What? I knew he wouldn’t lie about it, but I didn’t want to believe him.
I might have gotten carried away, he said. They’re bringing me to the basement.
Why wouldn’t they just kick you out? I grabbed my shoe and sock and pushed myself to my feet, then stumbled down the hall towards our exit.
Because I insulted their vampire sensitivities and they plan to use me like a whore and drain my blood.
What?
Just get the hell out, daughter!
“We have to go,” I said, pulling open the wooden door revealing the darkness behind it.
“I think I just said that.”
“We’re about to have company,” I hissed, stuffing my bare foot into my shoe. There was no way I was putting that nasty-ass sock back on. “Now hurry up and be quiet.”
He closed the door behind us, the darkness swallowing me. Braden’s hand landed on my arm.
“What do you mean we have company?” he barely whispered.
“My distraction upstairs got carried away,” I explained. “They’re bringing him down here to do whatever they do.”
The door opened again and Braden dragged me back towards his cell.
“They cannot find my cell empty,” he whispered harshly, tossing me into the cell ahead of him, then pulling the door closed. “They’ll start a search immediately and we’ll never make it out.”
“And where am I supposed to hide in here?” I asked. “I can’t change into a little mouse again.”
Voices echoed down the stairwell and I panicked, backing into the corner by the door. It was dark, but vampires could see in the dark. Maybe they would focus on Braden and not me? I hoped. He pulled off his shirt and closed the distance between us.
“Wrap this around you and curl up as small as you can. It might hide your scent.” He pointed at me and a single claw emerged from his finger. He dragged it along the tender side of his forearm, blood welling along the thin cut. I gasped when he wiped his arm down the door just below the window. He didn’t want them to notice me so he covered it with his own scent.
I took the shirt from him and curled into a ball in the corner. His thin, pale chest made my heart stutter. I knew there should’ve been strong, defined muscle stretching between his shoulders. I’d felt it when I attacked him. My blood might have given him a little color and strength, but nothing more.
He dropped to the floor in full view of the barred window and hugged his knees. The viciousness of vampires was astounding. They’d turned one of their elders into a bag of bones. Of course, Braden did betray Jack, but still. The torture they inflicted on him was cruel.
“Come on, slut,” a man’s voice slurred. It sounded like he was right outside Braden’s cell. “Let’s see if you’re as brave as you think you are.”
“Bravery has nothing to do with it,” a woman’s voice replied. “I’ve serviced better than you.”
Was that my father? Did he really make himself look like a woman? The urge to peek through the bars was nearly overwhelming, but I resisted. It wasn’t worth getting caught. I tugged Braden’s shirt tighter around me.
“Have you now?” the vampire asked. “And why aren’t you still?”
I heard the rustle of clothing and wondered who was getting undressed first.
“A little tramp caught the master’s eye,” she replied. “We all know how that ends.”
I could almost hear her flipping her hair. I really needed to see this disguise.
“Yes,” the vampire slurred. “Come here and let me remind you what it feels like to be wanted.”
More rustling of clothes ensued and I clamped my arms around myself. Giving in to my curiosity was a really bad idea. I looked over at Braden and almost laughed at his bewildered expression. I nodded towards the door and he shook his head. I smiled and covered my mouth. Giggling right now was also a bad idea.
A choked gurgling followed by a thump had Braden on his feet and at the door.
“What the hell are you still doing here?” Cedric asked in his own voice.
I rose and stood next to Braden, who hadn’t answered. My father in his “tourist dad” outfit glared at us through the bars.
“We were afraid if the vampires found his cell empty, they would start searching for him immediately,” I replied, holding back my frustration. We wouldn’t have stayed if Cedric hadn’t screwed it up. “He knows a way out, but not if we’re being pursued.”
“Okay.” Cedric’s gaze danced between me and Braden. “Let’s go. We have about twenty minutes before they start looking for this guy.” He motioned to the headless body at his feet. Blood poured from the vampire’s neck, creating a slick puddle on the floor. Bile rose in my throat, and I struggled to choke it down.
