“You’re lying.” He sat back in his seat. She could see his face turning three different shades of red.
“Sorry you’re displeased. But I’m not used to listening to the girl’s thoughts. She is evasive and doesn’t give much detail.”
“I smell a lie on your lips. Why keep her location a secret if you’re here to help me?”
“Let’s not quarrel on the subject. I didn’t come here for that.”
“You will not thwart me again, Lucia.”
“Oh, I do so love this game. But don’t worry. You’ll get your revenge. Goodbye, brother, I’m off to intercept our prey.”
Caiaphas cursed under his breath as his sister disappeared. She was too fast to follow. He couldn’t allow her to win. Not this time. Dane was going to die by his hand, not hers. He picked up the phone.
“Where’s Harris? Find him. Tell him to bring his new pet to me. I don’t care how you get him here. Do it now!” He hung up the phone.
* * * * *
Jenny sat on the floor of the mine, her throat on fire. Hunger racked her gut with spasms. It was almost unbearable. She heard the scurrying of tiny feet and her mouth watered.
I can’t believe I’m actually considering drinking rat blood.
She sighed.
The idea made her stomach lurch. But what choice did she have? The rat ran past and she quickly snatched it up. It squeaked in terror as she held it by the tail.
“Sorry, buddy, but I have no choice in the matter.”
She grimaced when the sound of boots scraping the earth caught her attention.
Shit, please no.
She dropped the rat. That’s when she noticed what she thought was a flashlight in the distance. Miners wore hats with lights mounted to them, lighting the space in front of her.
“Damn it! Not now.” She crawled to her feet. Hunger caused her to tense even more. They were too close to stay put. It was time to go.
When she opened her eyes, the apartment she’d lived in the last year of college stood vacant. “Oh, thank god!” She covered her mouth to hold back a sob. It would be little comfort though. Her world had changed so drastically in the last forty-eight hours. Too bad happiness was so short-lived.
“I love it when I’m right.”
Jenny nearly collapsed when she saw a female vampire with long red hair standing in her old apartment. She had delicate features and crimson-red eyes. The woman grinned at her. But it wasn’t friendly. The expression was nothing short of pure evil.
“Shit!” Jenny tried to trace but nothing happened.
“It’s a waste of energy, child. You’re too weak from lack of nourishment. You can’t escape me anyway so I wouldn’t try that again if I were you.”
“What do you want with me?”
“I am curious about you.” She crossed her arms over her chest, watching Jenny intently.
“Who are you?”
“Who I am is not important to you. What I want is, and I won’t allow you taking what is mine. I find it hard to believe that you tamed him in the first place. I mean, look at you. What he sees in you is beyond me,” she spat, her voice heavy with distain.
“Who, you mean Dane?”
Does she know him?
Confusion and despair filled her. This was the last straw. Her tank was on empty and there wasn’t enough strength left to deal with this shit too.
“You’re a smart girl.”
“H-how do you know him?”
Sounds like she’s a scorned lover? Great. She’s beautiful too.
“If you must know, I’m the one who gave him his immortal life. Hasn’t he told you this story by now? Oh, I forgot. He’s not one to share much, is he?” Her wicked smile vividly displayed what Jenny had already sensed about this creature.
“You turned Dane into a vampire?” Her heart caught in her throat. Dane hadn’t shared much of his past with her. They were both guarded about where they came from. Had he loved this vampire at one time and it had all gone bad? Did she even want to know the answer to that question? No, probably not.
“Mm…yes, I did.” She closed her eyes as if savoring the memory. Jenny’s stomach rolled. The treacherous female drifted closer. “I had plans for him but sadly he got away from me.”
What kind of plans? If they weren’t lovers, had he been her slave perhaps? The idea of either scenario made her skin crawl.
“Oh.” She closed her eyes. Pain seared her heart and her knees went weak.
“He didn’t tell you how he became an immortal, did he?”
