a useless struggle. Vampire hormones flooded my system, making it hard to think clearly, turning every sensation to pleasure. Even the fact that he was killing me wasn’t as alarming as it should be.
Slowly, I began to feel him in my mind. It was a dark, oily sensation. He was using his aura, his power, to somehow pull memories from me with my blood. I groaned and struggled, but I couldn’t keep him out. He merely tightened his grip and plunged deeper into my skin, and my psyche.
Finally, when I thought I would black out from blood loss and the pleasure tingling over my skin, he lifted his head. He stood and looked down at me with a disappointed expression. “You really don’t know. You aren’t sure if there is something special about you. You don’t know if she’ll care that you’re here.” He canted his head from side to side. “There is nothing special about your blood. Maybe you are a favorite pet?” He shook his head, and I risked a glance at his eyes. They were both silver, and they began to fade back into his usual shade of brown as I watched. “Why would a coven leader care about a little cripple like you?”
I was regaining a tiny bit of my will. With it came anger. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth to keep from saying something dumb that would make things worse. Maybe Leah would save me purely for Peter’s sake. She seemed to really like him. He was a favorite, I was sure of it. But he had been defying her wishes by not turning a human. Would she help someone who was annoying her and causing strife in the coven?
I found out later that day. Creepy Jerk Number One was back. He brought a tall, brown-haired man with him. I almost cried for joy when I recognized Peter. Then I had an instant of terror when I was sure he had been captured too.
“Leah has sent a liaison.” Jerk seemed bored. I tried not to show emotion. Liaison?
Peter stepped forward and squatted down to my level. His face was calm as he examined my numerous bruises and bites. “Leah will not approve of the way this human has been treated, even if she is of no value to my master,” he said slowly. He shook his head disapprovingly. Sighing heavily, he stood. “I suggest you release her and allow me to wipe her memories and return her to her home.” I had never heard about that particular talent. I hoped it was just talk.
The vampire laughed. “You’re going to have to take that up with Master Cashern,” he said in that bored tone of voice. “Not fucking likely though. What’s to say it isn’t all a set up?”
Peter shrugged. “I’m only here to observe and advise as I see fit. I can’t make you listen.” They left the room together without ever speaking a word to me. I stared at the door for a long time, expecting Peter to burst back in and rescue me. Nothing happened.
It was much later that night when Cashern and his guards came back. Jerk Number Two threw me over his shoulder like a caveman, again. “What the hell are you doing?” I tried to sound indignant. I think I just sounded scared and desperate. Shit, they were going to get rid of me.
Cashern didn’t answer. Instead, he addressed his two minions. “Take her just inside Leah’s border and toss her into the nearest ditch. I doubt anyone will find her before she starves.” He laughed. “She sure as hell won’t walk back home.”
I squirmed furiously. “You can’t do this,” I screeched. We were moving up the stairs now, and I caught glimpses of Cashern’s hawkish face through my hair.
“I can and I will,” he said coldly. “Leah says she doesn’t know you, and doesn’t personally care for your welfare. However, she has decided that killing you would be construed as poaching on her territory, the arrogant bitch. She’ll send in her vampires in retaliation. We don’t have the numbers to stand up to her in a direct conflict.” He shrugged. “So we send you back.” His voice took on an innocent tone. “If you happen to die of natural causes within her borders that’s not really our fault, now is it?” There was no trace of red in his eyes, and without it, he almost looked weak.
I kicked and slammed my fists into my captor’s back.