of the FPA’s prisoners. From a seventeen-year-old pyrokinetic to an elderly necromancer, it was like taking a walk through the living museum of hell.
“Dreamwalker,” Agent A boasted as I looked in upon a middle-aged woman reading and doing her best not to acknowledge us. “Ever seen one? They don’t sleep much.”
Still I said nothing. Within that room lay my key to the lock that held me bound to Shya. The dragon etched into the flesh of my forearm burned. I owed Shya a dreamwalker. Only then would he release me from our deal and remove his mark. I knew I would never do that. Handing over a human being to Shya would make me as evil as he was. Though I might be many things, that could never be one of them.
I gave a wistful sigh which Asshole mistook for fearful acceptance.
“Ok, that’s enough,” he announced. “Time to show you to your cell. I mean room. This will be worth it even if I never make Captain.” Again with the cackling chuckle. “If you live through the night, maybe you’ll prove to be useful after all.”
“What are you talking about?” I studied Hastings, finding his solemn expression unnerving. He wouldn’t make eye contact, focusing instead on a door near the end of the hall.
I gasped when Agent Asshole began to aggressively frisk me. He relieved me of my phone, the only personal belonging I had on me.
“I suppose I’ll have to report this.” He sounded disappointed. “Maybe I’ll forget for a day or two. Give you some time to get reacquainted. If you survive the reunion.”
Hastings pulled out a set of keys that included a swipe card with each one. He unlocked the deadbolt, ready to follow up with the swipe card. “Ready?”
“Are you going to leave me in these things?” I indicated the cuffs.
Agent Asshole considered it. I willed him to free me. Cut off from using my power, I felt naked and helpless.
With a nod to Hastings, Asshole trained his gun on me, inches from my face. Ignoring my request, he watched as Hastings opened the door just wide enough for me to enter. Then, he shoved me through the dark opening so hard that I fell inside. Unable to catch myself, I landed painfully on my back with my bound arms beneath me.
“Hey, werewolf,” Asshole spat. “Welcome to the execution chamber. This is where we put the trouble makers. Found a use for your vampire after all.”
With that, the door slammed. There was a thud as the deadbolt slid into place. I rolled over and pushed to my feet. The strong, honey sweet vampire energy swept over me, and my heart stuttered.
I turned to take in the room. Hope gave way to relief and then renewed fear. My gaze slid over the double bed, the nearby writing desk and the vampire standing in the center of the room.
With five centuries of bloodlust in his mismatched eyes was Kale.
“Not you,” he said in a broken whisper. “Dear God, not you.”
Chapter Seven
Kale stared at me, uncertain and confused, as if he couldn’t be sure I was real. Something passed behind his eyes, a glimpse of someone I knew. Then, it was gone.
I had wanted so badly to find him here. I hadn’t really allowed myself to believe I would. Before I could react or speak, he moved in a blur, shoving past me. With both fists, he pounded on the window.
“Not her, you mother fuckers! Anyone but her.”
The rage emanated from him. It swirled around me, a cloud of anger that I responded to against my will. I was burning with the urge to reach out to him with my power, to draw in his sinfully sweet energy. It called to the part of me that was all vampire; that side of me recognized him as mine.
Slowly, he backed away from the door, away from me to the opposite wall. His fists clenched and unclenched. His eyes darted around, settling on me in brief intervals.
“You need to get out of those cuffs. You have to be able to fight.” Squeezing his eyes shut, Kale shook his head vigorously, battling a hunger that wouldn’t be denied.
When at last he dragged his gaze to mine, I saw the eagerness for blood and death burning in his gorgeous eyes. One brown, the other blue, it was a mesmerizing feature that promised to enchant his victims as he killed them.
“I don’t think I can. The cuffs are on too tight.” I concentrated on