by Lucinda Dark
“Barbie!”
I strode faster, storming up the steps as Maverick stood up, his gun dangling in his grip. His brows were furrowed as I yanked the back door open and disappeared into the house. He hadn’t acted any differently towards me so I had to assume that Torin had kept his mouth shut, but regardless, I couldn’t stay here much longer. The dream last night had only confirmed it. I needed time away from Torin.
“Barbie.” Torin’s call only made me walk faster as I headed back to my room. He caught up to me at the door, his hand wrapping around my wrist and halting my movement. “You know it’s not safe—”
“Then make it safe,” I snapped, yanking my hand from his and turning to look up at him. “If I stay here any longer it’ll start to feel like a prison—hell, it already does. I want to go back to my life. I need to go back to my life. I’m not asking, Torin. I’m demanding. Find a way to make it happen. If we’re so focused on training me to feed, then we’re not focused on what’s important—finding Esperanza and figuring out a way to kill Arrius.” We’d been stationary for too long.
Torin ran a hand over his head, the strands of his hair flopping against his forehead as he gritted his teeth and blew out a hissing breath. He was quiet for a long moment, the inner workings of his mind playing across his face as his lips pressed together and then relaxed, his eyebrows drew close and then separated, his nostrils flared. “I’ll give you some of my blood to take with you,” he said finally. Relief flooded my chest; I honestly didn’t know what I would have done if he’d refused—probably beat him senseless until he agreed or thrown him into a cellar and locked him there.
“Thank you.” I said the words and I meant them. He could hold me here if he wanted. He was strong enough and I was still figuring out this whole dhampire/demon business. He could have withheld his blood from me and forced me to remain in his house.
“But Barbie…” I blinked as he lifted one arm and settled it on the doorframe above my head, leaning down into my space as I pulled back slightly. “Just because you’re leaving doesn’t mean you get to avoid me. You can move back in with the McKnights as long as you have my blood with you, but you and I are going to be spending some quality time together.”
“What?” I narrowed my gaze on him. “What the fuck does that mean?”
“No more hunting without me,” he said. “If I call, you come. Do you understand, Sweetheart?”
“What am I? Your dog?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Of course not, but I’m not letting you run away from me.”
I shoved against his chest, pushing him back with my free hand. “Fine,” I growled. “Deal. If you let me leave, then I’ll answer your fucking calls.”
His arms lowered from the doorframe and he took a small step back. “I suppose you’ll be wanting to leave with Maverick tonight?”
“You suppose right.”
He tilted his head to the side. “I’ll have to come with you,” he said. “It’d look odd if you just showed up after all this time and the hospital didn’t call to have you discharged by your guardians.”
“Fine.” I set my sword down by the door and reached for the knob. “You can go now. I’m going to pack.” I took another step back, but just before I slammed the door in his face, he stuck his booted foot inside and halted its momentum. I groaned. “Fucking what now?” I demanded, yanking it open and glaring at him.
He looked to the side and that was when I noticed Maverick had come inside. He stood at the end of the hall, his arms crossed as he glared at Torin. How much had he heard? “Do you really think she’s ready?” he asked.
“Mav…” I sighed, reaching up and pinching the bridge of my nose as I closed my eyes and released a breath. “I want to go home,” I said. I reopened my eyes and let my arm drop.
That amber gaze of his bored into me, staring as if he were trying to delve inside of me and find out my secrets. I stiffened and crossed my arms, waiting. He looked to Torin. “She’s strong enough to handle herself,” Torin said. “She’ll have blood she can drink.” I winced, but he didn’t acknowledge it, just kept going. “She needs to feed every few days for the next little while.” He shot me a look. “It’s her emotions that worry me the most.”
I frowned. “What?”
“When a vampire experiences high levels of emotions, they often begin to show more vampiric elements of their personality—the red eyes, talons etcetera,” he explained. “It’s not your bloodthirst that really worries me, though it is a concern, it’s the fact that you can get a bit…” He looked away, towards Maverick. I followed his gaze and scowled when Maverick’s lips twisted down into a grimace. “Hot-tempered,” Torin finished.
