Adri_9780553589375_3p_all_r1.qxp
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2/9/07
2:54 PM
Page 348
LARA ADRIAN
“Oh, my God,” Gabrielle gasped, horrified. Lucan sighed, as if the weight of the memories pressed hard on him. “Tegan went insane with rage. He became like an animal, slaughtering everything in his path. He would appear so awash in gore that many thought he had bathed in blood. He gorged himself in his fury, and, for nearly a year, he refused to accept the fact that his Breedmate’s mind was lost forever. He kept feeding her from his vein, unwilling to see her corruption. He fed to feed her. He didn’t care that he was steadily sliding into Bloodlust. For that entire year, he defied Breed law, and would not put her out of her misery. As for Tegan himself, he was slowly, but surely, going Rogue. Something had to be done. . . .” When he let the statement hang, unfinished, Gabrielle spoke for him. “And as leader, it fell to you to take action.” Lucan gave a grim nod. “I put Tegan in a thick stone cell, and then I put his Breedmate to the sword.” Gabrielle closed her eyes, sensing his regret. “Oh, Lucan . . .” “Tegan wasn’t freed until his body had withdrawn from its Bloodlust addiction. It took many months of near starvation and absolute agony for him to be able to walk out of that cell on his own legs. When he realized what I’d done, I thought he would try to kill me. But he didn’t. The Tegan I knew didn’t come out of that cell at all. Something colder did. He’s never said the words, but I know he’s hated me ever since.” “Not as much as you hate yourself.” His jaw was clenched hard, drawing the lean skin tighter across his cheekbones. “I’m used to making difficult choices. I’m not afraid to take on the hard tasks, or to be the target of anger, even hatred, because of the decisions I