Page 43 of Rafe

“What?” A single drop of blood trailed down her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

Rafe tugged the cloth from her hand and gently dabbed at the blood on her forehead, then made quick work of removing it from her cheek. “Just have a little bit⁠—”

“Oh my God. Am I bleeding? What is happening?”

“No, no, no, no. You’re fine,” Rafe assured her, concealing that the blood belonged to someone else. “Did you recognize anyone back there from the party?”

“What? Yeah, no. I didn’t. I’m sorry. I was…it’s just I’m not used to…ugh, this.” Skylar stole a glance around Rafe’s shoulders. “Where are we? Another tunnel?”

Rafe took in his surroundings and shrugged. “It’s a hallway. A small one.”

A dark mint green stone hallway appeared to descend downward into the earth. What a fucking day. Filled with regret for bringing her to the club, Rafe changed his mind and turned to Greyson. “I think you should take her back to her parents now. This is too much.”

“No, no. I’ve come this far.” She shook her head and bit her lip. “I’m okay. I promise.”

Greyson stepped closer. “I can have her locked down back in Vegas. I’ll be back in a flash.”

“Rafe.” She pressed her palm to his chest and looked up to him.

A hot wire of awareness strummed through him, her mere touch awakening his soul. His beast released a low growl, his focus set its sight on his target. Skylar. Mine. The rush of emotion took Rafe off guard as he struggled to calm his thoughts.

“I promise I’m okay. Let’s find Topper. I might see someone I remember. I’ll go back to my mom’s later. I promise.”

Rafe’s heart squeezed in his chest. Instincts told him to never let her go, but there was no other choice. “If there’s any trouble, Greyson’s flashing you out. We find Topper and then we’re outta here.”

Rafe sucked a quiet breath as she removed her hand. Sadness flashed in her eyes. She knew. They both knew that they had no future. She’d go home. Live her extraordinary human life doing human things. No matter what his wolf wanted, desiring a human was a fool’s errand.

“Promise we’ll get you home safe.” Guilt stabbed at his gut. He should have taken her back to Kade. Or her mom. Anywhere else but Vegas. “We’ll be done soon.”

Xavier held a hand to his head. “What happened back there?”

“You okay, dude?” Rafe asked the vampire.

“It’s the tuberose. Its scent can be deadly for vampires. It’s like a drug. You’re all right, lad. Suck it up.” Greyson told him. “You’ll recover nicely.”

“Geez.” Xavier pinched his nose. “What the hell.”

“Give it a few seconds. Take a deep breath,” Rafe advised. “Don’t let it get to you. He’ll never let you forget it.”

Rafe gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “Let’s get this done. Sky. Stay behind me. Kenji. Please keep eyes on her at all times.”

“Ma.” Kenji said with a smile.

Greyson shot him a curious look.

“Ma. The space between.” Kenji nodded.

Rafe looked to Greyson. “You’re both ancients, so I’m sure he’s got a few tricks up his sleeve we haven’t seen.”

Kenji shrugged. “It is my sister you have to look out for. She’s ferocious.”

“You smell that?” Rafe held up his hand. The scent of death lingered in the air, dried old blood, the decay of a human body.

“Yeah, I do.” Greyson wore a concerned expression.

They continued to traverse deeper into the hallway, but within minutes it came to a dead end.

“Where are the rooms? Where did Laz go? The kitchens?” Greyson asked. “Blood rooms were supposed to be in the back.”