December 2024 WipWordSearch Excerpts Week 2

“What the hell do you think I am, Lawrence? A vampire? This is ridiculous. I’m leaving—I need to get to the hospital.” Thomas shoved his chair back, the wooden legs screeching across the floor and #echoing in the silent pub.

How easy it’d been to rip that enormous stone from the #earth and hoist it overhead. He could have thrown it like a cannonball.

He wasn’t sure yet what she was guarding, but he could see the telltale signs in an occasional false laugh or a cold smile. #Every time Thomas thought he’d finally cornered what she was avoiding, she slipped away. Her behavior should have been off-putting, but he couldn’t help but be fascinated.

When the curse touched him, he became a beast of pure violence and instinct driven by an #eternal need to destroy his brother.

Like a muscle suddenly relaxing, the craving for blood was immediately satisfied. But before he could #enjoy feeling nothing for once, his lips burned, as did his throat. He spluttered and coughed.

#Equally unsurprising was how disgusted he was with himself for being here now.

The specialized sutures Thomas had received did more than treat the toxicity of an #enemy vampire’s bite; they had soaked up the communion wine that had nearly cost Charles his leg. The synthetic fibers absorbed or sterilized any alien substances in a vampire’s system, allowing their inhuman healing to kick in.

In fact, he felt quite the opposite of tired. He was on high alert. Presumably another side #effect of the blood.

Yet her growls were easily drowned out by the gray wolf as it threw back its head and issued a thunderous howl that #echoed throughout the surrounding forest.

Claws digging into the #earth to gain purchase for additional traction, the wolf caused Clara’s lupine body to tense up, preparing to strike.

That intense gaze swept over Clara’s lithe form, as if trying to memorize #every inch of her. She was painfully aware of her own nudity but fought back the urge to shy away. Werewolves had to show dominance, and she refused to lose to this stranger.

That was why, of all Jericho’s nicknames, the one that circulated the most was “#Eternal Jericho.”

The moniker was being put to the test.

The potion had changed everything for them. They didn’t have to live nomadic lives and could #enjoy being human again. But the Crone did not run a charity; she charged a steep price for her monthly potions.

There was a tremor in Lawrence’s voice that was borne from #equal parts pain and anger.

Benjamin didn’t know about Sean yet, and him meeting her boyfriend when he smelled of the #enemy would be disastrous.

Why did he smell like a vampire?

However, she didn’t know the exact #effect silver had on vampires, but it couldn’t be too bad if Lawrence was using it liberally in his bar.