Sire by Thomas Galvin Page A

stopped, and a few seconds later, Caitlin heard a crash that shook the floor beneath her. Her heart pounded, and she tried to push herself further into the corner. She thought she heard what sounded like someone muttering to himself.
    And then the door exploded.
    It wasn't just torn off the hinges. The center of the door bowed inward, the wood cracked and splintered, and pieces of wood came flying through the air. Caitlin shielded her face with her arms.
    When the last of the wood had clattered to the ground, Caitlin looked toward the empty door frame, and stared with wide eyes.
    Michael, the guy she met at the club, the guy who had been so angry at Liam, stood there. He was naked from the waist up, and the moonlight illuminated the white skin of his perfect, chiseled torso. His waist was narrow, his stomach looked like it was etched from marble, and his chest seemed like it was carved from stone. His shoulders were wide and powerful. His arms were sinewy, and covered in blood up to the elbows. He held two blades, a sword and a long knife, which dripped crimson and gave off faint wisps of smoke. He stood imperiously, defying anyone to challenge him, and scanned the room with fearsome eyes.
    He looked like an angry angel.
    His expression softened when he looked at her, and he started forward.
    He didn't see Ugly walk into the room behind him.
    Ugly drew a knife and slid silently toward Michael. Caitlin opened her mouth to warn him, but couldn't make her voice work. Ugly raised the knife high. It glinted in the moonlight, then plunged toward Michael's back.
    Michael whirled and slashed, driving his dagger into Ugly's descending arm, piercing it through. Ugly screamed and dropped his knife. Michael lunged and thrust his blade forward, stabbing Ugly through the heart. Ugly looked at him with uncomprehending eyes, then slid to the floor.
    Caitlin stared at Michael with an open mouth.
    Michael pulled his blades free, set them on the ground, then wiped his hands on Ugly's pant legs. He stood and walked toward Caitlin. His hands were spread wide, a calming gesture, but the effect was kind of lost since they were still spattered blood. And, you know, the chalk-white skin, blood-red eyes, and mouth full of fangs.
    But as he knelt next to her, the color returned to his skin and his fangs melted away, and his eyes again became brilliant sapphires. "It's all right, Caitlin. You don't have to be afraid anymore." He gently moved her hands away from her leg. "God, what did he do to you?"
    "It, it wasn't Liam," Caitlin said. "It was him." She nodded at Ugly with her chin.
    "Well, that's convenient."
    "What?"
    "That he's already dead. It means I don't have to find him and kill him. It's such a pain in the ass trying to find a guy that knows you want to kill him." He studied her injury. "You're not going to be able to walk on that." He made a face. "Hell, I don't even know if the doctors could fix it, the wound is so ragged. Damn wolves."
    Caitlin's heart sped up. "What do you mean, they won't be able to fix it? They have to fix it." Panic was creeping into her voice.
    "It's all right. Here." Michael lifted his wrist to his mouth, and his fangs reappeared. He bit into his own flesh, which made a horrible noise, and held his arm out. "Drink. It'll heal you."
    Caitlin wrinkled her nose and looked at his wrist dubiously. Dark red liquid leaked from a series of holes. "Quick, before it closes," he said.
    Caitlin took his hand and licked it hesitantly. It had a metallic taste, but it didn't squick her out as much as she thought it would. Soon, she had her mouth pressed tight to his skin, and was drinking hungrily.
    The blood poured into her mouth. It was cool, but it burned going down her throat. It felt like electricity was shooting through her body, and she was filled with sudden, irresistible need. She held tight onto his arm and drank greedily.
    Michael pulled away gently. "Okay, that's enough." Caitlin made a noise of protest and grabbed for his