Page 71 of Immortal Bastard (The Order of Vampires)

As she dressed, she noticed a fresh glow to her skin. No signs of acne, no blotchy pigmentations from the sun, and no scars. Her body felt…purified. It was almost as if she could feel her cells regenerating by the second, feel new hair follicles growing, and her nail beds firming.

She opened the door and jumped a step back when she found Christian waiting on the other side. “Jesus, you scared me!”

He growled. “Perhaps we should stay here.”

“What? Why?” No way was she staying in the house another minute.

“I’ve warned you about your language.”

She rolled her eyes and brushed by him. “God, loosen up, Christian—”

He caught her by the arm. “I’m very serious, Delilah. Being Amish is not something I take lightly. Foul language is a deliberate sign of disrespect. If you wish for my respect, you will offer the same and honor me in this by controlling your tongue. It’s one thing when you spew profanities at me, it’s a completely different matter when you take the Lord’s name in vain.”

They were so close to getting out of the house and meeting the others, she’d capitulate just about anything at this point. This was her only shot at finding allies who could possibly help her escape. “Fine. I’m sorry. I’ll try not to take the Lord’s name in vain anymore. Okay? Can we go now?”

He released her but studied her closely with narrowing eyes. “Why so eager?”

“Uh, probably because I’ve been cooped up in this house for days with no one to talk to.”

“I’m here for you to talk to.”

“Yeah. Not the same.”

He stepped back and averted his gaze but not before she saw him wince. “I see.”

She shouldn’t feel bad. This was his fault. But guilt soured her stomach anyway. She hadn’t meant to belittle his faith. Plus, she needed to play this right so she could get to the women and form an alliance.

“Delilah, they won’t help you escape.”

His words were but one more cause for concern. She didn’t know how he read her intentions because she couldn’t read his, but every time he proved to know what she’d been thinking her irritation grew. It was an indescribable violation and she bristled, instinctively wanting to push back.

Mouth tight, she glared at him. “Why?”

“Their first loyalty is to their mates and God.”

The problem with conformity was that it looked an awful lot like loyalty. No one saw the force or the stripping away of individualism that occurred first. “You said those women were like me.” What was the word he used? “Transitioned.”

“Yes, but they have accepted their destiny and they are loyal to The Order.”

“Dogs are loyal, too, Christian. But if you take too much away from them, neglect them, and trap them, they’ll eventually show you a disloyal side and attack those who think they own them. It’s in their nature.”

“The female’s nature is more docile than that of dogs.”

She scoffed. “Says the man who thinks all women should be domesticated like pets.”

“We honor our female counterparts far more than any other species—especially our called mates.”

“I call bullshit.”

His hands balled at his side until his knuckles popped. “You’re purposefully baiting me. I warned you to watch your tongue.”

She hadn’t meant to curse, but that wasn’t the point. “Warned me…” She rolled her eyes. “Let me warn you about women, Christian.” She leaned close, pointing her finger near his chest. “We can tolerate a world of pain, far beyond what would make the strongest man buckle. We’re patient and know how to bide our time. Like mountains, we seem unmoving, but we’re always growing and evolving. Men have suppressed us because they’re terrified of how much our little minds can hold. But we remember everything, so you men have good reason to fear. That’s a warning.”

“You mistake me for your enemy, pintura.”

“Well, our relationship status does seem destined to be permanently locked at ‘it’s complicated’, so let’s just agree to disagree.”

“Those females love and trust their mates. They’ve accepted what has been done and cannot be undone.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Christian. I’ll never forget who I was before I met you and neither will those women. You can’t take away our memories.” She shoved the bonnet over her hair. “Covering our heads doesn’t stop us from thinking.”

She brushed past him, covered head held high and her nose tipped with the haughty confidence that came with solidarity. Those women were the answers to her prayers. They were all getting out.

Delilah waited at the front door for him to lead the way. His hand coasted over the small of her back as he directed her out of the house. She hated that his touch caused a physical response in her body, hated how much his contact comforted her. How could she enjoy something that also caused her great alarm?

“I wish you wouldn’t touch me.”