Page 33 of His Eternal Temptation

“Shh,” Felix cooed as Caden began to struggle. “Sorry, Caden. We shouldn’t talk about you like you aren’t here. I’m going to help you, okay? That’s all we were saying.”

After a tense moment, Caden stopped struggling and nodded.

“We’ll do everything we can,” Rowan said to no one in particular. Maybe to Caden. Maybe Felix.

Lane’s chest warmed.

“Can you tell me what you remember from before you got here?” Felix asked.

Caden’s eyes darted wildly around. Lane feared he’d start struggling, but instead he said, “I was scared.” He blinked, refocusing on Felix, and the white glow in his eyes completely disappeared.

Cecile clutched Rowan’s arm.

“You’re safe now,” Felix said without missing a beat. “Nothing to be scared of. Why don’t we get out of here? Find somewhere you can relax.”

“What if…” Caden shuddered. “What if I lose my mind again?”

“I’ll stay with you and keep you safe. No matter what,” Felix promised.

After a little more coaxing, Felix led Caden out of the café, his arm around Caden’s slender shoulders. Lane, Rowan, and Cecile followed as they slowly crossed the street and entered Arcadia.

“Do you think he’ll be all right?” Cecile muttered as Felix and Caden headed up the stairs.

Rowan stared after them. “I don’t know, but a building full of vampires is the best place for him. There’s no way he’ll escape or come near any humans here, or do anything he’ll regret.”

“Part of me still can’t believe he’s aware of his surroundings.”

“I know. I hope it lasts.”

Lane did too. Caden relapsing and losing control would be heartbreaking. Could Felix pull him out of feral bloodlust a second time? “Do you think he’ll remember anything we can use to find his sire?”

It didn’t seem like they’d get answers from Caden any time soon, but hopefully, once he realized he was safe, he’d share what happened. Lane would hate to see another person turned feral, even if Caden could be saved. They might not be this lucky again.

Rowan’s expression was distant. “Normally, I’d say he’ll know his sire if he remembers who he was before turning, but who knows how being half-feral could affect things.”

Lane was surprised. “You think he’s only half-feral?”

“Something must have gone wrong. Or right, I should say. It’s like the feral transformation didn’t take hold properly. I can’t see why else Felix was able to soothe him. Even before we arrived, Caden hadn’t killed or hurt anyone. Typically, ferals are a bloodbath from the moment they come into contact with people.” Rowan turned to Cecile. “Did you learn anything from the human before sending him away?”

“Caden came in through the back entrance. Their rear camera is broken, of course.”

“Damn.” Rowan looked exhausted for a split second. “I’ll see if any cameras from the next block over caught sight of him. He didn’t drop out of the sky. Someone left him here, as close to me as they could get without risking being seen by anyone in our building.”

Cecile grabbed his arm. “I think you should let me handle it.”

Rowan’s posture stiffened. “Why?”

“Because we need to talk about what happened to you back there.” She raised a sharp brow, as if daring him to deny the problem.

The way they eyed each other, seeming to speak without words, felt personal, like Lane shouldn’t be here. But what choice did he have?

Rowan’s jaw worked. “It was the blood.”

“Yes, but I’ve never seen you react so strongly. Is it the curse?”

Rowan’s gaze darted to Lane. “Probably. I’m hungry when I shouldn’t be, but chasing up security footage isn’t bloody work.”

“Maybe not. That doesn’t mean you should be running around when you aren’t well. I’ll take care of it. Go rest.”