Free The Frenzy Series (Book 2): Frantic by Casey L. Bond Page B

used the ring. I screamed at her and told her to use it; to turn. To change. I did this, and yet she was the one who would pay. She would pay for that mistake for an eternity, but her wasting away as an Infected was an even worse option. I wouldn’t have survived it.
    Victor huffed. “You were there?”
    “Yes.”
    I looked at her. She wore dark jeans that hugged her every curve, a baby blue sweater, and her dark hair was braided at the nape of her neck like she used to wear it. Her skin was luminous and she almost seemed to glow from within, almost ethereal. She seemed more alive than she ever had. Her sister wasn’t as fortunate.
    Porschia’s cheeks flushed and she stared at me, her eyes darkening somehow. I blinked. Did I just imagine it?
    Roman stepped forward. “Thank you for coming. I know you have a celebration to attend, so we won’t keep you.”
    Tim nodded toward Porschia. “Is she feeding tonight?”
    “No.”
    I looked to her for confirmation and she smiled and shook her head slightly. Did she already feed from something, or someone? I needed to talk to her. Roman paired with Victor, Dara with Tim, and Tage with Mary, who looked scared and pissed all at once. No love lost between those two. But Tim and Victor were obviously not happy about being there either. What did the Elders do to persuade them to return?
    I walked over to Porschia. “You okay?”
    She took a step back, putting an uncomfortable amount of distance between us. If my discomfort made her feel better, so be it. “I’m fine,” she whispered, glancing at Tage, who was feeding from Mary’s neck. He kept his eyes trained on her, too.
    “Why are you looking at him like that?” My face heated. I wanted to pummel him.
    “He’s helping me.” She shifted her feet like she was ready to run away.
    “He claimed you – is that it? That bond that makes you think only he can help you?”
    Her mouth parted. “It’s not like that, Saul.” Her eyes sought him, and then she looked toward the night-walker dwellings.
    “What’s it like then? Do you like him the way you like me?
    “God, no,” she breathed. “I love you, Saul. But I can’t...I feel like I’ll lose control when you’re around. My emotions are all over the board.” The more she spoke, the higher pitched her voice became. She panted, stepping back gracefully, but moving as if her legs were too heavy to lift at all.
    Tage licked Mary’s wounds and was beside Porschia in an instant. His hand was on her back, rubbing circles. Roman was quick to follow, leaving Victor on the bench. The pair of vamps flanked her. With them at either side, Porschia began to visibly calm down.
    “Are you doing something to her?” I growled.
    Tage looked at me. “Do you want her to feel normal, to feel like Porschia again?”
    “Of course.”
    “She cannot control herself. We have to help, or she’ll do one of two things. One, she’ll run away, because that’s what she does. Or two, she’ll lose control and hurt someone. The more her emotions are heightened, the more dangerous she is. We have to help her, Saul.”
    I swallowed. Fuck . I knew they had to help, but also hated that she seemed to need them so much. The question was hanging in my mind. If they had the power to make her calm down, could they make her do other things as well?
    Dara stared between Porschia and me, a scowl on her face. She hated Porschia. I didn’t think Dara gave Porschia a second thought when she was still human, but now, her envious expression mirrored mine. Envy was a dangerous thing. Memories of Dara eating the deer during the hunt flooded my mind. Dara was dangerous.
    They all were. Roman, Dara, Porschia, and especially Tage. He was closest to Porschia, had bonded to her.
    Dara sauntered over to me. “Let me know if you need more help in the forest. I loved spending time with you,” she said, raking her nails over my forearm.
    A low growl came from Porschia, which made me smile for the first time since