Cedric didn’t wait for an answer, instead turning towards the still opened door at the end of the hall. Did he know the way out? Had he lied to me about being in this awful place before? Probably. Anger bubbled to the surface. He’d lied to me so many times. Every time he came to see me as child, he told me how much he needed me. How much he loved me and that he’d do anything to protect me. All lies.
Breathe. Deep calming breaths. In and out.
I handed Braden his shirt and pulled the door open. “You might need this,” I whispered. “And thank you.”
“Your gratitude is unnecessary, little mage,” he whispered back, putting his arms through the sleeves. “We’ve already discussed this.”
A smile threatened my lips. “You didn’t have to help me.”
“You didn’t have to help me, either.” He swept past me and stepped over the body in the floor.
“I kind of did,” I said.
“Really?” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “You haven’t made another blood oath, have you?” His voice was so quiet I barely heard him.
I glanced down the hall at my father, who stood in the doorway waiting for us. “I see,” Braden whispered. “Let’s go.”
Braden led the way down the darkened tunnel with me in the middle and Cedric bringing up the rear. He stepped on the back of my heels several times until I grabbed his hand, giving him something tangible to follow in the complete darkness. Apparently, the fae couldn’t see in the dark.
Despite my efforts to walk silently, my sneakers rolled over loose stones and other things I couldn’t identify. Bones, maybe. I hoped not.
You know we could leave him anytime, my father’s voice said in my mind.
You’re welcome to go whenever you like, I snapped back. I’ve used too much magic. I couldn’t even hold on to the little mouse.
He tugged on my hand, slowing me down and widening the gap between us and Braden. I jerked my hand away and sprinted towards the vampire.
He’s your peace, isn’t he? my father asked.
Hell no! I shot back.
Then he lets you unleash your darkness, which is the same thing. It’s brilliant actually. He is also eternal, so you have no fear of losing him.
I scowled, not caring that he couldn’t see me. Whatever. Leave. You’ve done your part for the queen. Go back and make her release you.
He didn’t reply, and I glanced over my shoulder to find an empty corridor. I wanted to have that perfect father-daughter relationship, but it wasn’t happening for me. He did nothing but make me mad.
In my short distraction, I ran into Braden. He grabbed my shoulders and looked behind me, then turned his surprised expression back to me. I shook my head. Regardless of our need to be silent in this stone tunnel, there was no way I’d repeat that conversation to Braden. If he knew I needed him for anything, my life would be over. I’d be his slave forever. I shivered at my father’s words. He was right. Braden wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long time, not like Kellen. But I still had Logan, who was my true peace.
My escort pointed above his head, and I followed his directions. I could barely make out what looked like a manhole cover about ten feet above us. He gently pushed me back and jumped straight up, catching something on the bottom of
the cover. A loud groan filled the tunnel, quickly followed by a rush of air.
“Jump,” Braden hissed down at me. “They will hear that and come running.”
“I can’t jump that high,” I muttered, squatting down as far as I could and jumping.
My fingertips grazed Braden’s before I fell back to the ground. The impact sent splinters of pain through my recently injured foot. A moment of panic raised through my mind. Would he leave me? I bit back the explicative trying to escape my mouth and jumped again. Braden caught one of my wrists and pulled me through the hole. He shoved the cover back in place and grabbed my hand, dragging me down the narrow ally we emerged in. I picked up my pace and felt him increase his own. He continued to quicken the run until I pulled back. I wasn’t that fast.
He glanced at me and smiled. Within minutes, we left Vegas’ flashing lights behind. Ten minutes later, my lungs couldn’t keep up with our rapid pace.
“I need to stop,” I said between gasps.
Braden slowed and led me to an outcropping of rocks. I leaned against them, raising my arms over my head and trying to control my breathing. The cool desert breeze brushed my skin, drying the sweat from my body.
