Vaewolf: Damn the Darkness: The Prophecy's Promise (Hearts of Darkness Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

need Victor Salazar. The good doctor might advise me through this metamorphosis.”
    “You’re right. Max isn’t in any shape to confront demons without help or endangering his light. He’s too befuddled with the demon Halfling. Look, as long as we’re away from the estate, we’re like targets in the demons’ cross hairs.”
    “No thanks. Been there—done that.” Caitlin’s hand swept the sweat from her brow and instinctively clutched her chest. “Got the medal. Let’s get out of here.”
    Damn, he’d like to get his hands on one of them and tear through the creature’s mind until he had more answers.
    Dylan noted she was manifesting some symptoms matching the onset of stasis, but when he ran his thumb across her cheek, he wasn’t prepared for the possibility of facing it now. She was suddenly hot to his touch. Too hot.
    “You’re flushed.” Then he examined her more closely for other symptoms. “And you’re feverish, again. Anything else bothering you.”
    “No. I’m just warm. Is there something wrong with that?”
    “No, but you’re warmer than you should be. At this stage, you should be able to control your body temperature, unless...”
    “What?”
    “Unless this is the onset of stasis.”
    Dylan forced his racing heart to a normal pace, squelching back his anxiety. Her color was high, her cheeks almost bright red, and he could hear her heart pounding faster with each passing moment. With a light mind touch, he forced hers to match his heart’s pace.
    “I thought it was from the spicy food.” Caitlin ran the back of her hand across her forehead.
    Perspiration beaded on her upper lip, and more dripped, glistening between her breasts. He’d noticed her flush, but he’d been too busy ogling to put her high color and the sexy glow in perspective.
    She lifted her mane of hair off her neck and tilted her head. “Now that I think about it, the sexual need and the heat are stronger and coming more often, lately.”
    “I have a fix for the first.” He winked and hoped the smile he flashed was as charming as he thought, intending to reassure her. “The other—well, the time for your metamorphosis is probably approaching. We should prepare you.”
    Dylan was almost thankful Caitlin was showing signs of stasis. The sooner she completed going through her metamorphosis, the safer she’d be.
    “I thought I had more time—”
    “So did I. Maybe that’s for the best under the circumstances. Must be Niccolai’s blood.”
    When he turned and met Caitlin’s shocked gaze, her eyes had turned into black, swirling abysses.
    “What’s really wrong, lass?”
    “The crypt. I-I’m not good with small spaces. I’ll have to go through metamorphosis underground.”
    But as Dylan stared, and the darkness poured from her fully dilated eyes, encompassing her crystalline aura, his worry went deeper. Fear wasn’t all that was wrong. He didn’t want to tell her she needn’t worry about metamorphosis, there were indeed more immediate dangers to her safety in the swamp as long as the demons hunted them. He could turn her attention away from his immediate concerns for her health to her well-being, but it didn’t feel right to bring it up if she was already traumatized.
    “You’ll be unconscious during your change,” he spoke softly, as if speaking to a frightened child, careful not to bring his concern to her attention. “I can help you through this.”
    She twisted the strap to her briefcase, her eyes rapidly searching for an escape, as Dylan gripped her mental anguish and grounded her to the moment.
    “Calm yourself, lass. There are certain preparations we must make. Shelby can help, Victor oversaw hers and the others’ metamorphosis. I’ll call him.”
    “I-I can’t seem to fight this panic...”
    “Let me merge with your mind and control your fear. You can enter stasis naturally and without concern.”
    “Uh-yeah? Dylan, you may be good, but don’t blame me if I’m a bit skeptical.” If