to frighten you.”
“Thank you for slowing down,” I say, my hands still gripping the side of the seats like my life depends on it. The ride down the mountain is silent and freezing, and I itch to turn the heating on in the car, but I stay silent, unsure about my new captor.
When I start shaking, I forcibly pull my hands off the seat and wrap them in my dress, trying to keep them from getting too cold. Reign looks across and mutters a string of curses under his breath before pressing the switch for the heating to turn on.
“I don’t have humans in my house, and I am not used to understanding their needs,” he starts off, and I watch him carefully, seeing how uncomfortable he is. “You must tell me if you are cold or hungry, whatever it is you need, and I will accommodate you.”
“Why?” I question. “Why did you bid for me if you don’t like humans or have slaves?”
He doesn’t answer me for a long time. At least half an hour ticks by, and we are near the end of the mountain when he finally does. “I heard of your unique gift, and it makes you powerful. My brother doesn’t need any more power at his beck and call. A possible d’vampire with a gift to resist compulsion would be disastrous in his hands.”
A power grab. I get it now.
“So you need me to choose you in under six months’ time?” I question.
He looks over at me. “In my house, you will not be hurt or forced into anything. You will be free and protected by my name. We both know my brother cannot promise you that.”
But he can damn well kiss like a god.
Even though he is a monster.
I breathe out a long breath. “I will choose you if you help me find out if a few people are on this island, and if they are, save them and buy them for your house. One of them is definitely on this island, his name is Arlo O’Dargan, and he was sold right before me. The other is my brother, but I don’t know if he is here.”
“I don’t want more humans in my house. You are bad enough,” he tsks, gripping the steering wheel tighter.
“Then I will choose Maddox,” I tell him plainly. “If he turns me, I will have enough power to buy them myself.”
I bluff all of it. Total bullshit. I’m not letting Maddox or Reign turn me into a d’vampire and some kind of weapon. I like my ass human. Thank you very much.
Reign suddenly stops the Jeep in the middle of the road, not that there is another car anywhere to be seen. I keep my eyes on Reign as he stares right back at me, his creepy eyes glaring right into mine. “You are quite something, aren’t you, Riona Dark?”
“I’ve been told that before. My professors and parents called me determined,” I reply. “My brother just said I was a smartass and that my mind mixed with what comes out my mouth would get me in trouble one day.”
“You just tried to blackmail a vampire prince,” Reign coolly replies. “Your brother was right.”
I lift a shoulder. “He was, yes. Only I’m braver and more reckless now, thanks to being stolen and shown things I never thought I’d ever see.”
“Death is something you will get used to,” he replies and sighs once more.
“I will agree to your terms,” he states. “But you and your friends will not disturb my life.”
“Agreed,” I say, offering him my hand to shake. He lifts my hand and presses a single kiss to the top of my knuckles, and while it’s sweet, his touch doesn’t do anything for me like it does his mad brother.
He lets my hand drop. “I know where your friend is, and we can head into the city now to buy him, if you wish it. As for your brother, my research suggests he is not on the island.”
I nod, feeling tears of relief pricking my eyes.
Arlo. “Yes, please.”
“Hold on then,” he instructs and drives off faster than he did at the top of the mountain. Only this time, I don’t complain.
Chapter Eighteen
At least an hour drifts by as Reign takes the car down country roads, past many houses and through a forest before we break into view of the city. We approach the city on the left side, if my sense of direction isn’t wrong, and down here this place