Beneath the Broken Moon: Part Two: Shifter/Vampire Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

and me. With the wound bound, he appeared more like the vampire who’d helped me than one who wanted to feast on my blood. Good to know he hadn’t changed his mind about making us into snacks.
    “Where’s your home? Your doctor needs to treat this immediately. This is like nothing I’ve ever seen.” He hesitantly wiped his bloody hands on his black jeans, and I wondered for a moment if he’d wanted to lick them clean.
    That thought set me on edge, so I pushed it away.
    “Why should I tell you where I live?” I rolled—albeit a little awkwardly—onto my back. Intense pain from my leg left me staring up at the ceiling. Breathe in, breathe out. “How do I know you won’t attack me or send your people after my family?” If he did, I knew where he lived, so I could easily retaliate. But if he was right, and I suspected he was, then I needed to trust them.
    “For the same reason you won’t attack me after having discovered where I reside.” He narrowed his eyes at me, but his attention wandered for the briefest of moments to Carmela before looking back at me.
    The need to protect her rose in my chest, but I couldn’t help wondering if there was something here that I didn’t know about. Why else would he have helped us so selflessly? “Fine. I’ll keep quiet.”
    He nodded to Carmela. “What about her? She’ll need treatment too.”
    I forced myself into a sitting position, regardless of the pain. “She’ll go with me.” Wrapping my arm around Carmela’s waist, I pulled her closer. Maybe I was being territorial or whatever, but she was promised to me. Mine. I told them where to take us.
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Carmela
    Brendan’s hand on my waist both soothed and unnerved me. Maybe he’d caught the way Derek looked at me, or perhaps it was just his way of being a macho male werewolf. I didn’t know.
    Elliot walked a few feet closer to us. “We don’t have much time. Let’s get them home.”
    Frowning, I looked between the two vampires. What did he mean about not having much time? The realization struck me like a hammer to the chest. The sun. An overwhelming dread squeezed my throat until breathing became a struggle.
    Father was probably furious with me. Fear and nausea roiled my stomach. Don’t give in. Keep calm. I needed to focus on my breathing with Brendan and Derek so near. When Derek touched my foot, I’d felt something beyond the pain, something that made me wonder if my feelings for him weren’t just wistful dreams after all. And his curious gaze...would it have been so bad to stay with him instead of running home?
    I shoved the thought away.
    Derek watched me as if he could see inside my head, but I knew that wasn’t the case. I never would’ve escaped in the first place if that were true. Oddly enough, I wasn’t scared of him. He’d had plenty of chances to use his power on me, to take my mind or drink my life’s blood. But he hadn’t.
    I trusted him.
    Brendan’s grip fell away, and Derek lifted me into his arms as if I weighed nothing. The vampire stole my breath, and I averted my gaze, trying to keep some semblance of distance. What I felt for Brendan was real; he was kind and caring. If he truly was the man he portrayed himself to be, then he’d be the mate I’d hoped existed. However, what I felt for him was different from what Derek stirred inside me. Brendan watched me from the floor with concern, and I couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
    Glancing up at Derek, I wondered what the future I desired with him could hold. Most likely death, pain, and suffering. Neither werewolves nor vampires would ever allow us to be together. However, the relationship I’d soon be in with Brendan was arranged, and I refused to have my life dictated to me. It wasn’t rebellion, just my objection to not being given the chance to fall head over heels for someone.
    Elliot hefted Brendan over his shoulder again. This time he appeared a little more careful, but Brendan went with it, even if