What Lies Inside (A Blood Bound Novel, Book 1) (19 page)

My thoughts evaporated as Kendrick came to an abrupt halt at the edge of a grassy ridge. His arm flung out to restrain me. “Look,” he whispered, “down there.”

Past the fallen, moss-covered tree that lined the descent was a grassed clearing. A herd of white-tailed deer were grazing unaware. The herd’s large stag had its head raised with nostrils flared, testing the air for danger. The scent of their gamey blood found me then, swirling on the faint breeze. The light patter of their hearts reached my ears in the same instant. I glanced to Kendrick for instruction.

“Follow my lead,” he said, smiling before leaping over the fallen tree.

I trailed after, keeping right on his heels. Kendrick’s speeding steps were soundless, but leaves crunched under my Vans. The buck’s head twisted. Its black-marble eyes widened with fear and a high-pitched warning escaped its throat. The herd tensed, springing into flight and darting in every direction. Kendrick lunged, flying through the air to land on the back of the stag. It squealed in panic as his weight and strength brought it to the ground. Its hooves kicked erratically as I closed in, connecting with my chest before my hands retrained them. My heart was pounding, adrenaline surging through my core. The stag’s heart was fluttering wildly. The sound and feel under my palms stirred memories of Kendrick’s hunting lessons back in the forests bordering Anchorage. Except back then we’d hunted to kill. Restraint had never been the objective.

Using all my strength to resist, I spoke around fully extended fangs. “Now what?”

Kendrick’s lips parted, fangs protruding. “Drink.”

Without any further invitation, I sunk my fangs into the stag’s thigh. It squealed as its hot, gamey living blood spilled into my mouth. Kendrick watched, still restraining the animal while I fed. After a minute the buck became still. Its legs turned limp
almost
as though it were faking death.

A firm hand found my shoulder and squeezed. “Now stop.”

It was Kendrick, instructing me to do what we had come here to do. The song
‘Animal I have become’
was playing in my mind. I didn’t want to be that blood-crazed creature. But each gamey drop made my body scream for more. Pulling away wasn’t an option. The taste of the buck’s blood wasn’t as tempting as Ty’s, or even a living human’s. But it was still live blood. And right now I wanted—no needed—every single drop. I growled and clutched the buck’s thigh tighter, drinking deeply.

Kendrick’s hand tightened, nails piercing my flesh. “If you can’t stop yourself from killing a meaningless animal, how can you ever be certain you won’t kill a human?”

Ty.
A flickering image of his trusting eyes dyed with acceptance flashed across my mind. If I can’t stop, I’ll never be able to trust myself with him. Ty’s strength would always be there to restrain me. That I knew. Though would he really want to stay with me if I kept trying to kill him by draining his life blood?

Although my body trembled in negation to my inner resolve, renewed determination flared through me. I released my clenched fingers that were embedded in the buck’s flesh, and tore my fangs from its thigh. The deer startled, surprised by his sudden release and scrambled to its feet. It took off, pelting through the trees, white tail bobbing as it disappeared from sight.

Kendrick smiled down at me as I crumpled to the ground. My chest rattled with ragged breath. “I did it. I freaking did it!”

“I guess you should get going,” I said to Ty the following morning. My hands were pressed against his bare, defined chest, feeling the new scars that marked him there. Scars he’d already refused to explain.

We stood within the lush greenery of the garden backing my house. Beside us was the huge marquee that had been delivered and erected this morning. People buzzed everywhere around us, from delivery men to laborers and wait staff. All were dressed in uniform and busy carting boxes to and from the marquee. Ty had arrived, as promised, early this Saturday morning to assist with the finishing touches for this evening’s auction. Mom had been pleasantly surprised to see Ty again, and to my total relief—given that he’d taken something again that he explained was an elixir that masked his wolfy scent—she hadn’t seemed aware of the subtle differences that marked him as a lycan. Maybe she won’t freak when we tell her, I had thought. Still, crippling fear had gripped my heart. It was an intense coldness like a hand squeezing the organ tight. The memory of my vivid dream was too terrifying to forget.

Ty’s hands found my hips and he pulled me against his hot flesh. “Trying to get rid of me?” His hazel eyes sparkled, brighter than the smile that stole his lips.