Hot-tempered? I thought. Hot fucking tempered? I’d show him hot-tempered with my foot up his ass.
I do believe this is exactly what he means, Satrina said with a huff. I stopped and closed my eyes, letting my arms drop to clench my fists at my sides. I sucked in a breath and released it. “It’ll be fine,” I stated. “I can’t stay in this fucking house another night. I’m going home, one way or another. If it means I have to act like a goddamn emotionless duck, I’ll do it.”
I turned and just before I slammed the door behind me, I heard Maverick snort and Torin mutter, “Emotionless duck?”
Seven
Maverick
“Are you seriously okay with this?” I asked.
“If it’s what she wants, then we have to trust her,” he said.
I sighed as he paced in front of the fireplace, his long legs eating up the distance one way before turning and repeating the motion in the opposite direction. Regardless of his words, it was obvious he didn’t want her to go. “You just don’t want her to hate you,” I said. The look he shot me was filled with so much vitriol, it could have singed my eyebrows off. I shrugged. “Hey, don’t be pissed at me. I’m just telling it like it is. It’s the truth.”
“She already hates me,” he pointed out.
“So?” I arched a brow and leaned to the side as I propped my foot against the coffee table. “As you and I both fucking know, Barbie has unlimited potential for the darker emotions. She could always hate you more.”
Torin stopped mid-stride, his foot coming down quietly as he turned towards the fireplace, staring deep into its unheated depths. His back faced me, the muscles bunching under the surface of his shirt. He reached out, his hands settling on the mantel above it. His fingers curled around the edges and his knuckles turned white from the pressure of his grip. His shoulders lifted, chest expanding as he sucked in a breath. Torin turned his head, and it took me a moment to realize he was listening for something—Barbie most likely. When he seemed to determine whatever it was he was listening for, he turned around and faced me.
Hazel green eyes met mine. “What I’m about to tell you does not leave this room,” he stated.
His tone was sharp, succinct. I sat up straighter, letting my leg fall back to the floor. “What is it?”
He strode closer, casting his gaze to the open doorway of the living room for a brief moment. “Barbie can’t seem to drink any blood but mine,” he whispered, just low enough that I had to strain to hear it. Which was saying something considering that ever since I put on the medallion my senses had been growing keen and heightened. It came in and out at different intervals, but right now, I could hear Barbie rummaging around in her room right now—packing. But Torin spoke with such a quietness that I had to lean forward and force myself to listen for his words.
As soon as they registered in my head, my eyes widened. “What the fu—”
Torin’s hand clamped over my mouth, stopping the question. Mere inches from my face, his eyes flashed back to the doorway and then to me again. “Do not tell her I told you,” he hissed. “She made me promise, but it’s too dangerous to let her go without you knowing. I’m giving her enough blood for a week, though I’ll see you both before it’s over.”
His grip loosened. I reached up and pulled his hand away. “Are you fuc
king serious?” I hissed in a low tone. “This is incredibly dangerous. How is it fucking possible?”
He shook his head, dropping down to sit at my side. “I have no clue. I’ve never heard of anything like this happening in a transitional phase. But she threw up the bagged blood and—”
“She was in that tomb for two weeks, I thought you said that when a human was changed that their bodies went through a change that would allow them to accept blood as sustenance?” I felt the beast move within me, slithering beneath my skin as my emotions heightened. Clenching my fist at my side, I shoved the beast down. I would deal with it later.
“That’s usually what happens, I didn’t fucking think about—Barbie wasn’t completely human when I turned her,” Torin said.
That was when it fucking hit me. “She was demon-possessed.” I breathed the words, but I needn’t have. That was the answer. Whatever had happened with the turn, it had to have been affected by her demon.
Torin nodded. “And I’m not exactly a normal vampire. I’m the only dhampire in existence that we know of and there’s never been a record of a dhampire turning someone, or if there has, I’ve never seen it. Maybe it’s different.”
