pace. She needed to see Rannock. Now. Before she lost all courage. After spending hours in a state of constant upheaval, she wanted his arms around her, and hers around him. To see his face, hear his voice, feel his warmth seep into her bones, sink deep down until her spirit settled and her heart rebounded.
Little things. Ones that made all the difference to a girl who liked routine.
Taking a shaky breath, she strode past a wide, spiraling staircase. The banister curled one way. She went the other. The wall angled to the left. The carpet followed, stopping at a dead end. Noble murmured behind her. The wall slid sideways, revealing a hidden passageway. Without missing a beat, Cate vaulted up the stone steps and, at the top, turned into a narrow corridor. Wood paneling funneled her into a large vestibule with antique floor tile. Feet planted in the middle of the chequerboard, she looked around.
A wooden door with wide side windows. An antique dresser pressed up against the back wall. Twin wall sconces aglow, throwing shadows across the coffered ceiling. Soft light. Ghosting quiet. Empty room.
Panic knocked on her emotional door.
She glanced at Noble. “Where is he?”
“Close.”
“Noble—”
“Wait, sweetheart. Give him and the others a chance to land.”
She wanted to argue. The urge to backtrack into mistrust banged around inside her head. Her temples started to ache, making her want to rant and rail. Fisting her hands, she pressed her fingernails into the palms. Sharp jabs of pain. Grounding pressure as the bite mark on her thigh started to throb. Trying to be patient, she ignored Noble and stared at the door, willing it to swing open, desperate for Rannock to—
A tingle swept across the nape of her neck.
The air around the door began to shimmer.
Gaze riveted to the entrance, Cate tensed as an archway appeared inside the door. Poised to take flight, she shifted to the balls of her feet. Heavy footfalls thumped. Fast rhythm. Hurried pace. A shadow fell across the threshold. A moment later, a huge blond man stepped inside.
Ice-blue eyes landed on her, then snapped to the Shadow Walker standing behind her. His upper lip curled. An instant later, he tossed a metal case at Noble.
He caught it.
“Bugger off, arsehole. Family only,” the guy growled, exposing sharp canines. As Noble did as he was told, blue eyes came back to her. “Cate?”
“Yes,” she said, throat so tight her voice cracked. “Who’re you?”
“Levin.” Smooth, deep, and rich, his Scottish brogue rolled toward her. “Ran’s brother.”
Fear rising, she searched the archway beyond Levin’s shoulders. “Where’s Ran? Where’s my—”
“Lass,” he said. “Donnae have a lot of time, so gonna say this quick. He’s hurt. It’s bad. Kruger and Tempel are bringing him in, and you need tae feed him.”
Her stomach dipped. “How bad?”
“Worst I’ve ever seen. Without you, he willnae make it.”
“I’ve never… How do I do that?” she said, beginning to shake.
“Feed him?”
Locking down the panic, Cate nodded, but reached into the back of her mind. Conversations with Nicole streamed into the breach. Her sister talked about feeding Vyroth all the time—and enjoyed every second—but she’d never explained the ins and outs of an energy exchange. Was it complicated? Would Rannock control everything? Or did she need to do something to ensure he got what he needed to heal?
“Tell me how, Levin.”
“Strip down, lass. He needs you skin tae skin. Put your mouth on him, too. Tuck in tight, as close as you can get.” Shifting out of the doorway, Levin sidestepped. “He’ll connect. All you need do is accept.”
“Okay.” Flexing her fingers, she reached for the hem of her shirt.
“Listen well, Cate, ’cause it’s important,” he said, gaze drilling into hers. “You control the flow of energy. You, not him. Donnae let him take too much too quickly. He could kill you without meaning tae, steal your core energy… understood?”
“Yes,” she said, whipping the shirt over her head.
Levin looked away. “I’ll stay until the energy stream stabilizes. You need my help, lass, I’m here.”
Toeing off her boots, Cate caught movement beyond the archway. Three guys crossed the threshold. Two under their own power. The other was unconscious, dark head bowed, tips of his boots dragging on the floor as the pair worked to bring him into the vestibule.
“Rannock,” she whispered, unzipping her jeans.
Her mate twitched.
Tears pricking her eyes, she stripped down to nothing, uncaring who saw, and lunged toward him. His skin collided with hers. He snarled, a weak purr at the back of his throat. Doing as Levin instructed, Cate tucked in tight, pressing her mouth to his pulse point. Her hands landed on his back. Her breasts rested against his chest.
He arched, reacting as though she’d hit him with fifty thousand volts. Hard muscles flexed. Ice cold hands met her skin. Shock rippled through her. She jolted, but held the line, pulling him closer, fighting to keep him on his feet. Stumbling sideways, Rannock started to go down. His brothers steadied him, holding him upright as she burrowed in, praying the energy feeding started quickly.
Heat welled inside her. A click sounded inside her head. A burning sensation roared down her spine, making her tense against him. His mouth touched her temple. A flood of sensation whipped through her as she whispered to him, telling to take what he needed, that she loved him, asking him to stay with her.
Rannock groaned.
Cate quivered as the current picked her up and carried her along. Rushing her downstream. Making her senses sing and her skin tingle. Taking her to places she’d never been before.
Clinging to him, she ran her hand down his back, touching as much of him as she could reach. Cheek nestled against hers, he tightened his grip. She closed her eyes, allowing the rich stream to flow, giving everything she could, hoping she had what it took to give Rannock what he needed… and didn’t lose her life in the process.
22
Muted whispers dragged Rannock out of the darkness. Odd echoes drifted, rippling through his head. Stilted words formed, then vanished, making him chase each one through the murk, through distant landscapes in his mind.
The murmur came again.
He tried to move. His body refused to respond, but sensory input trickled in, making him aware he hurt everywhere, from his scalp to the bottoms of his feet. Only one other thing registered through the haze of discomfort. Heat moved through his veins, the current so strong he turned toward the soothing wave. He let it wash over him, leaning into the stream until a seam opened in the ebb and flow, allowing a sliver of light into the gloom.