“Wood paneling,” she continued, bragging about all the features. “And these fold down.” She lowered a tray attached to the front seat and then showed me a small cabinet in the center. It contained two small glasses and a bottle of alcohol. “Aren’t they wonderful?”
“Fancy.”
“Let me give you a ride. Where are you heading?”
“Don’t bother. I’m going home. It’s too far out.”
Her blond eyebrows drew together. “Were you planning to walk?”
“I was going to take the train as far as it would go and walk the rest of the way. Or call a cab.”
“Nonsense.” Lenore snapped her fingers. “Charles, take us to the park with the clock tower—the one by the train station.” She sat back and fiddled with her grey sleeves. “I need to start learning all the street names again. It’s been so long, and so much has changed. Did you know this street was once filled with brothels? Whores as far as the eye could see.”
I bit my tongue. “So what are you doing up at this hour?”
“I was on my way to work when I heard the good news.”
I arched an eyebrow. “What good news?”
“The cat’s out of the bag, darling. I’m Viktor’s primary contact for your assignment. I’m beyond thrilled that we captured so many. I only have the preliminary report, but would you believe that at least twenty serve the higher authority?” She shook her head in disgust. “Five right here in Cognito, and the rest are in cities throughout the country. It looks like another power shift is on the horizon.”
“Is that why Christian was guarding you?”
She folded her hands on her lap. “Do you find his insolence tiresome? A woman like yourself would be better matched with a man in power. Many power couples are still together. If you ever find yourself single, I have just the person in mind. I used to play matchmaker in my time, and I’m quite good at it.”
“I’m sure.”
“Gracious. Is that blood in your hair?”
I picked at the top of my head and felt a clump. While I’d taken a shower at the auction house, Christian and I were too preoccupied in there to bother with things like shampoo and soap.
“I have something for you.” Lenore reached down into her bag. Before she sat up again, she swung back her arm and stabbed me in the chest.
Chapter 34
It took a second to register that Lenore had driven a dagger just inches away from my heart. The pain was indescribable, and it had happened so fast that I still had my hands above my head, picking a clump of blood from my hair. The blade split my rib and pierced my lung.
“I do hate getting blood on my seats,” she said while sitting back. “Driver, you know where to go.”
I yanked the blade out and coughed up a lungful of blood. When I gave her a bloodcurdling look, she sat frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. That bitch had stabbed me with a stunner.
I reached for the window and pulled in healing sunlight. The wound on my chest instantly healed, leaving my white tank top stained with blood. “I bet you’re wondering why I’m not paralyzed.”
She might have assumed I was a Blocker with special abilities, but I suppose it was my fangs that gave me away.
Lenore flew at me. I swiped the blade at whatever I could, and when it sliced her jaw, I turned my head away from the dripping blood. While her blood could give me strength, Christian had warned me about the unpredictable power of Vampire blood. Lenore had used it to control him for many years, and though rejecting it could be my demise, drinking it would most certainly be my downfall.
Lenore disarmed me, splintered the wooden footrest with one blow, and drove a piece of that wood into my chest. When I smiled, her jaw slackened. I used my free hand to punch her, but it was like smashing my fist against marble. Her cheek split but healed immediately, just as the cut on her jaw had. Lenore yanked out the wood, and the pain was enough to make me stiffen.
Then she leaned in close and reeled me in. “Follow my gaze, Raven. Look nowhere else. The pain is too much, isn’t it? You want nothing more than to feel relief and peace. Lie still. Your muscles are useless. You can’t speak and you can’t move. Not until you’re surrounded in darkness will the spell