Able to feel the irregular beat of his heart, I removed my hands from his chest. I began nervously fiddling with my iPod, turning off Skillet. Knowing Ty was into their music, I’d played their songs on speaker all morning. “Of course not…” I said. But I was lying.

Apart from the beat of his heart, the memory of his scent was making my mouth water. Still, his proximity wasn’t the only reason I needed him to leave. Kendrick was out in town picking up supplies, since his stay here appeared to be ongoing. And I was thankful, because I still hadn’t told him about Ty, or even the fact that I was seeing someone. Now my time was running out. The last thing I wanted was for him to find out this way. I needed Ty to leave.

I glanced down at his black shorts and boots. They were dotted with sawdust from our assembly of the stage. “I just figured you’d want to wash up before the auction begins.”

Ty’s head dipped, his hot lips finding mine. The gentle touch sent an electric wave throughout my entire body. “Okay,” he said as he pulled away, and I almost regretted making him leave.

But just as he turned to go, Kendrick materialized, bounding through the terrace doors to the kitchen. He caught sight of us and looked Ty over with clear disdain. “Hey, who’s the help?”

My stomach clenched, and my eyes darted back to Ty who was watching me questioningly. I tried to speak, but my throat was suddenly as dry as hot sand.

“Ty,” Ty said extending a hand, “Amelia’s boyfriend. You must be Kendrick.”

Ty’s candid words caused my eyes to widen.
Boyfriend?
Since admitting my feelings for Ty at the party and learning the truths he was hiding, I knew we had begun something strong and compelling. A relationship like none I had ever experienced before. Though I hadn’t for a second dreamed of putting a label to what we were. Tempting fate was never a good idea. I looked back to Kendrick whose face had paled to the whiteness of parchment paper.

Ty cleared his throat beside me, hand finding my waist. “I’ll leave you two, alone.” He kissed me on the lips quickly but hotly. Then disappeared in a jog back through the doors Kendrick had materialized through.

Swallowing the dryness that felt like sand clogging up my throat, I dared to look at Kendrick. His eyes were glassy, his arms locked stiff at his sides and hands clenched into fists. I went to speak, to try to explain, but he turned abruptly and stalked back into the house.

He was angry beyond words. That was painfully clear. Of course he would feel hurt. I’d kept this from him. It was something I had never done before. Kendrick had always been my confidant, my best friend. He was the one person I could turn to no matter what. But why was he this upset? A spine-chilling suspicion etched its way into my mind. Oh my God. He knows Ty’s a werewolf.

I had to diffuse this situation before anything else could go wrong. And by anything, I meant him telling my mom. I darted into the house. The hired workers were busily checking through boxes of crystal and china. They barely took notice as I flew up the arcing stairs and into Kendrick’s room.

Music and snowboarding posters now colored the walls. A new boarding mag lay on the bedside table. Kendrick stood staring out the arched window to the left of his bed. Beyond the glass half the sun peaked through fluffy, white clouds. “Have I done something for you to doubt my friendship?” he questioned incredulously, “my loyalty to you?”

I sped across the room to grip his forearms. “No, of course not…” My sight turned hazy. “I wanted to tell you. I just…” My voice caught as I choked back a sob. I was scared.

Kendrick sighed, his broad shoulders dropping. “You feared my reaction. The way I’m acting now.” He cupped my face with open palms, wiping away my tears with his thumbs. “Amelia,” he said blinking slowly, “I know you don’t trust yourself. But know this.
I
trust you. So if you want to date a human, you should.”

My head jerked back out of his hands. “What’d you just say?”

Kendrick shrugged, frowning. “That you should be with whoever you want to, human or not.” He smiled—a not entirely thrilled but somewhat resolved smile. “I just want you to be happy, Amelia.” He drew me into his arms, chin resting against the crown of my head. “I just didn’t think you’d be into a muscle-bound pretty boy.”

Of course he couldn’t tell. Ty’s scent was still blocked by the elixir. With my stomach turning with lie-induced knots, I pulled from his arms faking a smile. “
Jealous?
”

Kendrick laughed at that, throwing his head back. “Are you saying I’m not cut like him?” He puffed out his chest while flexing his biceps.

At the sight of his put-on, strained expression, the weight of my worries instantly washed away. I couldn’t help but laugh. “What would I do without you, Kendrick?”

