Taken by a Vampire (Vampire Queen) - By Joey W. Hill Page 0,204

belongs to me, her fate mine to decide. You interfere with that, I’ll kill you with her. I’ll kill you anyway, for daring to mark what was mine.”

“She was never yours,” Evan answered, the gray eyes fired steel. “You never deserved her.”

Niall drew a wooden stake from his belt, flipped it in his hand. “How fast are ye, Lord Stephen?”

Stephen bared his fangs in a hiss. “Faster than you can throw.”

Niall threw in the middle of the sentence, and Stephen was gone. But he didn’t reach Niall. Evan met him in between, the two of them crashing into the stone side of the cave so hard dust billowed from the ceiling. Heart in her throat, Alanna saw Stephen had the immediate advantage, his hand locked on Evan’s throat, fist striking him midbody, hard enough she could almost see the organs rupturing beneath the skin. Then Evan was airborne, only not alone, for her Master had seized Stephen’s body. Both males spun out of balance, hitting the ground with a sound of cracking rock.

Another stake sliced through the air, as precise as a thrown knife. It caught Stephen in the lower back. He howled, pivoting. As he did, Evan shoved him back to the ground, driving it in farther.

Pain exploded in the same location, but Alanna bit through her lip, containing the cry. Niall leaped on Stephen as Evan grappled him from behind, holding on with an expression of grim, fierce determination. Stephen flailed, knocking Niall back, but the Scot returned in a blink, plunging his hunting knife hilt deep into Stephen’s chest.

Stephen screamed, and Alanna did as well, the pain far too much to bear. She writhed, fireworks exploding in her vision. The darkness of the cave became silver green, and she was dying, she had to be dying, because no one could hurt this much and live. She couldn’t even move, because there was no way to escape the pain.

Help . . . help . . .

Alanna, I’m here. I’m here. Evan’s voice, her Master, in her mind, and then Niall, too, the two of them holding on to her. There was the smell of blood and metal, a howling rage in her head breaking through, drowning them out

There was no practical purpose to his invasion now. Stephen was caught. This was pure, malicious vengeance. He cracked open her subconscious, the nightmares flooding in. The agony twisted her, choked her, yet she was screaming.

A hard thudding, and she had a moment’s respite. Someone was hitting Stephen, trying to knock him insensible, probably Niall, or maybe Evan, she couldn’t tell. All she knew was her soul was clutched in his hand, a vise grip intended to destroy her.

Fire sizzled from her throat, down into that place deep inside the body that ached from emotional pains too great to bear. Blood on her lips, fingers working on her throat, making her swallow. Adam, a skeleton with skin dripping off him like water, reached out to her, wanting to pull her into a swamp of nothingness, of despair. So real, she could smell the mud, bony fingers around her wrist.

Alanna, don’t listen. Don’t look. Don’t let him win.

Such a faint noise. Someone speaking . . . it was like being in a pitch-black room, a haunted afterlife, everyone moving, no one aware of one another, yet each person able to see all the insensible ones. She could hear that voice, would move toward it if she could find it.

I’m here. In your heart, in your soul. It’s a choice, Alanna. Choose.

No, it wasn’t a choice. It was about power and strength . . .

You’re stronger than any of us. Forest for the trees . . . trees for the forest . . .

No. Stephen was her Master. She had to be true to her training.

Be true to your heart. I am your Master, Alanna. Niall and I both. You serve us, and us alone. Not Stephen. You love us. You will obey us, no matter the pain, no matter your fear. I forbid you to fail us. Be the extraordinary servant I know you are.

She struggled like a child pulling against an adult hand as Stephen dragged her toward that abyss. She couldn’t find Evan or Niall. There was nothing in the chasm but utter madness. She wasn’t strong enough. She couldn’t override her Master . . .

He was never your Master, Alanna. Your heart has tae be earned, remember? Ye gave us your heart and soul. Now get your arse back