“Shit.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“She didn’t want to tell you,” he confided after a moment of silence.
“Why the fuck not?” I demanded. “This is something I should fucking know.”
“Keep your voice down,” Torin growled, his hand moving to my shoulder. His fingers clamped down, a weighty reminder. I narrowed my gaze at the implied threat. “I agree,” he continued. “Which is why I’m telling you, but she didn’t want you to know because she didn’t want you to think any differently of her. She doesn’t know about your beast, remember?” He released me, turning away. “But I don’t think you’ll care. I don’t think it’ll matter to you, and I need you to keep an eye on her while I’m away.”
“Away? Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“As much as I want Barbie to stay with me—as much as she needs to be around me during the transitional phase of her life—she couldn’t stay here indefinitely, we both knew that, Mav,” Torin replied. “I don’t know when Katalin will be coming back, but she will be coming back. Arrius has to know I killed Eloise. Right now, he thinks it’s because she killed Barbie. He thinks he’s been successful. I have to start working on a plan to pin him down and to do that, some trips are in order. I’ve got to keep searching for Esperanza. I’ll track down some other supernaturals. If I can’t go tonight, then I’ll have to go tomorrow. Either way, we’re looking at multiple trips. I need to know you can take care of her while I’m gone.”
I didn’t fucking like it, but he was right. I sat back and scrubbed a hand down my face. “Fuck, this is all so fucking complicated,” I said.
“I know.” Torin got up from the couch and took another step towards the fireplace. A moment later, he was back to pacing. I huffed out a breath and leaned my head back as I stared up at the ceiling.
“I’ll watch her,” I finally said after several beats and the sound of nothing but his booted feet moving over the floorboards. I sat up and looked at him where he’d paused at my words. “And I’ll keep you updated.”
He nodded once. “Good. I’ll still see you at school, of course, I’m not going to disappear for more than a few days at a time—perhaps not even that long. I already made some vials of blood to sustain her while I’m away. But if you could find anything about Esperanza as well, that would be helpful in my searches.”
“I’ve already been looking up any contacts Barbie’s parents might’ve had,” I replied. In the distance, a bedroom door closed. “I’ve got a list of potential hunters. A few more thorough background checks should turn up some results.”
“Good, I want that list as soon as you get it done.”
“I’ll send it to your phone,” I said as Barbie appeared in the doorway, a backpack slung over one shoulder and a separate, small suitcase on wheels at her feet. “Ready?” I asked, standing.
She nodded. “So fucking ready.”
“Give me a moment,” Torin said before she could head for the door. He disappeared into the kitchen, coming out a few moments later with a handful of small bottles. I didn’t say a word and surprisingly, neither did Barbie, as he took her bag and opened it—putting them inside and giving her a meaningful look.
She rolled her eyes, taking my hand when I reached for her. I took the bag from Torin as he snatched his keys from the coffee table and strode for the front door. We filed out one by one and when Torin went for his motorcycle, we went for my truck. As much as I wanted Barbie to myself, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the poor bastard. It was a strange feeling. It shouldn’t feel right at all to allow him any time with her since I saw her as mine, but knowing how he felt about her, and knowing how I’d feel if she were treating me as coldly, I couldn’t help it.
I tossed Barbie’s suitcase into the backseat and opened the door for her. She reached up, grabbed ahold of the “oh shit” handle and scrambled into the front seat with a few curses. Fighting a grin, I closed the door behind her and turned to Torin.
“See ya there,” I called with a wave as he revved the engine and took off down the path. I got into the truck and followed shortly after. Barbie was quiet as we made our way through the town’s streets, heading back home, but I could feel her tension ratchet up even higher. It was only when the house came into view that it seemed to dissipate completely. Torin, of course, was already there on the front porch.
