come out when needed,” he explained, trying to find the right words to tell me what he needed to say. “Marcus is one of those people,” he confessed, searching my eyes for understanding. I began to struggle against him again as tears burned my eyes.
“No! No! Marcus is dead,” I sobbed, my teeth clenched in anger. He let go of my wrists and I began hitting hard on his chest with closed fists, not caring how strong he was or that he could kill me without even wasting any energy. He wrapped his arms around me tightly and held me against him until I was too exhausted to struggle anymore. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I choked out, but I knew how absurd my question was. He didn’t even say that he was a vampire. This was all some sort of sick game to him. I was nothing more than a pawn.
“I didn’t know right away. I learned from Reid just a few hours ago,” he reassured me, but it did little to comfort the ache in my stomach. “Let me make you feel better.”
He brought his wrist to his mouth and I cringed, stopping him from puncturing his own flesh. I didn’t want anything he had to offer me. “They expect me to bring you to them at sunset. I convinced them to let me come for you early because of the weather,” he explained.
My head swirled as I took in all of this new information. Why were we going to see them if he wasn’t going to turn me? How could I possibly say no now that I knew my brother was still out there? What if Elijah was lying to keep me from struggling?
“What are we going to do?”
He gently ran his fingers along my jawline. “I will think of something,” he replied and kissed me softly on the lips. Being with Elijah was the safest place I could be and if they had my brother, I had to go. Grayson would never forgive me for abandoning him at his apartment, but if I lived through all of this, I hoped he would give me the opportunity to explain.
“Where is your mind right now?” he asked curiously.
“If you are lying to me,” my voice wavered. “If you’re lying about Marcus… killing me would be less cruel.”
“I’m not lying to you, Eva. But you have to understand. He’s not the brother you used to know. Prepare to have your heart broken.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m used to that,” I snapped.
“I wasn’t using you. If I’d have told you what I was, you would have run from me.”
“Don’t you think that was my decision to make?” But even as I said the words, I knew that being able to see Marcus again made every bit of pain worth it.
“Vampires are selfish creatures.”
“So are humans,” I mumbled as his lips curved up into a smile, making me momentarily wonder if he really was that bad.
“I was one of those once, too.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
He laughed quietly as his eyes searched my face.
“Even when I do this?” His lips met mine with a gentleness I didn’t know he was capable of. Even in all of the turmoil and chaos, my heart still drummed a little harder with his touch. He broke away from our kiss and as my eyes opened, he was smiling sweetly. “See, you believe it. I can hear it.” He placed his fingers on my chest, over my heart, and I gasped. “I’m going to need you on my side when I take you there. Going rogue will get you killed.”
I swallowed hard, hating him for what he was, even if he couldn’t help it. Hating myself because I knew that was not the only thing I felt toward Elijah. “I’m right here with you,” I said and pulled his lips back against mine. He ran his tongue over my lower lip and I let my lips part, inviting him to kiss me deeper.
If I was going to die tonight, I was going to enjoy what little time I had left. Elijah’s hands cradled my face as he kissed me tenderly as I let myself once again get lost in his lies.
Chapter twelve
Helpless
We trekked up Green Valley Road as night began to take over. Elijah gripped my hand tightly, not speaking a word. I was terrified, but I couldn’t help but be excited to see my brother. He was my best friend, and for years now I