Compelled (Shadow Beast Shifters Book 5)

Lucien

The tunnels seemed never ending, but once I lost myself to my vampire energy, I was able to follow the pull of Simone’s blood. The connection was faint. So weak that I knew she would not be in this world much longer without my blood. It tore apart the sliver of rationality I’d managed to hold on to, and as I raged through the darkness, I was nothing more than need and instinct.

Need to save my mate and instinct to destroy whoever held her.

I ended up well past Crimson City, under what I’d estimate was the edge of the dry lands. This area had once been a vast waterway filled with the purest plasma. Vampires didn’t always have to drink from another for sustenance. Our world had been perfectly suited to our survival, but the early ones had taken too much. Been too greedy. They’d destroyed the plasma lakes with overconsumption and war.

Ever since then, we’d been reliant on others to sustain the energy within our cells.

All of our gifts and blessings came with a curse, a need for energy from another, unless you could find your true mate. A truth I now understood all too well.

Following the pull in my chest, I found a doorway hidden in the rocks. There was no obvious sign of an entry, but I could see an indent. I smashed my fist into it, discovering that it was a thick layer of stone. My next punch destroyed the first few layers, but more remained. Undeterred, I continued to smash against the door until, finally, my fist went right through.

It was going to take too fucking long to create a hole big enough for me to get through, but I would not give up until I did. Drawing up my strength, ancient power flooding my veins, I took a short run and threw my body against the stone.

The wall shook, debris raining on me as I did it again and again; the jagged rocks tore at my skin, which only spurred me on harder.

In a few minutes, I’d smashed my way through the wall, landing in a stone room.

Moving further inside, I spotted a huge silver tub in the center. Even in the darkness, I could see Simone’s body floating in it, her thick, dark hair spread out behind her, while the rest of her was naked and perfect.

There was not one tear or rip in her skin nor any visible sign that she’d been hurt.

Up until this moment, her energy had been a weak wisp, like the smallest breeze would blow her lifeforce out. But now, as I moved toward the bath, she was blazing.

Strong and powerful.

Almost as if she’d just come back to life.

As I moved closer, Carter stepped from the shadows, where he’d clearly been watching my mate, off to the side of the bath. With a scowl, he dragged Simone up into his arms. “Move and she dies,” he snarled at me.

Everything went dark in my vision, and as I debated my next move, the bastard slit his wrist and placed it against my mate’s mouth. Feeding her.

Healing her with his energy.

The darkness reared up, and I embraced it.

Carter would be praying for death when I was done with him.