Page 25 of Fated In Blood (Nocturne Vampire Clan #1)

25

EVANGELINE

R iordan plunked me down and stepped away, brushing off his suit with a faint curl to his lip. I couldn’t believe I’d ended up back at this wretched mausoleum, wallowing in the smell of dust and isolation.

Four people—at least—had died since I’d left this place, one of them by my hand.

And Riordan…I’d never seen anyone as powerful as him. Never imagined vampires had magic that could fucking cut someone in half . Even after everything I’d done, the viciousness of their deaths left me shaken. I had to sort out my feelings, as pathetic as that sounded. And now that I’d drank from Riordan, I was fucking high again, riding this bucking bronco of endless power.

A curse, really, because I didn’t want a single drop.

I wanted to be human again, goddamnit.

I swayed, the hallways spinning. “I have an apartment, you know. Not that far from here. I know, because I had to walk there after your buddy Blake abandoned me to my own devices.”

“You, of all people, should understand why Blake left. Don’t pretend to be the injured party.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. You turned me against my will and made me into a monster. Should I be thanking you?”

“You should. The alternative wouldn’t have been pleasant, I can assure you.”

The urge to punch Riordan in his perfect mouth had me fisting both hands. I got the feeling if we spent any more time together, I’d actually follow through. But…I didn’t have to stay here, not if I didn’t want to.

In fact, I’d like to see this asshole try to keep me here.

“You know what? This place looks like it’s infested with bedbugs. I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight, under my own roof.” Okay, my landlord’s roof, but same thing. “You want to try to stop me?” I dared him, feeling pretty damned invincible. “Go right ahead, Your Royal Highness.”

Riordan’s lip curled back, and I shivered at the sight of those fangs. “What a surprise. You’re not going to comply with my rules?”

“Rules are for losers.” I headed for the same door I’d left through a few hours ago. “And this is all starting to feel a little monotonous.”

I had no plan beyond getting out of here and into familiar territory. I just needed time to regroup.

I could handle this…vampire thing.

I’d gone hungry before. Lots of times.

Mom always worked her ass off, but money was tight, so I was used to an empty stomach. This hole in my belly was nothing new. Self-control and a freezer full of steak would get me through until I got Angel away from Tyrell.

By the time he figured out she was gone, we’d be in the wind.

“It was nice knowing you. Send me an invite to the family reunion in…I don’t know…like, fifty years.” The second my fingers touched the cool, fancy brass doorknob, everything stopped. I tried to take another step, tried to turn the handle, but every muscle in my body had locked up.

“Sadly, I can’t wait fifty years. I’ve been waiting for over a hundred, and I cannot afford to delay any longer.” I swore something like sadness flitted over Riordan’s features before he schooled them once again into that cold mask of indifference. “In another year, there will be nothing left for me to save. I am sorry, but I can’t let you leave,” he added softly.

“Let me go,” I hissed, the muscles in my face twisting painfully.

“Let me tell you a secret, Silver.” Riordan’s voice lost all its gentleness. “I may lack my sire’s love for cruelty, and Tyrell’s depravity, but I possess something neither of them do. The resolve to see this through to the end. Understand this. I have one chance to save this kingdom. You are that chance, and I will use you as I see fit. Now come here.”

His voice rolled through me like thunder, then my feet were moving, taking me straight to him like a fish on a line. I stopped right in front of him, body shaking from the strain of fighting his control.

“Kneel.” My knees hit the floor with enough force to make me wince, tears clouding my eyes as I stared up at him. “Tell me you obey.”

“I obey.” The words came from some dull, far-off part of me, like this was happening to someone else. But it wasn’t. He controlled me, and there was nothing I could do to stop him.

He reached down and cupped my chin, his eyes flaring. “Oh, you will, soon enough, if you know what’s good for you, Silver.” Beneath his hard, inflexible tone was a hint of remorse, but only a hint.

“I fucking hate you,” I gasped, agony radiating through my chest and down my arms, the room blurring as more tears filled my eyes. “So fucking much.” I pitched forward, landing between two mud-splattered, expensive shoes, while Riordan lowered himself down to a crouch, hands hanging between his spread knees. He had a manicure, though dried blood now stained his cuticles.

“Your defiance is impressive, and adrenaline gives you a brief burst of power, enough to override my control. But there is no undoing this bond between us. Tyrell is the most powerful vampire on this continent. He Made me and Blake, and in turn I Made you.” His tone was condescendingly patient, which made me even more infuriated by my inability to punch him.

“But…” My head spun. “But what about…Blake?” This whole time…I thought Blake turned me.

The fact that my Maker was Riordan…fuck, this was worse than I thought.

“I Made you; I control you, that’s all you need to know.” Even without adrenaline, I managed to lift my head high enough to bare my teeth at the bastard.

“I could talk myself blue in the face explaining blood hierarchy, but you are too stubborn to listen, and proud enough to believe the rules don’t apply to you. So think of this as a hands-on lesson. I am older than you, I am your Maker, therefore I can force you to do things you might not necessarily enjoy. Like swear your obedience to someone you’d rather pummel into dogmeat.”

I tried to speak but couldn’t, so I growled instead.

“Good. I’ll take that as a sign you understand.”

Oh, I understood just fucking fine. I was going to murder this bastard the second he released me from his voodoo vampire death grip.

“No matter what you think of me, I am not a complete monster. I can be fair.” He stood, disappearing from my view, his voice echoing through the empty space.

“I brought you here to make a deal, Silver. We both want the same thing, I think. You help me, and I’ll send you on your way with enough money to go anywhere, do anything you want. No strings, nobody keeping tabs on you. True freedom. How does that sound?”

Okay. Now he had my fucking attention.

“I figured you’d like those terms. Besides, there’s something in this for you, besides the money. You seem like the vengeful type. You help me destroy Tyrell, help me kill that bastard and put him in the ground for good, then you never have to see me again. Take your sister with you for all I care. Simple as that.”

I fought against the compulsion, fought with all my strength to get out one miserable word.

“Deal.”