Page 115 of Taming His Vampire Mate

If they arrived.

“What did he threaten you with?”

The flicker of anger across his face told me I had asked the wrong thing.

“That is not the point.” His tone sharpened. “The point is, you must realize by now that I could have killed you a dozen ways in these past few minutes, and I have not. Therefore, remove your knife and wooden stake.” His dark eyes glinted dangerously. “I will not ask so nicely again.”

Feeling desperate, I strained my ears. Were Jeremy and the others coming? Could I hear them?

Silence was the only reply.

I tried not to despair. Jeremy would come. He would bring the others. He would—

“Now, Thierry.”

Grimacing, I pulled the silver knife from my pocket. Then the ironwood stake from my sleeve. I held them, one in each hand. Solid. Comforting. Old friends.

I could throw the knife. I had always been quicker than most vampires. Maybe fast enough that he wouldn’t catch it? The silver would weaken him, make him easier to finish. Or I could rush him. He wouldn’t expect something so foolish, would he?

If I could just catch him off guard, I could—

“If you attempt either course of action, you will die.” Godric said it mildly, like he was commenting on the weather. “And I have no wish for your death, Thierry. I never have.”

A chill ran up my spine. Was he in my head? Or had he foreseen this? How much did he already know? Did he know the others were coming?

Godric watched me closely. “Throw the weapons into the trees. You may retrieve them later.” He paused. “After all, think of your wolf. There is still a strong possibility you will return to him once I finish with you. If you wish to see him again, you will do as I ask.”

Cold inside, I threw the knife first. Then the stake. They landed side by side at the tree line, just inside the forest that stretched for miles. Too far away to protect me now. I was defenseless.

“Very good,” Godric said.

When I turned back to him, he was sitting on the top step of the porch.

“Why did you destroy Rookwood?” I demanded. “Was it just to get to me?”

“I did no such thing.”

“If you’re going to be evil, you can at least cop to it. I saw you.”

“Yes, you saw me in the dream I sent you.” Godric’s tone was ice cold. “You and the wolf both. The young warlock tuned in as well, of course. After that, that is his gift.” He paused. “You needed to see firsthand what he had done. You needed to understand what the stakes are.”

“What who had done? What are you talking about?”

Godric favored me with a thin-lipped smile. “I suppose now is the moment I ask for your help. Or rather, this is the moment I ask you to clean up your own mess. And I, being a kind creature, will help you do it.”

“What are you talking about?”

I felt off-kilter. Which was the point, wasn’t it? He wanted me unbalanced. But why was he still toying with me? I was no longer armed. He had to know he could overpower me whenever he pleased.

“Magnus is not dead.”

The words hit like a blow. My world tilted.

“What?” My voice quavered despite myself. “No. The witches killed him.”

Godric smiled, humorless and grim. “Iwas the one who spread that story. And the greatly exaggerated tale of my owndemise, as well. All it took was my allies—those who feared me enough not to speak of it again—saying the right words to the right people. And voilà. As far as the world knew, Magnus was destroyed, his progeny along with him. And Magnus’s enemies wanted to believe it.”

I stared blankly. If Magnus was alive, he could—andwould—come for me. Which meant no one I cared about was safe.