Blood Lust - Alexandra Ivy Page 0,111

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Unable to leave without her daughter, Myst pressed herself against the wall, peeking around the corner.

Come on, come on, she silently urged, feeling as if each passing second was an eternity.

At last she caught sight of the little girl stepping through the open doorway, a dimpled smile lighting her face as she ran down the hallway.

“Mommy. Mommy.”

Going to her knees, Myst held out her arms, her heart soaring with relief.

“Oh, my baby,” she breathed, pulling her daughter tight against her as her tears fell unchecked down her cheeks.

She’d never been so terrified in her life. Now pure joy was bursting through her. Was it any wonder she was having trouble controlling her emotions?

Leaning back, Molly sent her mother a chiding frown. “I’m not a baby.”

“No, you’re not,” Myst readily agreed, kissing the tip of her daughter’s nose. “You’re a very big, very brave girl.”

Molly’s glorious smile dimmed, her lower lip quivering.

“I didn’t like that mean lady.”

Myst ran a worried gaze over her daughter. The Mave had sworn that she wasn’t infected, but that didn’t mean she didn’t have other injuries.

“Did she hurt you?”

“She squeezed my arm, but it didn’t hurt. Well . . .” Molly hunched a shoulder, knowing that she was always supposed to tell the truth. “It didn’t hurt much.”

Myst forced a reassuring smile to her lips. “Don’t worry, sweetie. She’s never going to hurt you again.” She tenderly brushed a silvery curl from Molly’s cheek. “I swear.”

Molly nodded, glancing over her shoulder. “I think she was sick.”

Myst grimaced. Despite everything her daughter had endured, she still possessed that sweet, innocent belief in the goodness of others. Which meant that Myst couldn’t share her opinion of the bitch who’d tried to use a child as a bargaining chip.

“Yeah, I think so too,” she murmured.

“Will the healers take care of her?”

“I’m not sure she can be helped,” Myst hedged, knowing her daughter’s tender heart would be worried.

There was a short silence before Molly wrinkled her nose, thankfully turning her thoughts away from Stella and her ugly fate.

“I knew that man wasn’t you, even though he had your face,” she said, her dimples returning.

“Of course you did.” Myst kissed the top of the silvery curls, fiercely grateful her daughter hadn’t given the game away. “You’re a very clever little girl.”

Molly reached up to touch Myst’s forehead. “I knew because his brains were different,” she explained.

Myst studied her daughter. A new talent?

“What do you mean different?”

“They are all scrambly,” Molly said, her brow wrinkled as she tried to explain. “They blink. One place and then another. As if he isn’t really here at all.”

Hmm. “He is . . . unusual,” Myst admitted, feeling a small flare of unease. She didn’t know anything about Boggs, but she didn’t think he would be pleased to know that Molly could sense beneath his strange appearance. Best to keep the two of them apart. “We need to get away from here.”

“Can we go home now?” Molly swiftly demanded.

“Home,” Myst breathed.

Molly pulled back, her big eyes filled with worry. “You’re staying this time, aren’t you.”

“I-”

“Yes, Molly, she’s staying this time,” a male voice interrupted.

“Daddy,” Molly screeched, pulling away from Myst to hurtle into Bas’s waiting arms. With a smooth motion he had her lifted off her feet and snuggled in his arms. “Squeeze me tight,” Molly commanded.

Bas’s expression was painfully vulnerable as he buried his face in Molly’s curls, his big body trembling as he pressed his daughter against his chest.

“This tight?” he asked.

Already recovered from her ordeal, Molly was swift to take advantage of her parents’ overwhelming relief. Arching back, she flashed her most persuasive smile.

“Is Mommy staying with us?”

The bronze gaze moved to where Myst had straightened to stand in the center of the hallway. A fierce, shockingly possessive smile curving his lips.

“She is.”

Elation exploded through Myst, even as she tried to pretend she wasn’t as eager as a stray dog to be invited to his home.

“So sure?” she murmured.

A sudden heat shimmered in the depths of his eyes as he allowed his gaze to slide down her body.

“I’ll handcuff you to the bed if necessary.”

Molly gave a sudden giggle. “Has Mommy been bad?”

“I hope she intends to be very, very bad,” Bas said, smiling with wicked pleasure at the blush that stained her cheeks.

“Bas,” she protested, even as she trembled with anticipation.

“I’m hungry.” Molly broke into the sensual spell that Bas could so easily weave around Myst. “Can I have a donut?”

“Come on.” Bas held out his hand in silent invitation, waiting