Angels of Darkness

ducked into the round opening and parted, and Karina saw a room beyond the door. It lay empty and the light of the white fluorescent lamps reflected off the metal floor and walls.
    They would put her into the vault with him. Lucas hurt so badly, he was convulsing. He required her blood and he’d rip her to pieces to get it. If she crossed that threshold, she would die.
    â€œMommy!”
    She dug her heels in. “Emily!”
    Henry picked Emily up. “It’s okay, little one.”
    â€œYou agreed to the contract,” Arthur said. “Time to honor it. Get in there and do whatever you have to do to keep him alive.”
    If she didn’t go in, they would throw her in. She heard it in Arthur’s voice.
    Karina jerked her arm out of his hand. “Take care of my baby, Henry.”
    â€œI will,” he promised.
    Karina took a deep breath and walked inside.
    â€œNo sudden movements,” Henry called out.
    The door behind her clanged shut.

CHAPTER 8
    L ucas curled into a ball on the floor. The pain scoured the inside of his spine as if someone were scraping his vertebrae with steel wool. It stretched in tight strings through his ligaments; it pooled in his joints, in his fingertips, under his tongue. He felt it in his teeth. It ground him like a grain of wheat between two millstones.
    His ears caught the sound of approaching steps.
    He forced his eyes open.
    Karina knelt by him. He inhaled her scent and felt it spark a deep, angry hunger inside him. She pulled him like a magnet. His body screamed for her blood and the end of the pain. Tearing into her would be bliss.
    She was rolling up her sleeve. Her lips were pinched together.
    He had to speak now. It hurt and he was tired, but he managed. “Don’t.”
    â€œArthur said you had to feed.”
    â€œArthur is a sick fuck. I told you that.”
    â€œI can smell you,” she said. “You need to feed.”
    â€œIf I feed now, you’ll die.”
    â€œIf you don’t, you will, and then they’ll kill Emily.”
    Ah. For a second he thought she had felt sorry for him, but no. “Nobody will touch Emily. And I’m not dying. Just hurting.”
    â€œYou look awful.” He heard a soft note in her voice. In spite of everything, she cared a little bit. He would take that. That was more than he usually got from anyone.
    She hadn’t shied back when he phased. Her knees had trembled but she didn’t flinch. For that he was grateful.
    Karina brushed the grime off his face, her eyes kind, her voice gentle. “Lucas, don’t be an idiot. Feed. It will make you feel better.”
    â€œThe pain isn’t fatal. It will pass. You’ll need all of your blood before long.”
    She pulled back. “What does that mean?”
    â€œDo you have a fever?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œTired?”
    â€œYes. Lucas, what is happening to me?”
    He almost told her the truth. “I told you before, you’re reacting to the venom.”
    The ache had burrowed deep into the base of his spine. Lucas forced himself to turn, trying to shift his weight, and it exploded into a blinding white, mind-numbing haze, twisting his limbs. Like being punched in the mouth by a star. He passed out.
    When he awoke, her scent was everywhere. The hunger stirred inside him, demanding. Lucas clenched his teeth and felt a light touch on his cheek. His eyes snapped open. She was sitting next to him, her back resting against the wall.
    â€œHow long was I out?”
    â€œMaybe a minute or two.”
    â€œTry to time the next one. I need to know if they’re getting shorter.”
    â€œIs there anything else I can do?”
    The ache rolled back at him. “Talk to me.”
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œYou never did tell me exactly why Emily hoards food.”
    She sighed and brushed the brown lock of hair from her face. “It happened after Jonathan died.”
    â€œYour husband?”
    â€œYes. I don’t want to talk about it.”
    â€œWhy?”
    She met his gaze. “Because then you will know things about me.”
    â€œAnd that would be bad?” Lucas asked.
    â€œYes.”
    Now he wanted to know more.
    â€œDoes it hurt to be the beast?” she asked.
    â€œNo. Phasing is like being a superhero. I’m faster, stronger. Everything is sharper. There are no consequences. I can let myself off the leash. But my attack variant’s venom is toxic to my human