Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

I wanted, needed blood

If he took one step closer, I could grab him and rip him to pieces. My fingers curled in anticipation. I wanted to taste him. Wanted to tear my teeth through his sweet flesh, and watch his blood pour from his body. Wanted to see it mingle with mine on the fine gold carpet

He either didn't hear or didn't want to hear. As he drew his fist back for another blow, the door to the left of us crashed open and Talon was ripped away from me. I closed my eyes and howled in anger and frustration

Hands were on me, shaking hard

"Riley? It's Quinn. You're safe. It's okay."

His voice was muted, lost in the roar of need. I lashed out, raking his cheek with hooked fingers. The smell of blood filled the air, stirring the lust to greater heights. I twisted, thrusting my fingers into my mouth, sucking the blood and skin from under my fingernails. It was a sweetness that made me salivate, yet there was nowhere near enough of it to satisfy the hunger in me

"Riley - "

"Don't take off those chains," a second voice warned flatly. "She's in bloodlust, and could kill us both if you set her free."

"So what in hell do we do?"

"Not we, you." The second voice was vaguely familiar, though his name failed to traverse the haze of heat and lust filling my mind. "You'll have to fuck her while she's chained."

"For Christ's sake, look at the mess - "

"You have no other choice. Four of us barely controlled her when we were trying to treat her wounds. The bloodlust triples her strength."

Quinn didn't answer. I couldn't see him, couldn't sense him. Didn't know if he was still close or not. I threw my weight against the chains, testing them, trying to break free. White heat burned into my wrists and ankles, and my skin became slick with moisture. Moisture that smelled sweeter than sex. But I couldn't get to it, couldn't taste it. The chains weren't long enough

He forced a breath out, a sigh that was somehow filled with anger. "Take care of that bastard, then, and make sure he can't escape."

Fingers caressed my face. I turned, snapping at them, catching nothing but air

"I will," the second voice said softly. "But I'm afraid that's not all you'll have to do."

"What?" There was an edge in the rich tones that suggested anger

"She needs the taste of blood."

"I'm a vampire. She shares my blood willingly, and she treads the path to becoming a vampire."

"I know, but she is part vampire anyway, so maybe she's immune to the curse."

"Gift, not curse."

It was tightly said, the anger more evident this time

"Either way, it is a chance we have to take. You could survive what I cannot. Look at her teeth."

There was a pause, then, "Wolf-sharp."

"And she won't just bite, she'll savage. I may be wolf, but I dare not risk such a bite, especially given it'll taken more than a few minutes to cure her thirst. She'd more than likely suck the life from me. Nor can we call in a medical unit, simply because few doctors have seen a werewolf in bloodlust, let alone know how to treat it."

Quinn took another deep breath, then released it slowly. It hit like a blow. I lunged toward him, snarling and snapping

"Keep an eye on everything while I do this."

"Be careful."

"I'm not a fool."

The door slammed, and silence fell. The scent of sandalwood caressed the air, suggesting Quinn was still close. I waited, muscles quivering, ready to lunge should he step within reach