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Redemption (The Captive #5) Page 50
Author: Erica Stevens

"Is that what you would want?" she asked in a choked voice.

"I think it is inevitable and may even become necessary. Denying the bond will only make things more difficult and it will make me more volatile. I can already feel the strain festering within me; you're difficult to resist Hannah. The exchange of blood will also make us both stronger, I can still feel the potent effect yours has had on me. I'm more powerful, faster, and my senses are more attuned."

Though a part of her was thrilled by those words, there was a heaviness growing inside of her. He spoke of this bond, of his willingness to create it with her, and he seemed to accept the fact that he would be stuck with her for the rest of their existence, but he didn't speak of love. It was silly, she knew that. He was saying that he would spend eternity with her, was telling her they couldn't be separated, but she wanted more from him. He already owned her heart and even though he spoke of this link between the two of them as being irreversible, she was still terrified that he would eventually break it.

He could leave for months at a time and she would be here, waiting and wondering just exactly who it was that he was with and what he was doing. She had to wipe her sweaty palms on her dress as she fought against the constriction in her throat and the tears burning her eyes. She didn't want to see anyone get injured and she certainly didn't want him to have any more pressure on him, but she wasn't ready to seal this bond with him and lose herself to him completely in the process.

"I need some time," she said abruptly. She was pleased her legs held her weight as she rose to her feet. "This is just all too much right now."

He stiffly moved away from the bureau as he eyed her. "I understand you probably have some concerns..."

"I have many concerns." She was staggered by the sorrow that flickered through his eyes. It threatened to melt her resolve but she managed to keep herself together. "I just need some time."

His eyes were steely as they met hers, his jaw locked. "Take all the time you need Hannah."

She didn't have a chance to respond to him before he was out the door. The speed with which he had moved left her stunned motionless in the middle of the room. Her door began to swing closed but she did nothing to stop it. She was scared she'd just made a gigantic mistake but she couldn't bring her feet to move in order to stop him.

CHAPTER 18

Jack lifted his chair and moved it to the side to keep an eye on the six men that had just entered the tavern. He didn't like having his back to the door, but William was positioned so that he could see anyone that entered the building. William tossed a couple of cards onto the table and waited for Timber to deal him new ones. Jack studied the six men attentively; he watched their movements as they rolled the dice and talked amongst themselves. There was nothing unusual about them but he'd seen the blond on the right with Calvin before.

He was actually hoping they would try and start something; he was spoiling for a fight after what had transpired between him and Hannah two nights ago. He was trying to give her the time she had requested but the fact was that it was taking all he had not to drag her upstairs and ease the growing discomfort in his veins and body.

He'd fed yesterday and today, a lot, but he still couldn't seem to quench his thirst and he knew that the only vein that would ease it was hers. If something didn't change soon they were going to need a lot more blood at the donation center, or he was going to kill someone. He was actually beginning to prefer the latter as he continued to study Calvin's men. Yes, it would definitely feel good to pummel one or all of them into the ground.

Is this what Braith had felt like? He wondered as he tugged at the edge of his loose fitting collar and tried not to fidget in his chair. It was awful, this feeling that he didn't even belong in his own skin anymore. How had Braith not killed him after he'd taken Aria from him, how had he not lost his mind? It was something Jack felt like he was going to do as he scratched absently at his forearm and his fangs tingled.

His hand curled around the cards he was holding as the bloodlust he'd failed to quench earlier thrummed more forcefully through him. "Hey, we need those," Timber said and made a move to take the crumpled cards from his hand. A snarl escaped him before he could stop it. Timber held his hands up as he sat back in his chair. "Ok whatever, they're yours man."

Jack shook his head as he threw the crumpled cards onto the table. "Sorry," he muttered as his foot tapped against the ground.

"It's nothing personal Timber, someone is having some woman issues." William tried to sound carefree but Jack picked up on the tension in his voice.

"I see," Timber said. He rubbed at the scruff lining his jaw as he continued to eye Jack like he was afraid Jack was going to eat him. "Sucks to be him then."

"That's nothing new," William said as he slapped Timber on the shoulder. "Not with that ugly mug of his."

Jack turned his glare on William but his exceptionally brave friend only smiled pleasantly in return. Jack's attention was diverted from him when Hannah slipped from the kitchen with two plates of food in her hands. She placed them in front of two women just outside the kitchen door. He recognized one of the women from the store down the road but his attention remained riveted on Hannah.

The smile that spread over her mouth was warm as it lit her beautiful features and caused her green eyes to sparkle as brightly as a piece of jade held up to the sun. Her eyes slid to him, her smile slipped away as she ducked her head. She turned her attention back to the humans.

"I think he's got his prey in sight," Timber said.

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