Page 68 of His Eternal Temptation

“But you know I’m not?”

He nodded. “I don’t really remember, but yeah, I know you didn’t do this to me even though something inside me is screaming that you did.”

“Screaming how?”

“Being so close to you, I can feel you pulling me in.”

The hair on the back of Rowan’s neck stood on end. “Like a bond calling to you?”

“Yes, a bond.” Caden’s eyes widened. “It’s not the only one. There’s this other…presence. I don’t understand. Is that why I’m so hungry?”

Rowan glanced at Felix. All his warmth had fled, leaving his usual hard expression behind as he answered the unspoken question. “He’s well fed, but his hunger won’t abate.”

“I want to go back to normal.” Caden’s voice cracked.

Rowan wanted to rip apart the vampire who’d done this, slowly and painfully. It still wouldn’t make it fair. “You won’t ever be the same as you were, Caden. I’m sorry. You’re a vampire now. The transformation can’t be undone.”

He squirmed, holding still clearly a challenge. “I know. Sorry. Felix already told me. I just…I don’t get it. How are you supposed to help me if I can’t go back?”

“By giving you a safe place and supporting you as you find your feet, and by finding the vampire who did this to you. He has to answer for taking your choice away and changing you without permission. I know you said it’s hard to remember, but anything can help.”

“I don’t remember meeting him. I was leaving the library at night, and then everything went black. I have finals…” His expression turned distant, a worried look crossing his face.

“Final exams at the university?” Rowan asked.

Caden’s voice pitched. “Yeah, but I can’t take them like this. If I haven’t already missed them. I can’t even…” He began to shake, squirming like sitting still was getting harder. “I can’t even think.”

“We’ll work it out,” Felix said, calm as a still lake. “You don’t have to worry about finals right now.”

Caden didn’t seem convinced, but he settled somewhat. “What was I saying? Oh, right. All I remember are his glowing eyes. And I’m pretty sure he’s a man. I’m not saying he for no reason, but I can’t remember anything else about him. When I woke up, I didn’t know who I was or where I was. I can remember who I am now. After Felix grabbed me, it was easier. But I couldn’t at first. I was so hungry.” His eyes began to glow, white light washing out his irises.

“Do you need to feed now?” Felix asked.

Caden jerked around to face him and stared for a long, tense moment. “No. I’m okay.”

When he looked at Rowan, his eyes were brown again. “I don’t think I can help you find the man who did this to me.”

“Remembering your sire’s face isn’t the only way you can help.” Rowan paused, shooting Felix a silent look, asking him to explain. It might be less alarming for Caden coming from someone he clearly trusted. Rowan had hoped not to go this route if Caden was distressed, but he didn’t remember enough for them to hunt his sire any other way.

Felix gave an almost imperceptible nod and took his time before saying, “Even though your sire tricked you into thinking Rowan turned you, your blood is bonded to him. We can use the link to track him.”

Caden whipped around with vampire speed. “My b-blood?”

“It won’t hurt. We’ll only need a little bit.”

“And once we find my sire, I’ll feel better? None of you are crawling out of your skin. I want to be like you. I want to relax. I used to be quiet. Shy. Now…” An agonized growl tore from him, and his eyes flared with white light.

Felix looked at Rowan, pleading naked on his face.

Caden followed his gaze and launched himself at Rowan, his fangs bared. Felix caught him tight around the waist and hauled him to his side.

Shit. Rowan wished there was more he could do. This was an unprecedented situation, and Caden was doing far better than any other feral vampire he’d heard of. His humanity was intact, but telling the young man he was lucky not to have lost his mind completely was no comfort.

Would finding his sire help Caden beyond avenging him? The feral state was under the sire’s control, so perhaps when his sire died, the twisted nature of the transformation would die alongside the broken bond. It was their only hope.

With no idea how Caden would react to this, Rowan spoke, slow and careful. “If we find your sire and end him, the cruel edge to your transformation may fade, but I can’t guarantee it.”

“End him? You mean kill him?”