Her relief was short-lived when Corin squeezed through to join Jasmine’s side. “Jasmine, to me.” He sounded calm and in control, yet an undercurrent of quiet panic rippled through his tone. “This has nothing to do with us, and I want you away from this.”
“What’s wrong? What’s going on?” Alice tried to peer past Cicero, but he kept her almost cocooned by his body.
He looked into her eyes. “Bast...he’s shifted.”
“Shifted?”
“There’s little hope for him from the Council’s interest,” Corin said. “If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I wouldn’t believe it. But my first priority is my family and I must get them away from the shit storm brewing. I can provide protection for you for a short while, if you’d like. Until things calm down. I would do no less for the friend of my wife’s sire. Let his men see this to its end.”
“Its end? Bast!” She didn’t like the finality of Corin’s words.
“If you value your life, come with us. Now.”
“No!” She pushed at Cicero’s shoulder, silently begging the solid wall to move just a fraction.
Jasmine tried where her husband failed. “Alice, come with us for now. Whatever’s happening, let it settle. Corin won’t wait for you.”
She turned to her new friend, hoping she understood. “I have to get to him. I won’t leave. Not without Sebastian.”
Jasmine returned a brief nod and held out her hand for Corin. Together they pushed through the crowd, away from what was obviously the center of attention, without another word. Alice wished them well, certain she would meet them again. For now though, she had to get to her man.
Alice met Cicero’s glare and made one more attempt. The world seemed to slow as she ran toward him and, in a move from the early days with Richard when things were still good, feinted right before ducking left. She pretended she carried a pigskin and was on her way to a touchdown.
For a split second, it seemed the warrior fell for it. Then a viselike grip went around her waist, just as she thought she’d ducked under his flailing arm.
“No!” she screamed.
Cicero hauled her back against his front, ignoring the way she pedaled against the air. Kicked at him, fingers scrabbling against his forearms, anything to make him let go.
Her feet hit the ground at the same instant she finally caught sight of what held the crowd enthralled. The reason why Corin felt it necessary to protect his wife and their child by fleeing. Her heart threatened to kick its way out of her chest, but surprise soon gave way to despair as she stared at Sebastian.
Alice gulped down another scream, this one fueled by terror.
Bast stood shirtless in the center of the room, what once had been an elegant coat and pristine starched shirt now in tatters at his feet. The change thrust upon him was both sensual and beautiful. Covered in black scales that formed a neat collar around his neck, his torso and arms now glittered with them as well. A ridge of spiny protrusions sprouted from his shoulders and traveled along his triceps, culminating in clawlike structures at his elbows. Even from this distance, she could tell his eyes glowed red as they scanned the room.
Possibly worst of all, his Goddamned wings were back, now larger and more menacing than they’d ever been.
Chapter Twenty-One
Her skin crawled with warning, but Alice refused to immediately give in to the stark terror of seeing him so different. So changed. Despite every instinct demanding she throw herself into the crowd and become lost in its depths, she battled with herself to remain calm and still until the stronger part of her won.
The gentle flap of spread wings echoed in the silent room, the mild breeze it created caressing her face. Anguish filled every part of his transformed features. The sight twisted her emotions until she didn’t know which one should reign.
“Sebastian?” Did he recognize her?
Dark red eyes shifted to meet hers. Lips that had been pulled back, baring wicked-looking teeth, slowly lowered. The rumbling growl vibrating his throat softened into nonexistence. Sebastian tilted that elongated head to the side, as if trying to discern who she was and why she spoke to him. After an eternity, beneath the questioning gaze, she detected the man she’d come to know. Her vampire was determined to be seen.