“We need to keep moving,” Braden said. “They can easily follow my trail unless we find a vehicle.”
I lowered my arms and frowned. “Then we should have picked one up in Vegas.” I reached for the sparse moisture in the air and called it to me. A small puddle formed in my cupped palms and I poured it in my mouth.
“From this day forward, I blame the creation of deserts on water mages,” Braden said, a soft laugh escaping his lips.
I tried not to smile; I really did. “That wasn’t funny.”
“Obviously.”
“Where are we going?” I asked, ignoring his grin. It wasn’t the smug sneer I’d expected from him, which irritated me.
“I’m going to Jonathan’s,” he replied. “You can and should leave me.”
“King William attacked Jonathan’s compound. I believe it’s abandoned.”
His smile vanished. “That’s not good, but not bad either. As long as they didn’t burn it to the ground, there should be blood supplies available.”
I hadn’t thought of that, but it made sense for Jonathan to keep refreshments for his vampires. It was certainly better than keeping humans.
“Okay, I’m ready,” I said pushing away from my rock.
Braden narrowed his eyes at me. “I can travel much faster without you.”
“I can’t do that disappearing-travel-thing my father does, not yet anyway,” I mumbled, pushing past him.
“Why not?”
“Several reasons, none of which I’ll share with you,” I replied. “Forget it. You can leave me here. I think I know my way to Kellen’s.” Which was a total lie, but I still had my cell phone. I could call my partner and ask him to come get me. Why hadn’t I thought of that earlier?
Indecision crossed Braden’s face, which surprised me. He wasn’t concerned about my safety, was he?
“No, I’ll carry you.”
“That’s a bad idea,” I argued. “You’re not at full health.”
“And our pursuers are,” he countered. “I’m still faster than you, even if I carry you.”
“Whatever.”
I waved a hand at him, but he grabbed my wrist, slinging me up on his back. I cringed at the sharp shoulder blades pressing into my chest and reluctantly wrapped my legs around his narrow waist. He took off as soon as my hands clasped together at his collar. The desert flew by me at a disorienting speed. The elder vampire was much faster than Logan, even in his weakened state. I’d never be able to beat him in a fight.
What have I gotten myself into this time?
Chapter 9
What felt like ten minutes later, we arrived on the western slope leading down to Jonathan’s compound. The outside of the metal building appeared intact. I slid from Braden’s back and couldn’t help but notice his labored breathing. Guilt assaulted me. I should’ve let him leave without me, I thought. I could’ve called Kellen. I wasn’t making that mistake twice.
I started down the rocky slope without the vampire, picking my way among the large boulders.
“If anyone is down there, they will know you’re coming,” Braden hissed in my ear. He tossed me over his shoulder and raced down the hill.
“Bastard,” I whispered as he dropped me next to the door.
“We’ve already discussed that,” he muttered, testing the handle.
It opened silently. I don’t why I expected it to be locked, but I had. I stepped into the dark hall. Braden had already disappeared farther into the building, probably looking for blood. The stench of decay lingered in the air. I peered into several rooms as I passed by, but they appeared untouched. The smell of death grew stronger the deeper I went, forcing me to pull my shirt over my mouth and nose.
The hallway ended at a long corridor. I had two options: left or right. Both were dark, but the sickly odor of decaying bodies came from the left. Did I really want to go that way? Nope. I turned right, continuing to look in each of the rooms as I went.
A hand landed on my shoulder and I screamed. Another wrapped around my face, smothering the outcry. I kicked and squirmed against my attacker and drew in a deep breath through my nose. Spearmint assaulted me and I fell limp. Tears immediately pooled in my eyes.
The hand on my mouth lifted and I slowly turned, hoping my senses hadn’t betrayed me. My vampire stood in front of me. “Logan,” I whispered, throwing my arms around his neck. “I missed every part of you.” I took another breath of his glorious scent and noticed he wasn’t hugging me back.
