Page 101 of Love Bleeds

Finally, I sensed something in megive,like I'd broken through a barrier.

Only, my energy didn't shoot out of me to become a powerful death ray that would pulverize my enemies.

In fact, it didn't target my enemy at all.

Aldrich began to glow.

Both the dog and the cat stopped moving. The dog jumped back, staring at the leopard in confusion. For a split second, Aldrich hesitated. Clearly, he had no idea what was going on either, but then, he moved. He launched himself at the dog, going for his throat with his claws outstretched.

The canine fought back, but it was like he couldn't get a hold of the leopard anymore.

I tore my gaze away from the blood bath.

Had my magicdonesomething to shield Aldrich?

Could I do the same for the other two?

But even as I thought that, my eyes caught on the second vampire who'd come into the room just to see him fall to the floor. Looked likehewasn't going to be a threat any longer.

Well, that was good.

I exhaled.

Now that the stress was falling off me, I was starting to feel a little woozy. I leaned back against the fridge to steady myself. The bottle of blood slid out of my hand and shattered on the floor. Oh shit. Heads turned to me.

"Sorry," I said, and then my vision turned dark.

For a second or two--or maybe longer than that?--I couldn't see anything at all, couldn'tfeelanything at all.

It was only when I found myself on the floor, cradled in Crimson's arms, that I realized I must have fainted.

Crimson had spatters of blood on his cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I said, taking stock of myself. Nothing hurt. I was only a little exhausted. From what, though? From doing nothing? I was the only one who hadn't been actively fighting, and yet I was the one who'd fainted.

I glanced around the room. The two vampires who'd come to attack us were dead on the floor. Talon knelt by the body of the taller vampire, a thoughtful expression on his face. Idly, I wondered if Talon and Aldrich had known these vampires before tonight, when they'd been part of the same coven.

I didn't know how to phrase that question, though, or if it mattered.

Aldrich leaned against the wall next to the door, breathing heavily and rubbing his ear. "That damn bastard nearly took my ear," he complained, even though it hadn't actually come off.

"It'll heal," Talon commented.

"I know, that's not the point. It's just rude."

"You took his life."

"He deserved it. He didn't have to attack us." Aldrich pushed himself off the wall. "They could have defected after Zenon died. Not my fault they chose to stay."

Talon didn't seem to have a response to that. None of us did.

Crimson was the first to speak up again, his attention still focused on me. "Do you think you can walk?"

"Yeah, I think so." With his help, I got up on my feet, which were admittedly still feeling a little wobbly.

"What did you do just now?" Aldrich asked. "That was you, wasn't it? I don't usually light up like a Disney princess."