Barbie unbuckled her seatbelt, snatched up her backpack from the floorboards, and dashed out of the truck the second it was parked. The front door opened and my mom blinked, smiling at Torin. I clenched my teeth as her eyes grew hazy and her body lax for a split second as Torin said something to her. In the next instant, however, the vagueness from her features cleared and she glanced over his shoulder as Barbie approached.
With a squeal, Mom raced past Torin and nearly bulldozed Barbie as she threw her arms around her. I grinned, slamming the truck door behind me after grabbing Barbie’s suitcase. When I headed for the porch, my dad was already there, talking to Torin. That same fuzzy expression took over his features, there for only a moment before it disappeared and he noticed my mom attacking Barbie.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Mom said, wiping tears from her eyes as she hugged Barbie to her chest. “We were so worried.” She sniffled and I smirked as I reached between the two of them, grabbing Barbie’s backpack from her grip and slinging it over my own shoulder.
I approached the porch, my steps slow and deliberate. My dad stood on the uppermost step with Torin at his back. Torin looked at me before nodding and descending the stair; his hand came up and touched my shoulder as he passed. “I’m heading out,” he said. “I want to give her time with them, but keep me updated like you promised.”
“Will do,” I said without looking back. It was the least I could fucking do. He’d been the one to keep her here—alive in at least some capacity. Now, it was my turn to guard her.
Eight
Barbie
Coming back to my bedroom at the McKnight mansion after so much had happened was surreal. I didn’t even mind how fucking pink everything was, it was just nice to be somewhere familiar. I felt like a completely different person than who I’d been three weeks before. Technically, in a physical sense, I was. Mentally and emotionally, however, I still had the same resolve. The same motivation. Seeing Beth when she’d practically tripped as she’d raced towards me brought fresh tears to my eyes and it hurt to force them back as I had when she’d screamed and thrown her arms around me. I’d forgotten what it felt like—the love of a mother. I didn’t even mind her touching me. In fact, since I started living with the McKnights, I’d noticed that my aversion to touch—the one I’d developed after Travis and Kent had held me down as they’d murdered my family—had slowly edged away.
A knock on my door had me groaning as I got up f
rom the bed to answer it. Maverick stood there, his shoulder propped against the frame as he dangled my backpack in his grip. My suitcase sat at his feet. I grimaced, reaching for the suitcase to wheel it inside. It probably wouldn’t do for Beth or Jon to open it and find my swords inside. “Thanks,” I said, reaching for the backpack. He pulled it away just as my hand was about to close on it and my eyes narrowed. “What?” I asked.
He shook his head, handing over the backpack, which only made me more suspicious. “Nothing,” he said. “Just bringing your stuff to you.”
“Then what was with th—”
Maverick swooped down and sealed his mouth to mine, startling me. The creature I’d felt when I’d first awoken opened her eyes and shot forward as my hands sank into his hair without any conscious decision on my part. I parted my lips and kissed him back, yanking him against me as I dropped the backpack to the side of the door. He stumbled under my urging. Though I hadn’t meant to use so much force, he bowed over me, caving to my body’s demands. I sucked on his tongue, tugged on his lips, sank into his mouth.
Fire raced up my spine. The door closed behind him and I pushed him against it, the wood creaking at his back. I pulled back, gasping. “What…was that for?” I whispered against his mouth.
“We haven’t been together in weeks, Princess,” he replied. “Maybe I just wanted you to know I hadn’t forgotten. Maybe I wanted to know you hadn’t.”
“I haven’t,” I said quietly. My heart thumped in my breast, my breaths came in ragged gasps as I lowered myself and stared at the column of his throat. His pulse thrummed heavily beneath the skin there, his blood singing—calling to me. I leaned forward, inhaling his musk. The scent of Maverick was warm, boiling, and volcanic. It was woodsy and heady. My mouth watered, saliva coating the insides of my cheeks. He groaned as I ran the tip of my tongue up his jugular. It took me a moment to realize what I was doing. I pulled back abruptly, slapping a hand over my mouth. My eyes flashed to my backpack, where the bottles of Torin’s blood were, set inside heat resistant bags.