“No.” The word was barely a whisper.
“I’m not surprised. He was never good about sharing his emotions with anyone, especially women. He’s always been that way.”
“Are you friends?” Jenny tried a different tactic.
“Let’s just say I’ve been keeping tabs on Dane for many centuries. By all accounts I think that makes us more than friends. I’d prefer the term ‘soul mates’ better. You see, we’re irrevocably linked together. Did you know his thoughts were filled with revenge until recently?” She gave Jenny a dark glare.
“No, I didn’t know that.” It was obvious this female thought she had a connection to Dane.
“Yes, his thoughts were focused solely on killing Rogues until recently. That’s why I came here.” She smiled.
“I don’t understand what that has to do with me.”
“You possess what I covet most and that will not do. It surprises me that he would fall for a commoner such as the likes of you. It’s rather disappointing, really.”
Dear god. She’s in love with him.
“But he said we were fated.”
“Fate, I hate that ugly word. I strongly disagree with that nonsense. I believe we should decide our own fate.”
“I’m happy with it.” She probably shouldn’t have said it out loud but she couldn’t take it back now.
“Oh, I’m quite sure you are, girl. However, you’ve made a bad choice in a mate because he will never fully commit himself to anyone, including you.” Lucia’s eyes were filled with disdain.
It should have frightened Jenny. But instead it made her blood boil over and her temper got the best of her. “What bothers you more, that I’m common or that he chose me instead of you?” she shot back angrily.
Lucia traced forward, lifting Jenny off the ground by the throat. “Hold your tongue!”
“You’re in love with him and he rejected you, is that it?” She gasped for air.
“Dane is not capable of love. It doesn’t matter though because you won’t live long enough to figure out the truth about your precious Dane.”
“He-he will avenge my death if you kill me.” She clawed at the woman’s fingers to get her to release her hold, to no avail. Part of her wondered if this was the end. Could a vampire die from strangulation?
“Oh, I have no intention of spilling your blood and facing his wrath. I have others who will do that deed for me.” She dropped Jenny to the ground. Jenny wheezed and coughed, trying to suck in air. “My brother wants me to deliver you to him but I have other plans for you. I’d rather you meet a gruesome end of my choosing instead of his. Did you know that Dane killed my brother’s mate? Caiaphas hates Dane and wants to use you to exact his revenge. He calls it an ‘eye for an eye’. I can’t let that happen though.” She gave Jenny a wicked grin. “Make her suffer, boys. I shall take my leave. Goodbye, Jenny.”
Jenny saw three dark shadows in the corner.
“She’s pretty, Lucia, can’t we play with her first?” a beefy vampire with greasy brown hair said as he stepped out of the shadows.
“Edwin, you will do the deed and be quick about it. I must take my leave. Goodbye, Jenny, and good riddance.” The vampire named Lucia disappeared and Jenny was alone with the scary hulk and his two goons.
“Please don’t do this.” She tried to stand but she was too weak to move.
“It’s a shame Lucia wants you dead. I smell your innocence. We could’ve had us some fun first.” He laughed.
“What’s stopping you?” she bluffed, hoping to stall him.
“You’re a manipulative bitch, I like that.” He seized her arm and dragged her to her feet. She watched in terror as the other two dark figures stepped out of the shadows to join him. “On second thought, you’re too irresistible to kill quickly.”
He grinned, revealing a set of yellow fangs. He smelled of death and decay. The other two were no better. He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her against him. She screamed and kneed him in the groin.
“You want to play rough, do you? I can do rough.” The other two males joined and quickly pinned her to the ground. “I get to tap that first and then you two can have a piece after me.”
“Please don’t do this.” She tried to fight them off. It was no use. They were too strong.
“You should’ve picked a better male to protect your sweet ass.” He grinned again, undoing his belt.
“My mate is a Hunter and when he finds out you’ve hurt me, he’ll kill you.” She glared. The two goons glanced at him nervously.
