Page 18

This day was getting better and better.

While humans had developed the C2 implant to guard their minds against vampires, an exceedingly rare, select few were born with such protection. Marek had only encountered two in his entire existence. Olivia was the third.

Her brows furrowed when he said nothing. “What’s wrong? I’m telling the truth.”

“Say it again.”

She did. Again, that invisible wall. He hadn’t imagined it. Well, he had to try it just for sure.

“Give me your bracelet.”

“Why?”

“Because it might be hiding your thoughts from me.”

“You give too much credit to simple jewelry.” When he stared at her and waited, she slipped it off and handed it to him.

“Say it again,” he ordered.

“I didn’t know Zylotech was kidnapping vampires,” she repeated without hiding her annoyance.

He was blocked again. So, it wasn’t the bracelet. It was all her.

Marek sighed, for the first time feeling the sun’s weight on him. While they were indoors in shadows, he was constantly aware of its progress over the sky. Daytime was their kind’s time for rest, but he couldn’t sleep, not with her here. Trapped.

“Well? What’s the holdup?” she demanded.

“It seems I can’t read your thoughts,” he muttered sheepishly.

“I thought it’s a skill all vampires have.”

“We do, but you have a mental shield against us. If I try to break it, I’ll damage your mind in the process. I assume that’s not what you want?”

She visibly recoiled. Not that he would do it ever, not even against his worst enemy.

“Maybe something’s wrong with you.” Olivia had the gall to point out. “Is there another vampire here?”

Marek growled at the suggestion. “No,” he snarled. “Nothing’s wrong with me. It happens. Some humans are naturally immune to our powers.”

“Great,” she muttered. “Just great. Now what?”

Marek’s mind whirled, the glint of the bracelet catching his attention. “You didn’t answer me. Did your sister give you that bracelet?”

“No, like I told you. I always had it.”

“Then your parents gave it to you.”

Sadness suffused her, eliciting in him an overwhelming need to take it away.

“I think so? I don’t know my biological parents. It was with me when I was adopted.”

Don’t fall for it.Marek clenched his jaw and asked, “Do you know anything about your parents? Were they witches?”

Confused, she said, “No.”

“But your sister’s a witch. Magic usually runs in the family.”

“We’re not related by blood.” Hmm, how had he missed that? “My adoptive parents had her a few years after they adopted me, and she’s not a witch. Why do you keep asking about her? What does she have to do with this?”