half-turned Hunter is even more dangerous. Skilled. Deadly. That’s why I change com-links and numbers every twelve hours.”
“The phone thing?”
“I’m the Innovations Specialist with The Vampire Assassin League. I’m very good. It’s the geek in me.”
“Geek. You. Right.”
She had to have practiced sarcasm to be that good at delivering a set-down. Tristan didn’t say anything for several moments. This could be a reason why her foster mothers didn’t find her loveable, but he wasn’t saying so.
“Oh come on, Tristan. Let’s call it a night. Okay? It’s not like I’m a vampire anyway. And I promise not to tell anyone where I am – if, of course, I even knew.”
“You’ve been marked, and you’ve bitten me. We’ve shared fluid. They’ll scent you and then they’ll track you, and they’ll find you. And they’ll use you to get to me.”
“Look. It’ll be dawn soon. That probably puts a real crimp in your travelling abilities. Perhaps you could see me back to the train station and I’ll take it from there. ‘Course…I’ll need something to wear first. Fair enough?”
“Hunters get accolades for killing a mated pair. It’s a special patch, worn above the pocket. Right here.” He pointed to his heart, and watched as she followed the movement.
“Are you trying to scare me? Because it’s starting to work.”
“We’re mates, Rori. Mates.”
“Only because you say so. And only if I become a vampire. And just when am I supposed to forego a ‘turning’ ceremony anyway?”
“I can’t turn you unless you agree. Of your own free will.”
“That’s going to put a severe cramp in your plans, isn’t it? I don’t agree and I’m not willing.”
“You’ll change your mind.”
“That’s your plan? Get me to change my mind?”
“Not exactly. Only consider it. Today. While you rest. Here. With me.”
“So…that’s it? I’m stuck here? End of discussion?”
She had the taste of the whip to her words when she wished. Tristan regarded her for several long moments without saying anything. She had her chin jutting out at him, as if expecting and already rebutting a blow.
“You don’t like Poenari Castle Number Two?”
“I don’t like having my life decided and getting virtually zero choice in the matter.”
Tristan continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “You have free rein to redesign, if you want. Or, we can go back to Tirgoviste. Or we can stay at any of the other fifteen strongholds. Or we can design a more modern one if you wish.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing. Your castles are cool. They’re the perfect backdrop…for you, actually. Archaic.”
A yawn punctuated the sentence, and Tristan held the satisfaction deep. She’d given up for the moment and that was fine with him. He’d seek out some advice while she rested, so he’d have more argument for her.
“There’s an old movie you should watch, Tristan. Can you order it?”
“Which one?”
She’d moved to one side to slide beneath the bedding, covering over womanly perfection, and he’d allowed it.
“I don’t remember the title, but there’s this one part that pertains to us. Something about how if you love something you need to set it free. If it comes back to you it’s yours forever. If it never returns, then it was never yours to begin with. That’s us, all right.”
Her voice dribbled into nothingness before she’d finished, but he heard it. He just wished he hadn’t.
CHAPTER SIX
“She’s here? This isn’t good.”
“Shhh! I know she’s here. I’m trying not to wake anyone. She’s a bit bitchy when she wakes. Did you see what she did to my clock? And we don’t need to alert anyone, now do we?”
“I was here, remember?”
“What do you guys want?” Rori asked.
“See? You woke her.”
That was Naomi. Rori cracked an eye open and saw them both squished into the doorway. A flick of her wrist sent the blinds in her room down. The sound was matched by what sounded
“The phone thing?”
“I’m the Innovations Specialist with The Vampire Assassin League. I’m very good. It’s the geek in me.”
“Geek. You. Right.”
She had to have practiced sarcasm to be that good at delivering a set-down. Tristan didn’t say anything for several moments. This could be a reason why her foster mothers didn’t find her loveable, but he wasn’t saying so.
“Oh come on, Tristan. Let’s call it a night. Okay? It’s not like I’m a vampire anyway. And I promise not to tell anyone where I am – if, of course, I even knew.”
“You’ve been marked, and you’ve bitten me. We’ve shared fluid. They’ll scent you and then they’ll track you, and they’ll find you. And they’ll use you to get to me.”
“Look. It’ll be dawn soon. That probably puts a real crimp in your travelling abilities. Perhaps you could see me back to the train station and I’ll take it from there. ‘Course…I’ll need something to wear first. Fair enough?”
“Hunters get accolades for killing a mated pair. It’s a special patch, worn above the pocket. Right here.” He pointed to his heart, and watched as she followed the movement.
“Are you trying to scare me? Because it’s starting to work.”
“We’re mates, Rori. Mates.”
“Only because you say so. And only if I become a vampire. And just when am I supposed to forego a ‘turning’ ceremony anyway?”
“I can’t turn you unless you agree. Of your own free will.”
“That’s going to put a severe cramp in your plans, isn’t it? I don’t agree and I’m not willing.”
“You’ll change your mind.”
“That’s your plan? Get me to change my mind?”
“Not exactly. Only consider it. Today. While you rest. Here. With me.”
“So…that’s it? I’m stuck here? End of discussion?”
She had the taste of the whip to her words when she wished. Tristan regarded her for several long moments without saying anything. She had her chin jutting out at him, as if expecting and already rebutting a blow.
“You don’t like Poenari Castle Number Two?”
“I don’t like having my life decided and getting virtually zero choice in the matter.”
Tristan continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “You have free rein to redesign, if you want. Or, we can go back to Tirgoviste. Or we can stay at any of the other fifteen strongholds. Or we can design a more modern one if you wish.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing. Your castles are cool. They’re the perfect backdrop…for you, actually. Archaic.”
A yawn punctuated the sentence, and Tristan held the satisfaction deep. She’d given up for the moment and that was fine with him. He’d seek out some advice while she rested, so he’d have more argument for her.
“There’s an old movie you should watch, Tristan. Can you order it?”
“Which one?”
She’d moved to one side to slide beneath the bedding, covering over womanly perfection, and he’d allowed it.
“I don’t remember the title, but there’s this one part that pertains to us. Something about how if you love something you need to set it free. If it comes back to you it’s yours forever. If it never returns, then it was never yours to begin with. That’s us, all right.”
Her voice dribbled into nothingness before she’d finished, but he heard it. He just wished he hadn’t.
CHAPTER SIX
“She’s here? This isn’t good.”
“Shhh! I know she’s here. I’m trying not to wake anyone. She’s a bit bitchy when she wakes. Did you see what she did to my clock? And we don’t need to alert anyone, now do we?”
“I was here, remember?”
“What do you guys want?” Rori asked.
“See? You woke her.”
That was Naomi. Rori cracked an eye open and saw them both squished into the doorway. A flick of her wrist sent the blinds in her room down. The sound was matched by what sounded
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