Evans, Gabrielle - From This Moment [The Moonlight Breed 7] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic Ma by Gabrielle Evans (ebook reader with highlight function .TXT) 📗

well aware that some of the staff from the lab had escaped  the raid, but he’d specifically chosen to overlook that little detail.  Who could blame him, though? They were going to fry his insides.

From This Moment                       105

Destin was going to drop silver into an open  wound, and Zavion’s flesh would sizzle like fatback bacon on the griddle.

And it was going to freaking hurt.

“Are we going to Cloud Peak? Everyone there is pretty nice. The wolves look at me funny, but not in a bad way. Well, I hope it’s not bad. I really wouldn’t want to make an enemy of a pack of wolves, ya know?”

“Zavion?”

“Yes?”

“You’re doin’ it again.”

“Sorry.”

He just couldn’t help it. He rambled when he was nervous, and he  was more than a little terrified of someone cutting him open. His  blood should stay inside his body, right where it belonged, and no one  could convince him otherwise. On the same note, silver had no place  anywhere near him, and he wasn’t shy about saying so.

While silver jewelry had no effect on their skin, the liquid version  of the shiny stuff was a much different story. Once  silver entered a  shifter’s system and mixed with their blood, it  became a type of acid  that burned and bubbled, and given enough, it could be lethal.

Destin wasn’t going to use enough for that to happen—only a  drop or two—but he’d been very upfront in saying that Zavion and his  friends would probably feel like they had the flu for about twenty-four  hours. He’d never had the flu, but he seriously doubted it could be any  worse than how he’d felt while he was poisoned.  He was quite  knowledgeable in the effects of silver in his system, however,  considering it had been another way for the Trainers and Drones to control and punish them.

The night was cold and breezy, more rain in the forecast, and  Zavion desperately wanted to go back to his dorm and cuddle in front  of the fireplace with Cian. Instead, he was trudging along the narrow  path that led to the main house near the gates of the coven.

106                        Gabrielle Evans

“People probably think we’re some weird cult or something with  all the fences and guards around this place. Or maybe they think it’s  some sort of government operation. Oh, I bet they think we have  aliens here like that place out in the desert. I was watching this  documentary the other night about—”

“Zavion?”

“Yeah,” he sighed, “I know.” Shoving his hands into the pockets  of his jacket, he dropped his head and forced himself to be silent.

Long fingers looped around his wrist, pulling his left hand from  his pocket  and enveloping it in Cian’s much larger one. Bending  slightly, he whispered his lips across Zavion’s knuckles and gave him  a little tug to get him moving again.

“No, we’re not goin’ to Cloud Peak. No, the wolves don’t look at  ya bad-funny. Yes, the townspeople probably think we’re a cult,  though most around here are paranormal, so they understand. I’ve  never met an alien, but I’m not opposed to it. I wonder what they’d  have to say. What did your documentary tell ya?”

“I love you.”

“Did it now?” Cian teased. “Is that what it told you?”

Gods, how could he not love this man? Though obviously  concerned as well, Cian was holding it together, strong and steady as  ever. He was Zavion’s rock, his safe harbor, and more importantly, he  was an understanding friend waiting with a shoulder to lean on and an  ear to bend.

Instead of gushing like some lovesick teenager, though, Zavion took a deep breath, released it slowly, and began recounting the things he’d learned while watching the program on television. Cian listenedintently, bobbing his head or asking for more details occasionally. If he was trying to distract Zavion from his worries, it worked, because by the time they reached the enormous mansion, he’d completely forgotten why they were there.

From This Moment                       107

When he saw Oscar standing on the front steps along with Zuriel,  Cicero,  and Demitrius, everything came rushing back, and Zavion stopped in his tracks. “I changed my mind.”

Instead of arguing with him, Cian scooped him up, tossed him

over one muscled shoulder, and popped him on his upturned ass.  “You doth protest too much, Zavion, my love. This is for your own  good.”

Logically, he knew that. Not only was it best for his safety but for  the safety of those around him. He just really, really  didn’t like pain in  any of its varying degrees.  “What if he  scrambles my spinal cord or  sets my brain on fire?” he argued as he wiggled around on Cian’s  shoulder. “I could be paralyzed forever and ever.”

“Destin knows what he’s doin’ .” There was a smile in Cian’s

voice that Zavion didn’t appreciate in the least. “Stop bein’ a drama  queen.”

“Yeah,” his twin called to him, “stop worrying everything to  death, dude. You want to stay here, right? Well, we gotta get those  doohickeys out of our necks.” He clung to Raven’s back with his arms  wrapped around the vampire’s neck  and  a shit-eating grin on his face.  “I really like it here.”

Raven, on the other hand, looked disgruntled when Zuriel pulled  himself higher and licked the Enforcer on the side of his neck.  “Knock it off,” he ordered, swinging his arms around wildly to try  to  remove Zuriel from his back. The guy looked utterly ridiculous and  wasn’t making any progress in his pursuit of Zavion’s brother. “Will  someone get the little slut monster off me?”

“Aww,” Demitrius cooed sarcastically. “I think he likes you,

Raven.”

“Oh, ha-ha, asshole.” Raven spun in a circle, doing a great  imitation of a dog chasing his tail, but he was no closer to capturing  Zuriel. “Come here, you little brat. Ah! Fuck!” Raven looked up at  Demitrius pleadingly. “He grabbed my dick! Do something!”

108                        Gabrielle Evans

Zavion laughed so hard he couldn’t breathe. The others joined in with him, the sounds of their amusement bouncing off the walls. Even  Cicero laughed, the first sound Zavion had heard from him in months.  He might have made a big deal out of it, but he was afraid the attention would send