“She’s bluffing, ignore her,” the greasy-haired freak said, dropping his pants.
She grimaced and thought she was going to be sick at the sight of his foul-smelling erection staring at her. She closed her eyes and held her breath when he spread her thighs.
He unzipped her jeans and began to peel them off her. “Nice.”
Suddenly a rush of air swept past her face and a loud roar pierced her ears. She opened her eyes and saw Dane with the vampire suspended by the throat.
“How dare you lay your filth on what is mine!” Dane snapped his neck like a twig before he could speak. She watched as the body crumpled to the ground. The two vampires holding her down backed away. “You’re dead!”
The two were quickly intercepted by the blond vampire she’d seen earlier.
“Dane.” Jenny’s voice hitched as fear rioted through her.
“I’m here.” He scooped her up in his arms and hugged her tightly.
She buried her nose against his neck, inhaling his masculine scent to erase the vile image that had assaulted her a few minutes before. She was so overcome with relief she couldn’t speak. She heard the blond Adonis swear at the two offensive Rogues and she lifted her head to see him pin them to the wall with wooden stakes. They quickly disintegrated into ash.
“Who is that? He was in my apartment. I thought—”
“It’s okay, Jenny, he’s a friend. I’d like you to meet Ta’breyian.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m sorry if I scared you. You should’ve told me you were his mate.”
“I wasn’t sure if you were one of them.” She glanced at the burn marks on the wall.
“I guess that’s a fair assumption, so it’s understandable why you were being cautious. But if I were a Rogue, I would’ve attacked you.” Ta’breyian smiled at her.
“I need to get her back. She isn’t well,” Dane interrupted his friend.
“I’ll follow you back to where you’re staying so you can take care of her without the fear of an ambush.”
Dane nodded and the three of them traced. When they entered the cabin, Dmitri and Ivanna were there waiting.
“Jenny, oh thank god, you’ve found her!” Ivanna ran over to them.
“Not now. I’m going upstairs. She needs to feed. You can visit later.” Dane’s voice was laced with worry. He kissed her forehead as she rested against him.
“Who’s this?” Dmitri glanced at Ta’breyian.
“He’s a friend. Dmitri, I’d like you to meet Ta’breyian.” The men nodded at each other but kept their distance.
“Go. We’ll watch the cabin,” Ta’breyian urged him.
Dane traced upstairs and laid her gently on the bed. “You should drink right now.” He took off his shirt.
“I can’t that way. No strength. Give me some blood from your supply,” she lied, not wanting to take his vein until she processed what she’d learned about his past.
“Okay.” He left and a few seconds later came back with several pints of blood.
She sat up and the room spun like atop.
Whoa.
“You’re dizzy, here.” He gave her one of the bags.
She took it from him with trembling hands. “How do I do this?” She tried to figure out how it worked. “Do I rip it open and pour it into a glass or something?”
“Puncture the bag with your teeth and drink.” He pointed to the top of the bag. His expression was somber and full of regret.
She bit into the bag and quickly finished it off. It satisfied her thirst but it was definitely not as good as Dane’s blood. He gave her another one and she drank that one too and then polished off a third. He shook his head and let a stream of curses under his breath. When she was done, she scooted back to rest against the pillow.
“Do you want more?”
“I don’t need any more right now. But thanks.” Numbness swept over her. Fatigue gnawed at her until she gave up and lay back against the pillow.
“You should rest. I’ll keep an eye on you while you do.”
“Can’t, I might trace again if I fall asleep.” She curled her knees up to her chest. There was no way she could go to sleep right now.
“I’ve placed a barrier to prevent it. You can sleep.”
“You can do that?” she asked, trying to distract herself.
“Only some of us can. Usually it’s the older ones who’ve been around awhile who have learned how to use this ability. It’s not easy to master. Takes practice.” He gently kissed her cheek. “Sorry for what you went through.”