Page 44 of Obsessed in Blood

This, I remembered.

The heat in his kiss, the strength of his arms, the taste of him—it felt like home.

I pulled back, my hands gripping my head. An intense pain hit me, and I dropped to my knees, my fingers digging past the grass to the soil beneath.

“Cressa?” Devon was on his knees next to me. “Are you alright? Is it a headache?”

“Give me a minute.” The agony from seconds before receded to a soft thrum and then nothing. I blinked. And when I glanced up into Devon’s terrified expression—everything rushed back.

I’d left the condo in a cheerful mood. There had been a strain between us after I helped put his beast to rest. “Jacques was driving me to the manor. We were resuming my training.”

“Yes. What else?” His deep sigh signaled his relief.

I shook my head, piecing my memory back together. “I was in the back seat of the sedan.” I stood on shaky legs and stepped away to pace across the lawn. “I wanted to move to Oasis until we worked through our difficulties.” I smothered a cry. “Something hit the car. I slammed my head against the door.” I began to freak out, and Devon rubbed my arms. He’d moved so fast.

“It’s alright. You’re fine, and Jacques is fine. Tell me what else.”

“There was a fire. Jacques told me to let them take me. Not to fight. Then he screamed.” I spun around and tucked my head into his chest. “Two vampires took me. I don’t know if I passed out on my own or if they knocked me out. Either way, I woke up in a bedroom, and Lorenzo was standing over me.”

The first few days with Lorenzo hit me like a baseball bat. Holding my hand while his eyes bored into mine. “My god, he mesmerized me.”

“That’s what we believe.”

More images of Lorenzo made me pull away from Devon. I turned and raced blindly through the garden, knowing exactly where I needed to go. Devon’s steps pounded behind me. He could have overtaken me, but instead, he followed me.

When I reached the fountain, I dropped to my knees and bent over the edge. I cupped my hands and drank, rinsing my mouth before spitting the foul water onto the grass that circled the fountain. After the fourth or fifth time, Devon pulled me away.

“What are you doing?”

I shook my head, not wanting to tell him.

He sat on the ground next to me and pulled me into his arms. It felt good to be there, and I was ashamed that I’d forgotten him. Pissed that Lorenzo tried to take this away from me.

“Tell me.” His tone was soft and encouraging.

I grimaced and turned my head into his chest again. “I kissed Lorenzo.”

Silence descended with nothing but the sound of rippling water. Then his grip on me tightened, and he kissed the top of my head. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around him.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or let the beast release his rage. Either way, I don’t blame you.”

“I blame myself. I can’t believe how weak I was.”

He pushed me back and held my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. “Lorenzo is very powerful. He wouldn’t just mesmerize you once. He would do it whenever he could touch you, increasing his hold over you.”

I nodded. “I began to sense when his pull was the strongest. He’s been leaving the island every morning and not returning until evening. I began to question things. He said you’d been beating me. It explained the bruises on my side that were obviously from the accident.”

“You have Bella to thank for Lorenzo’s day-long absences.” He pulled me to him and held on tight.

“I hate to break up this reunion, but we have business to discuss.”

We both pulled back and stared at the woman.

“Colantha.” I pushed myself up but shouldn’t have bothered.

We were back in the coffeehouse, this time at a circular table. Lyra and Ginger were on either side of me, and I gripped their hands, their strength of conviction tamping down my fear of the situation I found myself in.

“Now that Cressa is back and the mesmerizing strands have been purged, we need a plan for her to return to where she belongs.” Colantha nibbled a shortbread cookie. She dabbed a napkin at the corners of her mouth then leaned back in her chair.