loses this match or any other, for he must simply reset the game and try another. Indeed, sometimes I do think he enjoys losing. You have seen the expanse of his power. He could rule this world like a god if he wished it.”
“And why does he not?”
“I was hoping you could tell me.”
Maxine went quiet for a moment and let out a long breath. She pondered the problem for a while. All the world was a game to him. A game he could never willingly stop playing. “I think he is curious if the hunters might be able to end him, once and for all. He told me once that he wishes for me to either kill him or obey him. I do not honestly believe he has a preference either way.”
“Walter said the same.” Elizabeth grunted. “Damn. I hoped he was spouting out of his asshole again. But it seems not. Maxine, I will be blunt—I have no desire to die. If you destroy him, it might end us all.”
“Or it might not.”
“I do not wish to take that chance.”
“I cannot promise anything, Elizabeth.” She looked out at the city, and could only imagine the survivors hiding in basements, or being torn out of their houses. “How many are dead?”
“A fourth of the city is now either our food or become like us.”
“Twenty thousand…” She blanched. She felt sick. She had to stop walking for a moment and pushed Elizabeth away from her gently so she could move to lean on the side of a building. “And what of the rest?” She was afraid to ask, but she knew she could not hide from what had come to pass. Their fate was her responsibility.
“They are either still cowering in holes or have been taken into our care.”
“Your ‘care?’”
“If we kill all of you, what will we eat?” Elizabeth smiled sweetly, sympathetically, as if she truly regretted her words. Maxine knew she wasn’t being sincere. There was an emptiness to the woman’s heart that troubled her.
“How compassionate,” Maxine muttered and shook her head. She was developing a headache.
“I am hardly that. But if you are in the mood for sympathy, I think I would like to take you to see a friend of mine.” Elizabeth motioned her to come back over to her. “They are not far.”
“They?” She furrowed her brow as she allowed the vampiress to take her arm again and lead her down the street. “You said a friend, singular, then referred to them in the plural. Which is it?”
Elizabeth chuckled knowingly. “Both.”
Maxine raised an eyebrow at her.
“Oh, you’ll see.” Elizabeth squeezed her arm in a hug. “You’re going to be so much fun.”
If only Maxine could find the strength to believe that.
Bella wasn’t quite certain how long it had been since she had managed to climb out of bed for longer than twenty minutes. She could blame it on Mordecai and his impressive stamina and needs, but she knew she was equally at fault.
She had not once told him no. She had not once pushed him away. When she woke up from slumber to find them tangled together, with him firmly cuddled into her, it made her smile.
“I think perhaps we should come up for air soon,” he said through a yawn. “We can go rustle up a proper meal and it eat in the courtyard. I would say we could eat it in the sun, but, well…” He snickered. “The red moon’ll have to do.”
“I figured that this was my prison.”
“This is my room. And you aren’t my prisoner. You’re my ward until this mess is all settled.” He rolled over and stretched languidly. He really was quite feline in his movements. He had a contented, sated, broad smile on his face as he draped himself out as large as he could be.
There is no other reason a creature could be so beautiful and not be by design. But it wasn’t only his body she was beginning to enjoy. It was his goofy smile. It was his easy laughter and his playful sense of humor. It was all of him.
But a darkness still hung over her. “I am worried for Alfonzo and Eddie.”
“Mmh…Right.” He sighed and sat up. He stretched his shoulders again before turning to look at her. There was remorse in his eyes. “About that.”
“Oh, no…Please, no, tell me they aren’t dead.”
“Well, then, there’s good news?” Mordecai smiled sheepishly. “They aren’t dead, although they probably won’t survive this. Master Dracula does not forgive