I let go and looked up. His hazel eyes stared back at me with contempt. “What have you done?” he asked. “Why do you smell like him?”
I tore my gaze away and wrapped my fingers in the edge of my Hawaiian shirt. “There’s so much I need to tell you,” I replied. “His smell will dissipate soon. I hope soon. He said it would be soon.”
“It’s so strong,” he whispered. “I don’t see how. You aren’t bound to him, are you?”
“No!” I clamped my mouth shut, hearing my voice echo down the hall. “No, it’s so complicated, but it’s temporary.” I reached for his hand and he took a step back. I choked on my sob. “Please don’t, Logan. I need you in so many ways.”
“I can’t be near you once he’s claimed you, princess.”
I tried to hear the lie in his voice, but it wasn’t there. “What do you mean?”
“It’s more than his blood running through your veins,” Logan explained. “I can feel it, like a physical barrier around you.”
My resolve broke and I fell to the floor. Sobs racked my body at the thought of not having the one person who gave me peace. How did this happen? Was it because I gave Braden my blood today? Surely not. Vampires drank from humans all the time. It had to be the blood oath. All the more reason to finish Jack. I needed Logan way more than I needed Braden. My darkness didn’t show its ugly face with Logan around.
My vampire sank to the floor in front of me, just out of reach. “Tell me you can fix this,” he pleaded.
I drank in his hazel eyes and full lips, both frowning at me. “I don’t know, but I won’t rest until I do,” I replied. “I can’t be without you.”
“Well, isn’t this sweet,” Braden’s voice echoed down the hall behind me, strong and commanding. He must have found the blood storage. “You don’t really believe a vampire loves you, do you, little mage?”
He stopped a few feet away, and Logan jumped to his feet.
“You know nothing about us,” my vampire hissed, his fangs dropping over his lip.
“It seems I know a great deal about your mage,” Braden purred. “She needs someone who can withstand the darkness brewing in her soul.”
“She has no darkness,” Logan argued. “She is light and hope.”
Braden’s laughter filled the corridor, echoing back at me in mocking waves. He knew better
. He’d experienced my violence.
“Only because that’s all she allows you to see,” the elder vampire sneered.
Logan’s gaze fell on me. I couldn’t refute Braden’s claim. My vampire would know I was lying, but remaining silent conveyed the same message.
“My father passed along the worst part of himself to me,” I said. “It gets stronger every day. But when I’m around you, Logan, it disappears completely.”
Logan’s eyes darted from me to Braden, then back again. “Release your claim on her,” he demanded. “You have no right to her heart. You can’t love her.”
“And you can?” Braden spat. “I allow you to speak because she loves you, but if you make any other demands of me, I’ll rip your head from your body.”
I sprang to my feet and turned on Braden, but my initial anger was sidetracked by his transformation. The hollow cheeks and sunken eyes were gone. My eyes traveled down his body to the wide shoulders that now filled his shirt and the not so baggy pants.
“Like what you see, little mage?” he barely whispered.
My rage flared again at his impertinence.
“You will not touch him, but you will undo whatever this thing is around me,” I commanded. “Don’t tell me I cannot command you. I see it in your eyes, when you flinch at my voice.”
He closed the space between us and cupped my cheek in his hand. His hostile glare belied the gentle gesture. “There is only one way to remove it,” he said. “I assume we’re not mentioning details in public.”
“Then let’s get this over with.”
He patted my cheek and smiled, but there was nothing nice about it. “Not until after Jack is defeated.”
“Bullshit!” I spat.
“It was your stipulation, not mine!” Braden bellowed. “I would’ve claimed your part of the oath immediately. You were the one who said after Jack’s defeat.”
My face flushed and heat burned down my neck. “So even if I do this now, I accomplish nothing?” I yelled back.
Braden didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. Both my darkness and his would be satisfied. “I hate my life,” I mumbled, turning my back on the man I hated even more.
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