Awakened (Vampire Awakenings) by Brenda K. Davies Page A

had always made people think that he was younger than he was, and never failed to make women flock to him.
    “Look Liam, you can’t keep seeing her,” Mike said firmly. “First of all, we can’t keep finding girls for you, second of all she’s going to end up hearing about it, and then what are you going to do, tell her the truth? No, you’re not. Third of all, you’re just going to hurt her.”
    A fiery rage was beginning to work its way through him as he glared at his best friends. “I know that!” he hissed.
    “Well then, don’t you think you should end it soon, now?”
    “No.”
    “Shit!” Jack exclaimed.
    “Are you insane?” Mike demanded as his patience finally snapped. “Are you listening to yourself? You agree with everything, and yet you’re still being a goddamn ass!”
    Liam’s patience, and his temper, was close to exploding. It was the most selfish thing he had ever done, and he despised himself for it, but he couldn’t bring himself to end it with her. The thought alone sent a cold bolt of fear through his heart.
    “I’m not ending it with her.”
    Mike stood stiffly, his jaw set as his eyes blazed with anger. “I cannot believe that you’re being so damn selfish. What about her? Don’t you think she deserves better?”
    “Yes, I do.”
    “Then end it with her!”
    “No.”
    “Liam, you have to,” Doug said quietly.
    “No, I don’t.”
    “You’re a goddamn selfish bastard!” Mike exploded.
    Liam rounded on him, his fists clenched with fury. “Yes, I am,” he hissed.
    “You have no reason for hanging on to her!” Jack yelled. “None!”
    “I love her!” Liam bellowed.
    They gaped at him in amazement, but it was nothing compared to the shock that jolted through his own system. He took a small step back as the realization really slammed home. Jesus, what had he done? He had never meant for things to go this far, never wanted to care for her at all, never mind fall in love with her.
    “Crap,” Liam muttered.
    “You can say that again,” Jack mumbled.
    “Liam, what the hell are you going to offer her? Nothing. Your life, our lives, are nothing but darkness, and blood. She deserves better than that. The only thing you’re going to do is hurt her, hurt you, and maybe even hurt us.”
    “I know that Mike, but I can’t let her go. I don’t know why, I just can’t. Not now anyway.”
    “It will only get harder.”
    Liam sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. He was still completely staggered by the realization he had just come to. Love, he had never expected to love anyone, especially not now. Hell, the only people he had cared about as a human were these three, David, and his family. How was it possible that now, when he was a monster, when he was no longer human that he could fall in love?
    “You have to let her go,” Doug said gently.
    It would be the hardest thing he’d ever have to do, but the most decent thing that he had ever done, human or not. “I know,” he reluctantly admitted.
    “Then...”
    “All right!” he snapped. “I will. I’ll end it tonight.”
    The thought tore through his heart and sent a fiery rage coursing through his veins. “It’s for the best,” Mike said softly.
    “Shut up Mike!” he hissed.
    He stood silently as they stared at him for a moment longer. “The girl is across the hall,” Doug informed him.
    Liam’s jaw clenched tighter and a muscle twitched in his cheek. “Get rid of her.”
    “But...”
    “I said get rid of her!”
    “You need to feed Liam,” Jack said.
    “I’ll kill her if I do.”
    He spun away from them and flung the door open so hard that he heard the plaster in his wall crack. He didn’t care as he stormed down the hall and back toward the party. His breath was coming in rapid, angry pants by the time he reached the ground floor. He paused to gather his control before he walked back into the party. The last thing he wanted was for Sera to see him like this. He would scare the hell out of