Page 123 of The Vampire's Seduction

“Here, have some water,” Dmitri said and pushed a glass of water to her. He was handsome in a modelesque way. Despite his black form-fitting shirt and jeans clad in combat boots, he exuded a sense of sophistication and elegance that said he belonged in a boardroom. Though the clothes fit him well, they looked new, like he’d bought them specifically for this occasion.

Streaks of fury down the mating bond. Olivia almost choked on her water from the strength of Marek’s emotions. Her ears popped. Out the plane’s windows, she saw trees and an endless expanse of green.

“Where—where am I?” Her brows furrowed as she thought back to what happened. She’d stopped at the appointed gas station. Two people had been waiting for her. One’d come up to her and… “Did you drug me?”

“I’m sorry. It was a simple precaution.”

She didn’t ask against what. “Where are we?”

“You’ll see. We’re about to land.”

Olivia winced as her headache worsened, and she pressed the heels of her palm against her forehead to relieve the pressure.

“Do you know why I’m here?” she asked to distract herself from the pain.

“I asked you to be here. Of course I know.”

“Then you know about Drakos. About his agenda.”

“Yes.”

“Why are you helping him? Because he hates vampires? But he plans to wipe out humans, too. Did he tell you that?”

“Perhaps we deserve to be wiped out.” A smug smile. “Have you considered that?”

“Bullshit.” Olivia narrowed her eyes. “You don’t want to die. No, he must’ve promised you something else.”

Dmitri shrugged. “You’re smart. I wish we’d have met under different circumstances. We could use someone like you. Too bad the people at Zylotech didn’t see your potential.”

Olivia huffed. “Or they’re the smart ones, because they know I won’t join you.”

Dmitri didn’t respond as their plane jolted from the landing. The agony in her brain spiked and she grimaced, sweat breaking out on her back.

Olivia, what’s wrong?Marek sounded frantic.

Nothing. My head. It hurts.

It might be the mating bond. We’re too far away. Stop reaching for me. I’ll be there soon.

She gave a mental nod, the best she could do for the moment. With the mating bond, she sensed Marek drawing nearer, which gave her the strength to keep going.

As they waited for the plane’s doors to open, Olivia plastered her face to the window. A chain-linked fence separated the runway from the forest beyond. She didn’t see any other planes. They were at a small, private airport.

“Time to go,” Dmitri said and unbuckled his seatbelt.

Olivia followed him, holding onto the seat as her headache seemed to get worse and worse. Oppressive heat wrapped around her when she stepped outside. Within seconds, she was sticky with sweat. The dry heat of the desert hadn’t bothered her, but this humidity was as uncomfortable as a sauna. She wished she’d changed into a loose shirt and cargo pants like the crowds of people around them.

It was still nighttime, but bright white lights on tall poles illuminated the area. Thick trees surrounded the airfield. Black crates were stacked up to her height in several places. A cacophony of sounds and sights bombarded her. People dressed in sleeveless tanks and cargo boots shouted and rushed about everywhere, loading up the backs of trucks painted in camouflage and all-terrain jeeps.

Had she landed in the middle of a war zone?

A taller man with features as striking as Dmitri’s strode up to them and clapped Dmitri on the shoulder, scanning Olivia from head to toe.

“You didn’t tell me she’s this pretty, bro,” the man said in a too-easygoing tone. Hmm, so they were brothers. Now the resemblance made sense.

Dmitri, on the other hand, had lost his relaxed manner. “Her picture was in the brief we gave you.”

The man shrugged. “You know I hate reading those.”