Blood Crave 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

against the wall, trying to break through it was my guess. But every time his skin touched the silver-plated walls, it sizzled like meat on a burning hot skillet.
    “Stop, Lucas! You’re hurting yourself. I’m right here! I’m right here for you.” I stretched my arm farther in, as though the closer I got to him, the more I could help him, even though that was not the case. I don’t think Lucas even knew I was there. The few times I caught sight of his face illuminated in the moonlight, it was manic. Wild, like nothing I’d ever seen before. His body couldn’t even heal properly from the burns he caused himself, and there were bloody, bubbling marks on his throat and arms from where the chains had bound him.
    I couldn’t handle watching him enduring this pain. I stood and paced, furiously trying to figure out how to help him. For once, he was the vulnerable one and I was the one with all the power—but power to do what?
    Lucas continued to rage and cry for hours . I cried right along with him. And then he must have worn himself out, because sometime around two in the morning, he fell silent.
    I looked up, pressing my face against the cool silver bars that burned him so terribly. He was lying curled up in the moonlight as though it was a warm blanket, soothing him. His body was broken, shaking with sobs.
    “Lucas?” I said. “It’s okay, come here.”
    Lucas rolled his head toward me. His eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them. They were human eyes, like they must have been before he was infected. Soft—without any hint of the beast struggling to be free within him.
    “Faith?”
    God, it was amazing to hear him say my name. “Yeah, it’s me,” I said, mustering a smile through my tears. “Come here. Come here to me.”
    He drew in a shuddery breath, and I saw a few tears slide across his cheek, making little trails of clean skin against the wounds ripped into his face. “I can’t,” he rasped.
    I sniffled and put my hands back on my side of the bars. “It’s okay,” I said. “I’m right here. I won’t leave you.” I felt for his energy; it was so weak.... He was losing himself.
    That’s when it hit me.
    I was the one with all the power.
    I had to connect with him, control his mind. I hadn’t thought of it before because I couldn’t connect to unchanged werewolves. I didn’t know if it would work now, but I sure as hell had to try. I had the strongest connection with Lucas, so it was worth the shot.
    “Lucas, look at me,” I said urgently. “I’m going to try and connect with you. Don’t look away.”
    I don’t know if it was because he didn’t have enough strength to look away, or because he actually listened, but either way, his eyes remained on mine, and I summoned up the electricity inside me. It started just below my heart in that fluttery place where nervousness lives. Like a spasm of light, burning brighter and brighter, expanding throughout my body. I focused fully on Lucas, willing the connection to click into place. I felt resistance, the block in my mind that said it couldn’t be done, but I flung it away. I could do this.
    And then— snap .
    I was in his head. His emotions were mine, his actions pliable. And, God was he weak. I’d figured this out just in time.
    I let my strength flood into him, repeated soothing words, I’m here, I’m always here, I love you, I’m here. . . .
    But the longer I held our connection, the weaker it became, the more effort it took. I held it steady for what seemed like forever, but it wasn’t long enough.
    All too soon, it faded and died.
    And then Lucas was left alone.
    Immediately, he began to groan, raking his hands down his face.
    I leaned against the wall, head pounding. I’d never held the connection for so long before, and I was exhausted. But it was nothing compared to what Lucas was enduring. I had to try and do it again; he needed me. So I rested, trying not to watch as Lucas regained his strength and started bashing himself