Talons by Karolyn Cairns Page A

Florida was
crawling with them. Finding one in her living room was just her
luck.
    “ So, if I stay here, these
things will come in and, what, rape me?” she asked backing towards
the phone.
    “ Among other things,” Dave
said calmly. “That is why they targeted your friends. They have
already served their purpose for him. Ryken won’t let them live
beyond that. I do know his plan for you, and that is why we must
go. Now!”
    Vivvie laughed at that. Dave didn’t
appear amused. “I don’t think this is very funny, Dave.”
    “ It’s not meant to be funny,
Vivian, it’s the truth.”
    “ It’s not
possible!”
    “ Oh, it’s more than
possible,” Dave replied, golden eyes glowing weirdly now, his
irises dilated.
    “ You need to go and seek
help, Dave!”
    “ I think you need to stop
denying what’s happening to you,” he said in a taut voice, his eyes
glowing.
    Vivvie could see the guy
believed what he said. His eyes were lit right up, making her stare
now in horror. “What the-” she broke off in shock and backed away
from him. He advanced towards her; his eyes as bright as Christmas
lights. He wasn’t human , she thought in panic.
    “ I’m sorry if I have to do
this to make you believe me,” Dave said as he held up his hand.
Vivvie stared in horror as claws popped out of his fingers tips;
long, sharp-looking talons protruding through the skin of the
digits.
    Vivvie didn’t think, she just ran. Dave
followed her, his breath felt on the back of her neck. She was
halfway up the stairs when he tackled her on the carpeted
steps.
    She struggled as he pinned her,
horrified to see the glowing yellow eyes boring into
hers.
    “ You need to pack everything
you can carry,” he said grimly as he held her thrashing body still.
“They will come for you.”
    “ What are you?” she raged,
pushing at him.
    “ You mean, what are we , Vivian?” he replied,
smiling down at her. “You’re becoming like one of us. They won’t
let you evolve anymore. You need to listen to me.”
    “ I’m not going anywhere with
you!” Vivvie cried, struggling wildly.
    “ Then we do this the hard
way, Vivian, but you’re going with me,” Dave snapped down into her
terrified face. “That will drive Ryken to pursue you. I’m counting
on it.”
    “ You want to use me as
bait?” She fought to push him off of her still, panting.
    “ Sorry, but it’s necessary,”
he replied without remorse and continued to hold her down. “I have
one week until you go out of heat. I’m not wasting a damn minute of
it.”
    Vivvie stared up at him, realizing the
feel of him against her was suddenly driving her wild in another
way. Her body was on fire. She felt ashamed, wanting to grind
herself against him. The sensations were alarming, and wholly
unlike her.
    “ What does it take for you
to believe me?” he said in a softer voice, his eyes darkening, his
lips lowering to nuzzle at her neck, making her tense and moan as
her body responded despite her desire to fling him off of her. His
mouth dipped to the swell above her bathing suit top. A gasp
escaped her in anguished pleasure. “I could have you right here,
and you would let me, or anyone else for that matter. Does this
seem like normal behavior for you?”
    Vivvie couldn’t catch her breath, her
insides were on fire. His words were like a slap in the face, but
her body was writhing under his, to her shame. She didn’t want him
to stop, she thought in horror.
    “ We don’t have time for
this,” he said in amusement, nibbling at her neck again, feeling
her intense reaction to his touching her. “We need to get on the
road. Sorry.”
    Vivvie couldn’t help the way her body
demanded release. He stared down at her with his grim look again.
He got up off her and helped her up.
    “ It will pass soon,” he said
in apology.
    Vivvie leaned against the hand rail on
the stairs, mortified to feel the resentment he stopped touching
her. She knew the truth at once. This was totally not like