Page 32 of His Eternal Temptation

Lane’s chest constricted. “Is there anything we can do for him?” The incurable nature of feral transformations was deeply unfair. Lane couldn’t watch Felix kill the poor guy, especially when Felix seemed loath to do it, his sad eyes fixed on the young man in his arms.

“Lane…” Rowan looked at him with compassion, the display jarring after how blank he’d been all morning.

“Just wait,” Felix growled. “Look at me, kid.” He let go of his hair and cradled either side of his face, forcing his gaze away from Rowan to focus on him.

The feral snarled, scratching at Felix’s arms.

Felix weathered the onslaught like he didn’t even notice. “You’re okay. Relax. No one’s hurting you.”

There was no response. The vampire struggled, and Felix continued his gruff, soothing words, the low murmurs almost rhythmic. Eventually, the feral’s snarls faded, his jerky movements slowing like he was losing steam. Lane swore the glow in his eyes faded a fraction.

“What’s your name?” Felix asked, so soft you’d think he was speaking to a lover.

The vampire stilled completely, transfixed by Felix. He laid a hand on Felix’s chest, the touch painfully gentle, too great a contrast to his movements a moment ago.

“Can he tell us who turned him?” Lane whispered to Rowan. “Even if part of him thinks it’s you, he’d remember meeting his sire. Right?”

“He seems nearly coherent enough to tell us,” Cecile said. Lane hadn’t noticed her return.

Rowan made a regretful sound. “Coherence is one thing. He might not remember who he is, let alone meeting his sire.”

“Is amnesia a feral thing?” Lane asked.

Rowan and Cecile’s attention snapped to him in unison, both staring with eerie stillness. It was as if they’d forgotten he wasn’t one of them. Not privy to vampire secrets.

“No,” Rowan said at last.

Lane’s heart skipped. “Forgetting who you are can happen to any vampire?”

Rowan’s signature blankness returned, his deep brown eyes going almost lifeless. “I wouldn’t call it forgetting. It’s theft.”

Venom laced those last two words, and Lane’s stomach dropped, gooseflesh erupting on his arms. Had the memory of who Rowan was before his transformation been taken? He didn’t dare ask. Rowan wouldn’t tell him, but he didn’t need to. The answer felt painfully obvious.

Rowan stepped past Lane, toward Felix, as if he hadn’t implied something heartbreaking.

Felix’s murmured comforts hadn’t faltered as they’d talked. The feral vampire seemed riveted, his glowing gaze fixed on Felix, his body lax in Felix’s hold. He was young, not just short and slim. Maybe around twenty years old. No wonder Felix had called him kid. To a vampire, he probably seemed like one.

“See, you’re all right,” Felix soothed, and the vampire nodded. Felix’s face broke into a staggeringly sweet grin. “That’s it. Good. I want to help. What’s your name?”

The vampire mumbled something Lane couldn’t make out.

Felix brushed the vampire’s messy hair from his brow. “Caden. It’s nice to meet you. I bet you’re confused right now.”

Caden nodded more firmly this time, seemingly unaware he was no longer being held in a vice grip, all thoughts of escape gone.

“He remembers who he is?” Rowan sounded breathless and almost agonizingly hopeful.

So did Cecile as she said, “I can’t believe he’s this aware.”

“I think we can save him,” Felix said, not taking his attention off Caden’s face.

Lane hoped like hell he was right.

“I know you want to, Felix, but how? It’s not supposed to be possible,” Rowan said, heavy with regret.

“We don’t know for sure. I’ll figure something out. I’ve never seen anyone in his state relax. There’s something different here.”

“W-what?” Caden trembled, his glowing gaze darting around. He pulled away from Felix, who caught him swiftly.