Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Declan’s face fell. “Is that what you thought? Fuck, Tessa, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I left you.” He clutched her tightly to him, dropping his forehead to rest against hers. “No, honey, you’re human. You’re staying human p>
“Why were you so angry then? Why’d you shift? Why’d you r
away p>
Declan cupped her cheek, stroking his hand over her skin. Slowly, his warmth leeched into her, thawing the brittle cold. “I am the wolf, and the wolf is me, but sometimes, we have different ideas about how to handle things. When I saw the mark on you, the wolf got so angry, he needed to find and kill that fucking strigoi. I couldn’t hold him back.” He let out a weak laugh. “I haven’t lost control like that since I was a kid p>
“Oh.” Warmth flooded her. She relaxed against Declan’s hold. “Is it dangerous when the wolf takes over?” she asked.
“Never to you,” Declan said fervently. “You never need to fear me. Man or wolf, Tessa, I would never do anything to hurt you.” He let out a heavy sigh. “Except run off like a lunatic, apparently. I must’ve gone about ten miles before I managed to get control back p>
They sat in silence, huddled together, not moving, not speaking. The snapping cold vanished from Tessa’s bones, her heart steadied, and the trembling eased from her limbs. Her stomach suddenly growled, breaking the contemplative quiet. Declan lifted his head, a small smile tugging one corner of his mouth.
“I might be hungry now,” Tessa said.
“Stay here.” He set her on the chair and went to fix bowls for them
Chapter 76
both. He returned to the table and sat across from her, watching intently as she ate.
“What does the mark mean?” Tessa asked.
Declan paused, picking his words. “It’s a way of claiming you. It keeps other strigoi from feeding on you. It marks you as… his p>
Tessa froze, spoon halfway to her mouth.
“They can feed without leaving scars. But the victims the
feed from exclusively, or to turn, they put a claim mark o
“His? Like his… wife p>
“In a way. Although, in general, a woman has to consent to marriage before she becomes a wife. With strigoi, they can just take you p>
“So he… took me? Am I…” Tessa shook her head. She didn’t know
what she was asking. All she knew was that she was afraid.
“He didn’t take you. You’re human, and alive. Once we kill him, the
mark will go away p>
“What happens if he changes me p>
“He won’t,” Declan snarled. He cleared his throat, relaxed his
shoulders. “He won’t,” he said more gently. “But for people who are
marked and then changed, they’re bound to their strigoi sire like a
slave p>
“Are they all evil? If I was turned would I become evil p>
Declan’s hand clenched on his spoon. He clearly had to stop himself from telling her that she was never going to be turned. “There are myths about strigoi who live off animal blood instead of human, but I don’t know how much stock can be put in them p>
Chapter 76
“There are myths about werewolves,” Tessa said, “And I used to think there was no stock in them p>
Declan smiled. “True p>
“So if I were turned, there’s a chance I wouldn’t be evil p>
“You won’t turn!” Declan’s words turned into an inhuman growl. Black claws shot from his fingertips. He closed his eyes, bracing his hand flat on the table. Slowly, the claws receded. He took steadying breath and opened his eyes. His irises were 5
amber. “If I run off again, Tessa, it’s just to murder a str
because of anything you did, okay p>
Tessa nodded, eyes wide. “Is this normal, or should we call someone for help? Should Anna take a look at you p>
Declan smiled wryly. “It’s not normal, but it’s not something a healer can fix. What is, is embarrassing. A grown man, losing to his wolf…” He shook his head at himself and took another bite of stew.
“So adults never lose control p>
“I wouldn’t say never. Arthur wolfed out every time Natasha went into labor. Wade famously wolfed in front of tourists when his daughter called to tell him she was pregnant. Happened right in the post office. That took some… creative explaining. Margaret was livid.” Declan chuckled. He thought for a moment, his expression sobering. “After my dad left, my mom was stuck in her wolfskin for nearly a month p>
Tessa reached out and laid her hand on his, still pressed flat to the table. It wasn’t lost on her that each and every one of those cases was over someone they loved. And Declan’s wolf had taken over… for Tessa. She lifted her eyes to his. The wolf was still looking out of his eyes, golden and feral. But all that ferocity was not because of her. It was for her.
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