jacket and pants that could’ve been painted on. With her thin legs encased in dark leather knee high low-heeled boots, I had to admit to a certain curiosity as to how she could possibly move in such a restricting attire that seemed hell bent on keeping her movement as minimal as possible.
She sent a glance at Jason over one shoulder.
“I didn’t have a choice, Jason.”
Was that sorrow in her eyes?
And what sort of choice was she speaking of?
Jason’s lips narrowed and he turned away, almost as though he couldn’t bear to look at her any longer.
Was that pain in his eyes?
When no answer came forthwith, she let out a deep breath as Lazaro straightened up to his full height and then gestured to her in a singularly vulgar finger movement that made me wish I could break his fingers. And perhaps even his wrist. And his arms, while I was at it.
And perhaps even his neck, but really, I wasn’t that greedy.
Nor optimistic.
Not when I saw Lazaro move like an invisible shadow down the passageway and flick his hand upwards.
The blow sent Shannon careening into the low ceiling and I watched the joy of the battle fill Lazaro’s eyes, fill his eyes so completely there were no whites in his eyes, only a overwhelming darkness that promised nothing but death.
But not while I still stood.
And, it seemed, not while life still beat within Shannon’s body.
He stared down at her small hand clenched down around his ankle and laughed, a high, shrill sound that made my stomach jolt.
“Oh?” he said, joyous, ridiculously so. “Is that how it is then? Is that how you want to play this game?”
She lifted her head off the floor and a thin stream of crimson dripped off her chin to splatter on the concrete.
Next to me, Jason made out a small sound.
It worried me.
Was it because she was his ex-lover, the woman he had loved enough to conceive a child, a woman he had loved enough to pursue all these years, a woman he would have gladly laid down his life?
Or was it because he was just hungry?
“I’m not done yet,” she coughed, spraying blood from her lips.
Lazaro’s lips curled with disdain.
“I need to help her,” I said. “She can’t do this alone.”
And it wasn’t that I particularly liked her.
“No!” she screamed. “Stay there. I’ll kill the bastard. Let me do it!”
Lazaro’s laughter filled the corridor. “Is that the truth? Well, then, shall we dance?”
She pulled herself up, using his leg as a crutch and he let her. It must have been confidence that kept the smile on his darkly tanned face, confidence that made him put his hands under her arms and bring her back up to her feet.
But she stood and managed to take a step away from him, bringing her hands in front of her face protectively. Already, a massive bruise was forming on her brow and her right eye had swollen to magnificent proportions.
I felt my admiration for her grow. I did not like her, but I was beginning to understand her.
And that in itself was somewhat frightening.
“Here,” he said, opening his arms out wide. “I am not such a cruel man. In fact, it is lucky they sent me. I will allow you one blow. Anywhere you would like.” He winked, as though this was all one big joke. It was enough to put my teeth on edge. “But just one blow, you understand. I am not cruel, nor am I an idiot.”
She let out a soft sound, somewhere between a mew and a sigh and Jason cursed quietly next to me.
I wanted to ask if he still loved her, if he still sheltered feelings for her, but knew there couldn’t have been a worse time to ask.
She turned her large amber eyes up at him, looking up at him through lashes heavy with tears. “You hurt me.”
Lazaro clucked his tongue. “I did not have a choice. But here, I am allowing you one blow. Go on and do it before I lose my patience, little one. You won’t have a chance like this ever again.”
Her eyes flashed, and I realized her hurt voice, that little, pathetic voice was nothing but an act.
Ah, but what an act it was.
With a flick of her wrist, something fell into her hand and she rushed forward, quicker than my human eyes could follow.
The other vampire could not react, didn’t even have a chance to move.
She held him, as close as a lover, one hand