“Yes, there is.”
“Damn, that’s annoying,” he muttered.
“Then release me.”
Not a chance in hell.
His gaze skimmed over the hard lines of her body. She was like a sleek greyhound. All muscle and grace.
And his.
He shook off the disturbing thought, concentrating on a half-truth that would satisfy her freakish, insanely annoying talent.
“I’m not entirely certain that Tearloch’s madness is an isolated incident.”
She was thankfully distracted. “You think it’s infectious?”
“No, but the veils between the worlds are thinning, increasing the opportunity for the Dark Lord to touch the minds of others.” Regret that he hadn’t prevented the darkness attacking Tearloch sliced through his heart. Yeah, he was quite the prince, wasn’t he? “And unfortunately it’s impossible to detect his influence until too late.”
A strange emotion rippled over her exquisite face before she was abruptly turning to stare at the far tapestry.
Sympathy?
Not bloody likely.
Not from his cold-hearted Hunter.
“How do you know that I’m not under some Jedi mind control?” she mocked, proving her indifference.
“Vampires are impervious to such tricks,” he growled. “Not to mention the fact you’re too irritatingly stubborn for the Dark Lord to bother with.”
Her lips thinned. “No.”
“No, you’re not stubborn?”
“No, I don’t accept your bargain.”
He surged forward, ignoring the danger as he grasped her shoulders and forced her to meet his fierce glower.
“You’re willing to remain trapped here as my prisoner?”
Her chin tilted. “Yes.”
“Why?” He searched the indigo eyes. “Because I’m an evil Sylvermyst?”
“That’s one of many reasons.”
“And the others?”
“I refuse to stand aside while you slaughter an innocent child.”
His fingers dug into her flesh before he forced himself to ease his grip. Logically he understood she was an immortal vampire who could kick his ass given a chance, but towering above her slender form, he couldn’t ignore how fragile her bones felt beneath his hands.
And how screwed up was that?
“Not a child,” he gritted. “A vessel created by the Dark Lord.”
“That has yet to be determined.”