Page 98 of Taming His Vampire Mate

He broke off, gesturing vaguely to his own neck.

“Right,” Jeremy said, frowning. “No real harm done. I heal quickly.”

“For the record, I’m not sorry,” I told Quinn. “I’m glad I didn’t go through with it, but you would have had it coming if I did.”

“I know,” Quinn said. “You were protecting your person.” He traded a private smile with Derek that somehow managed to speak volumes. “I understand completely. I probably would have done the same in your shoes.”

Scowling, I turned away. I wasn’t sure if I believed him. The problem was that I wanted to trust him—which was usually a sign I shouldn’t.

For an instant, my gaze caught on the window’s reflection, the glass so heavily tinted it was like staring into a black mirror.

Godric was standing right behind me, staring at the back of my neck.

I whirled. No one was there.

Jeremy and a half-dozen other eyes were on me. Whatever expression I was wearing, it couldn’t have been good. If my heart could still beat, it would have been pounding.

“Thierry?” Jeremy asked sharply, brows knitting. “What is it?”

Before I could reply, Poppy’s phone rang.

She pulled it from her pocket, glanced at the screen, then answered. Listening intently, she froze. Her eyes widened; her lips formed a perfect O.

“What is it?” Simone asked sharply, coming to stand beside her. She was deeply protective of Poppy. Cagey as they were about whether they were truly fated mates, it was a ratheracademic question. It was obvious Simone would do anything for her.

“Are you certain?” Poppy asked. She listened a moment longer, then whispered, “Holy shit.”

Jeremy and I exchanged a glance. I couldn’t hear his thoughts, but it was impossible not to know what he was thinking. He knew something strange was happening. So did I.

I focused my hearing, catching only the end of the conversation: “It’s only him so far, but I thought you should know. The others are still safely contained.”

“Did you—I need to see the marking of the spell.”

“We thought you might say that,” the witch on the phone replied smoothly. “We’ve cast the Sword of Helios upon him to illuminate his magical history. It’s quite unusual. I’ll send photos momentarily, and you’ll see why.”

Poppy hung up, looking even paler than usual. Her phone chimed again. She tapped the screen, studying the image the witch had sent her.

I wasn’t an expert in the coven’s magic, but I knew the Sword of Helios revealed any spell ever performed upon a person, place, or thing. I’d seen it once before—cast on Bryan, after he’d been buried under layers of compulsion by an evil warlock. Those spells had shattered after he fed from Ethan. But why had the witches needed to use it now?

Poppy’s gaze met mine. “One of the vampires in Rookwood escaped the binding spell.”

I snorted. Patently ridiculous. “How? It was cast by a circle of witches, correct?”

“Exactly. Um…” She hesitated, unsure where to start. “He ran. Two towns over. He ended up at a motel by the highway. Then he tore the door off one of the rooms.”

Quinn shot to his feet, stricken.

It was so genuine, I had a hard time doubting it. Gone was the soulless monster from the night before. He looked like any mortal hearing a horrifying story.

“Did they live?” he demanded. “Who was the vampire? Did I—was he someone I—”

He broke off, unable to finish. But his unspoken question hung heavy: had he turned the person who did this? Had he created a creature that destroyed innocent lives simply because it could?

“No, it’s not like that,” Poppy said quickly. She still looked stunned, forcing the words out. “The vampire didn’t kill anyone. He, um… met his mate. That’s who was on the other side of the door. His fated mate.”

“His mate,” Jeremy repeated, staring. “That sounds… but are they sure?”

“He’s basically a fucking kitten with fangs at this point, so yeah,” Poppy snapped, glaring. “They’re sure.”