Kendrick smiled, silver-flecked irises shining. “You’ll never have to find out.”

~

“You look amazing,” a deep voice spoke, approaching from behind.

Even with his unmistakable scent absent from the breeze, I knew who it was. Smiling, I turned from the early arriving guests I had just directed down the lit stone path to the marquee. Ty was approaching from the terrace doors. He no longer had on shorts and hunting boots. Instead he wore a black, single-breasted suit and white shirt that covered his new and old scars. A pearl-white tie hung around his neck, and his hair was slicked back. My heart skipped.

Ty’s sparkling honey eyes ran from my face slowly down my body to my strappy heels—expensive and brand name, according to Mom. His pupils were enlarged and focused, drinking in every inch of me.

Self-conscious, I glanced down at my black-chiffon cocktail dress. My cheeks warmed at the sight of its low, v-cut neckline. Way too much of my non-existent bust was on display. I tugged at the hem that sat well above the knee. Why were Mom’s
“presents”
always so damn short? “My mom got it especially for tonight.”

Ty wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me off the ground. Something hard pressed against me from the inside pocket of his suit. “Well, you look beautiful.”

The warmth of his skin through his suit and my dresses fine fabric made me forget the object hidden in his jacket. Involuntary ripples of gooseflesh cascaded down my body. Ty lowered me back to the ground, his hands finding the slight curve of my hips. A perfect fit. He dipped his head to join our lips with a soft, yet fiery kiss. My knees went weak and my heart fluttered. If not for his strong hands holding me up, I would have crumbled to the grass.

“Is there time for me to steal you away?” Ty breathed against my lips, unaware of the involuntary effects he had on me.

With a mesmerized nod, I pulled from his grasp and took his hand. “Of course…”

While drawing steadying breaths, I led the way down a branched-off, stone path. Past the marquee was a secluding wall of beech hedges that had turned a wonderful shade of copper with the full onset of autumn. A quaint alcove opened up before us, with a single stone bench in its center. The sun was a glowing sphere that loomed behind wind-blown clouds. As it dipped toward the horizon, birds chirped their final calls.

Ty pulled me down onto the bench and took my hands in his. “I’m sorry I took off earlier. I wanted to stay, but I figured you’d want to talk to Kendrick alone.” I studied his face, expecting to find masked jealousy in his expression. But there was only genuine concern.

“Did you tell him about me?” Ty asked, breaking my stare. “Did he already know?”

I shook my head, causing my long hair to fall over my shoulders. “He didn’t know.” A peculiar feeling gripped me then. It was the weight of someone’s eyes watching me, watching us. Unable to see anyone past the bordering hedges surrounding us, I looked up. My eyes settled on the left then the right of Kendrick’s bedroom windows. Even with the diminishing light, I could see that the curtains were drawn. No one was standing there. A piercing pain seized my heart then. I had lied to my best friend and had no intention of revealing the truth to him. Looking back to Ty, I raised a reassuring hand to his face. “And I didn’t tell him. I won’t.”

Ty smiled and took my hand, bringing it down to rest over the steady, yet irregular beat of his heart. “I wasn’t worried. If you had told him, I would have understood. I trust you with my life, Amelia, with my blood.”

The recollection of Ty’s blood spilling into my mouth and coursing through my veins brought rapid warmth to my cheeks. I looked up, eyes fluttering. “Ty, I want to know who you are,” I said, my heart skipping with nerves. “I want to know who it is I’m falling for.”

Ty’s hands dropped to my knees. He stared down at them, his brow knitted. “Are you sure?”

I collected his hands and curled my fingers through his. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”

Ty nodded, eyes rising to meet mine. “Each born male inherits the
lycan
gene. Females can too, but the dominance seems more closely linked to males. It only bonds with females through some form of mutation. Anyway, once we reach adolescence, the transformations begin. That’s when our eye color changes, too. At first we go through uncontrollable shifts over a number of days.” His eyes strained and his expression turned stormy. “It’s the most agony I’ve ever lived through. Though it does get easier, less painful,” he added, face lifting a fraction. “After that, we remain human until the next full moon. With age we’re able to transform on demand, though the full moon will always induce an uncontrollable shift.” Ty studied my face. It looked like he was waiting for any sign of shock or repulsion. He found none.