She moves quickly, her hand going to Roslyn’s neck, and a threatening rumble escapes from me, forcing her to jerk her hand back. It takes me a few breaths, but I finally nod toward her, leashing the beasts within as my skin begs to be set free.
“Do it,” I bark, and she glares at me before leaning down, listening to her breaths.
“It’s dangerous, Thad. She’s lost a lot of blood.”
“She’ll die if you don’t at least try,” Ella says, now standing close behind me, and for once, agreeing with me wholly.
Sierra tightens her lips, but suddenly they part, making way for the fangs that shoot out. I fight all my instincts that beg me to stop her, fight the parts of me that sense Sierra as a threat instead of a friend.
Ella clamps her hand on my shoulder when another growl rumbles free.
“I’ve got him,” she tells Sierra.
“They’re definitely not mates,” she says randomly, pissing me the hell off.
“What?” Ella asks.
“Just fucking do it already!” I snap.
Sierra bends swiftly, and Ella tugs me back when I lunge out of instinct, reminding me how strong she is despite her fragile appearance. I wince and roar when Sierra’s fangs sink into the flesh at the curve of Roslyn’s neck to her shoulder.
Gage is suddenly behind me, helping Ella restrain me as Sierra draws back, spitting out the blood in her mouth.
“Fuck, she tastes really good,” Sierra groans, stumbling backwards in an effort to put space between herself and Roslyn.
My blood boils, even though Sierra is showing tons of restraint as she wipes the back of her mouth with her hand. Using her bitten venom to change someone makes the lycan inside her crave fresh blood.
Ella releases me just as Gage does, and I rush back to Roslyn, watching the wound that is still leaking blood. She should be having some sort of reaction by now, damn it.
“Why isn’t it working?” I bark, pushing my hands against the wound again, trying to slow the blood.
Her heartbeat is getting weaker. Even with immortal hearing, I can barely catch the feeble thumps that are growing slower by the second.
“I don’t know,” Sierra whispers, confused.
I lean forward, stroking her cheek with my bloody hand. This is my fault. She’s fucking dying and I can’t do anything about it.
“Get Zee. Or where the fuck is Dray?” I ask, my voice crackling as desperation and guilt weave into the words.
“Dray is too far out,” Gage says softly. “I’ll see if Zee can try changing her. But if Sierra’s venom didn’t work—”
“Just get him!” I yell, or try to yell; it’s barely a choked whisper.
I hear the rustle of wind as he disappears from the house, and I thumb Roslyn’s lips, leaning down to kiss her forehead, and feeling my gut clench when the chill of her skin hits me.
Something closes around my thumb, and I jerk back, but my hand stays in place. Eyes closed, Roslyn is sucking my thumb, groaning as her hands weakly come up and pull my hand closer.
I suck in a breath of surprise when she moves her lips to the open wound, sniffing and seeking, then latching on and sucking the blood straight from the source. My heart pulses, feeling the heady rush of blood-sharing, but the surprise and panic inside me override my body’s normal reaction to the act.
“It’s working?” I ask Sierra, listening closely as Roslyn’s heartbeat grows stronger, even as she stays unconscious.
Sierra looks as surprised as me. “No. I’d feel her. There’s no connection at all. The change didn’t take, or she’d be screaming in pain right now. And your blood would disgust her, no offense.”
It’s hard to be offended when I’m so fucking relieved. Roslyn is breathing stronger, her heartbeat is gathering strength, and her color is slowly returning as well. But she’s latched onto my hand like she’s starving and I’m a meal.
Her head is still back on the pillow, her eyes remain shut, and the soft little sounds of pleasure she’s making are actually driving me a little crazy. I keep my hand where it is, because for whatever reason, it seems to be what’s making her better.
Blood drizzles down her chin as she gets more aggressive, sucking harder as she tries to get her fill. I have no idea why that looks so hot right now, but it sure as hell does.