BOUND: Blood and Desire

-

mien's return to the bar. His expression was grim, and it seemed lik

o go, Rochelle?" he

le humans truly were. That man from her vision, his identity still elusive, had left a lingering chill in her bones. An

id, mostly to disrupt the so

sed some concerns, really important ones. But none of the other c

offered gently. "But maybe there's still a way to mak

eyes clearly for the first time. Not quite hazel, not quite aquamarine. They were pale green wi

o," he said, cle

e bar. Outside, the platform was nearly empty, the

Damien said suddenly, as th

w. "It's late. Just in c

ty in his voice was oddly comforting-like she re

d, Damien waved it off. "Tonigh

ded once before disap

ish, Rochelle turned to

aid with a half-smi

ed into a black silk skirt, with a gray trench coat wrapped around her against the night chill. Her phone

the creature leap

ackled her to the ground and

sation as they neared the Metropolitan Muse

was that?!" Rochelle cri

ifying scene: a monstrous thing crouched over a woman

heir approach, letting out a

rrrrrrrr

hed taut over a humanoid frame. It was bald, fanged, and bore a small, reptilian

a sound that made Rochelle freeze. But

roar, it lu

ave to help her!"

dle it. You g

was upon them. It smacked Damien aside like

. Its mouth hung open, bre

creamed, terror cla

yanking it off her. But now it was enraged. It roared again, "Grrr

mething! Anything!" Damien

spotted a broken tree branch, thick and jagge

the creature in the side of the head. Then, in a swift, bru

e!" he

ut a gurgling hiss. Its skin lost all remaining color, turning an ashen gray,

nd wrapped her in his arms. She coul

," he murmured.

, Rochelle whispere

, voice hoarse. "They're r

e there

s. If there were others, we'd be dead already. And

A single bite could turn a nor

ed. "So... they us

clan. Without a brand,

rious despite the adrenaline

e approved, the maker brands them. It keeps their mind intact. Keeps

brand?" she asked,

rm. There, etched in his skin, was an intrica

the city?" Rochelle ventur

"Y

hem. Rochelle looked down at the

this branding," she sa

a symbol, it sorts of anchors our consciousness. But someone's been turnin

o?" she

rld, accusations aren't made lig

st not miss," Ro

He n

injured woman stirred. "

to Damien. "We shoul

reed, but made no move

better if it came f

wned. "Right. I'

ward the woman as

attack in Central Park. A woma

's slight nod. He'd wanted her to leave

reasons?" she asked, not h

"B

who was fading fast. Rochelle l

wailed in t

and waved the emerg

d to go," D

uldn't we wai

said. "Besides, you have

smiled

litan Museum. It stood gleaming in all the

useum," Rochelle said. "Bu

Not t

So what are we doing tonight?

n chuckle

monsters that scar

truth they revealed, and the w