Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(40)

Faith.

His heart soared at the glimpse of her standing in those same holey jeans and overlong sweater. His pulse took off in a fast, excited sprint. But while Kara started down the stairs, Faith remained where she was, a story away. It was all he could do not to go to her. She was so lovely, her dark hair framing her delicate face, the blue tips teasing her shoulders. Through the thudding in his ears, he barely heard Lyon's brief explanation of the railing's demise. He'd starved for sight of her. But as his focus narrowed from her face to her eyes, he frowned. Her eyes were as flat as he'd ever seen them. The sparkle completely gone. Dead.

His hawk cried out, the tone mournful and angry.

As Faith met his gaze, her mouth lifted in a semblance of a smile, a shadow of what he knew her capable of. Had he done this to her when he made her cry? No. No way had touching her hand stolen the life from her eyes. And she was trying to smile at him, wasn't she? There was no anger in her expression.

This was Maxim's doing, dammit. Dammit. The red haze began to tease the edges of his vision. Maxim was hurting her. He knew it. He knew it!

Kougar's hand grasped his shoulder none too gently.

"I'm fine," he growled.

"Then what's with the steam coming out of your nose?"

Funny, he thought sarcastically, then jerked his gaze to Kougar. He still wasn't used to Kougar's having a sense of humor. The surprise of Kougar's comment broke the spell long enough for him to get the rising anger back under control.

But when he looked up at Faith, she was turning away, starting up the stairs to the third story.

He tensed to follow. Kougar's grip on him tightened. "Don't."

He watched until she disappeared from sight, then whirled on Kara as she descended the last of the steps. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kara looked at him with surprise. "Tell you what?"

"That he's been hurting her."

Kara shook her head, looking confused. "That who's been what?"

"Maxim's been hurting Faith. Her eyes aren't right."

"What do you mean?" Lyon demanded.

Hawke growled with frustration, turning away, then back again. "I can't explain it. I just . . . know. That bastard is hurting her."

Kara frowned. "She's never said anything, but I've hardly seen her since she and Catt worked things out. I hardly see anyone. We've all taken to our rooms to avoid the zoo animals. But she seems to be settling in okay."

"You were with her just now."

"Actually, I saw her coming down the stairs when I came out to investigate all the commotion." Kara looked around. "Did she go back up?"

Hawke nodded.

"I'll check it out," Lyon promised. "But, Hawke. Catt's room is between Wulfe's and mine. Neither of us has ever heard Faith cry out. We'd have investigated if we had, you know that."

Frustration burned in his blood. His instincts told him something was wrong with her, but he had no proof. No one else had noticed. Goddess knew, he hadn't thought straight since the moment he first saw her, but he couldn't be this mistaken, could he?

What if he was?

No, he wasn't. He'd thrilled to the sparkle in Faith's eyes too many times to not notice the lack. Even his hawk agreed, and they didn't agree on much these days. He'd rather risk her anger, even her tears, than realize later that she'd needed him, and he hadn't been there to help her.

Tonight, after her prick of a soon-to-be mate left to go draden hunting, he was paying the lady a visit.

Faith stood in the dark at the window of Maxim's bedchamber, looking out over the moonlit trees, seeing nothing. She felt . . . nothing. Drained. Empty. Sad in a way she couldn't explain. And scared, a dark terror swimming just below the surface of her thoughts, like a nightmare she couldn't quite remember, but that refused to fade.

She was losing her mind.

She'd moved into Maxim's room after he came into his animal, no longer sure why she hadn't to begin with. Now, every time she left the room, she found herself returning before she got very far. This was the only place she belonged. This room. These bare four walls. She pressed her fist against her breastbone as if she could hold back the misery she didn't understand and couldn't shake.

A soft knock sounded on the door, pulling her out of her dark thoughts. Turning from the window, she padded to the door in bare feet, the denim of her worn jeans brushing uncomfortably against her legs. Her skin was so sensitive these days. Everything hurt.

She pulled open the door, expecting Kara. But she found herself staring into a muscular chest instead. Her gaze slowly rose, her breath catching as she stared into Hawke's face, falling into warm, tender eyes. A fierce longing rushed up inside her, pressing against her lungs and heart, making her tremble with the fierce need to close the distance between them and feel his arms around her as she had, so briefly, when he'd swept her out of harm's way a few days ago.

I can't let him touch me. I belong to Maxim.

Hawke lifted his hands as if he'd heard the longing in her heart, then dropped them slowly to his sides. "We have to talk."

"You shouldn't be here."

Hawke grunted. "Tell me something I don't know." He ran a hand through his hair. "Please, Faith? I won't touch you. I promise. I just want to talk."