Discovery: Altera Realm Trilogy by Jennifer Collins Page B

insisted, so she had to. Everything started to come into focus after a few swallows and the numbness resided. Syney blinked again, and her parents faded away, replaced by Gabriel. That's when she realized it was the stranger's wrist that was in her mouth and his blood that she was drinking. She started to choke and tried to force his wrist from her mouth.
This is wrong!
That was the only thought she had as she struggled.
    "Calm down," Gabriel whispered, moving away from her slowly.
    Calm was the last thing Syney was going to be. She shot up from the floor, and the room began to spin. She blinked a few times. Her stomach seemed to be on fire, and it was quickly spreading to her veins. The room picked up speed as she tried to focus.
Find something to focus on
, she thought. She saw Gabriel kneeling on the floor, looking at her. Scorpina's body, or what was left of it, was a bloody mess on the floor. Hunter, as a wolf, blood dripping from his mouth, was the last thing she saw as the room turned dark and the floor fell from underneath her.

Gabriel

    Gabriel didn't like Lycins—especially not a pissed-off one who stared at him with thoughts of death running through his mind. At least he wasn't attacking. Lycin bites hurt like hell, and the only thing Gabe hated more than Lycins was pain. The Lycin had been staring Gabe down for at least an hour, since they had checked into the seedy motel a few miles from Syney's house. They had moved in a hurry once Gabe had healed Syney. The wolf had wanted to take off Gabe's head. Gabe had heard as much inside the animal's head, but Gabe had acted quickly, saving the Chosen One's life with his blood. There was still a murderous instinct in the Lycin, but Gabe had picked up Syney's shut-down body and waited for the wolf's next move. Gabe had dealt with many Lycins. They were stubborn but very intelligent. The wolf needed the Vampire's help to move Syney, and he had just proven himself by healing her. The Lycin had thought of an image, of this motel, and the two took off at their own fast speeds to it. Of course Gabe had beat the wolf there. Lycins were fast, but Vampires were much faster, and Gabe loved to run.
    Gabe looked down at Syney, who was still knocked out on the bed. He didn't expect her to be so young. She was also beautiful. He wasn't surprised about that. Her mother had been beautiful as well. Her looks weren't shockingly gorgeous like the human models or movie stars, but there was an exotic beauty in her light skin and dark hair.
    He looked back at the Lycin. The man was now looking at Syney. Gabe felt a pang of familiarity in the look the Protector gave his charge. It wasn't a look all Protectors gave—only the ones who wanted to be killed.
    "How did you get clothes?" Gabe asked. The only thing he liked more than running was needling Lycins.
    The wolf looked back at him. For a moment Gabe thought he wasn't going to say anything, but then he spoke, softly yet firmly. "Clothesline. A block from here."
    "Interesting choice," Gabe snickered at the too-short sweatpants and tight T-shirt.
    The Lycin squinted at him and said nothing.
    Gabe shrugged and looked back at Syney. She would be awake soon. He heard her breath picking up its pace.
    "Why did you save her?"
    Gabe looked back at the wolf. "Does it matter?"
    "Maybe. Maybe not."
    Gabe looked at Syney. "Do you think she'll make a difference?"
    "Yes." There was no hesitation in the wolf's voice.
    "Then that's why I did it." Gabe looked back at him.
    The Lycin shook his head. "Vampires are selfish. You don't care about the Realm. There's something you want. Just be aware that anything you want from her..." He stood up. "...you'll have to come through me to get."
    Gabe smiled. "And all Lycins are bullies who are too pigheaded to see anything other than what their owners tell them to see."
    The wolf gave a low growl.
    "I guess we'll agree to disagree." Gabe kept his smile up. "She's waking up."
    The wolf's face softened as he knelt next