Page 80 of Bound By Blood
Some dashed in andout of the cars like they had no concern for their lives, whileothers staggered drunkenly down the street. At any time, one ofthem might decide to play chicken with her, and killing apedestrian was not how she planned to end this craptastic day.
When she had tostop to let some humans run across the road, she glanced at Saber.In the light flowing from the streetlamps, his skin was paler, andhe grimaced as he shifted on the seat.
“Are you okay?”she demanded.
“Yeah,” hemuttered.
Settling his swordacross his lap, Saber ignored the pain of his flayed-open side ashe leaned back to study the crowd. He scented Savages huntingamongst the people, but they’d succeeded in what he intended toaccomplish today. These humans were on their own.
If they werefoolish enough to be caught by one of his ex-kind, then so be it.He wasn’t about to put Caro back in danger by stopping to hunt moreSavages.
And he wasn’t inthe best condition to hunt either. He was covered in the blood oftheir enemies, bleeding himself, and carrying a sword.
Humans were anidiotic bunch, but none of that would go unnoticed by them. If hegot out of this car, the stupid creatures would run from him andmost likely into the arms of those seeking to destroy them.
They had biggerthings to worry about than a few dead bodies; they had to get awayfrom here without drawing the attention of the Savages. He couldn’thave them tracking them to Caro’s place.
He didn’t seeanyone paying extra attention to them, but he didn’t trust that.The Savages were hunters; they could stay hidden in the crowd whilewatching and reporting their every move.
Glancing in themirror, he examined the cars behind them. The white Ford had beenthere for a while, but the blue Suburban was a new addition.
Resting a handagainst his ribs as he twisted to look out the back window, he kepthis face impassive while pain lanced through his side. The Ford wasfull of twenty-somethings laughing as they danced in their seats tothe loud music blaring out their windows. It blocked his viewinside the Suburban.
“You’re bleeding,”Caro said.
“I am,” heconfirmed.
Turning backaround, he lifted his hand to glance at the gashes carved into hisside by the demon. The demon’s talons had flayed open his flesh,which fell open to reveal a glistening rib.
He pressed hishand against the wound again as they finally left the busy streetbehind and Caro turned onto the highway. The tires hummed overpavement as he shifted his attention to her.
Scratches marredthe creamy skin of her cheek. Blood stained those scratches, but ithad stopped flowing.
He hated the bloodand imperfection on her beautiful face; nothing should ever mar herperfection. Without thinking, he leaned across the console andwiped away the dried blood.
When she flinched,something inside him broke a little. Cursing himself and hisstupidity, he lowered his hand as he resisted smashing out thewindow beside him.
Sensing hisunexpected disappointment—she couldn’t call it hurt; she didn’tthink he was capable of such an emotion—Caro sought to explain herreaction to his unexpected touch.
She didn’t knowwhy his distress bothered her so much. Just hours ago, she’dcontemplated killing him. Now, she yearned to curl into his armsand cleave to him while she tried to bury the memory of this awfulnight.
The strength ofhis arms around her and his scent would help keep the sure-to-comenightmares at bay. However, she couldn’t lean on him in such a way.She wouldneverdo that with him, even if he had saved herlife.
He was too cold,and it would be humiliating when he inevitably turned away from heragain. She could picture him standing there awkwardly, with hishands in the air, as she adhered to him like a baby opossum to itsmother.
She’d rather faceanother demon.
“My face hurts totouch,” Caro whispered as she sought to explain why she flinchedfrom him.
“It never shouldhave happened,” Saber growled. “Itnevershould have touchedyou.”
Uncertain how tohandle this turn toward protective Saber, she sought to change thetopic. “And what about you? What is going on over there?”
“The demon got mea little, but I got him more.”
As oncomingheadlights flashed across the car’s interior and the tires hummedalong the pavement, Caro smiled wanly at him, but his attentionremained on the mirrors. When he turned to look behind them again,a flicker of pain crossed his features before he covered it.
She glanced downat his hand on his torn jacket. The demon had gotten him a lot morethan “a little,” but it was impossible to examine his injury whiledriving.
