Not yet. I want to talk to you about something.
What? she asked, reluctantly.
I know you dont want me to feed off you, and I respect that. Even though he still wanted her blood more than anything. At this point, he doubted that was ever going to change. Are you afraid Ill revert to the mindless being I was inside the cave?
No. If that were a possibility, it would have happened after you drank my blood from the goblet.
He believed the same. Are you afraid Ill see the world through your eyes?
No. I mean, you havent yet. You still could, of course, but the thought doesnt bother me. You have before, and really, you already know everything there is to know about me.
Then tell me whats going on in that head of yours. Please.
She traced a pattern on his chest, the tip of her finger tickling him, sensitizing him. You wont like it.
Tell me anyway.
Her lips pressed against the most sensitive spot, his heartbeat rushing up to meet her. You know how youre becoming a vampire?
Yes, he said, and in that moment he knew where she was going with this. He knew, and he didnt like it. An insidious cold invaded his bloodstream.
Well, Im becominghuman. Completely human.
Bingo.
My skin, its like yours was. Easily cut. I cant teleport anymore. I cant use my persuasive voice. And Im eating human food. I had a hamburger before I returned with Mary Anns lunch. A hamburger! And I enjoyed it.
So many changes. Too many changes. Do you still need blood?
Not me, not anymore, but Chompers does. His roarat first it was stronger, because he was so hungry, but now its weakening. Hes so quiet, Im almost afraid heshesyou know.
Yeah. Dying.
Aden pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to align his thoughts. He should have realized the truth himself. After all, this made perfect sense and explained so much. Her chilled skin, her reluctance to do the things she used to do. When he thought about all the chances shed taken lately, all the chances hed asked her to take, he wanted to knock a few holes in the wall.
Barring that, there was only one other thing he wanted to do.
Okay. Heres our new plan. Youre going to feed off me, and Im going to feed off you. Another blood exchange, just like in the cave.
Her cheek rubbed against him as she shook her head. We dont know how well react. How theyll react. The beasts.
Exactly, and its time we found out. Were being proactive now, remember? Were not simply reacting, were causing.
A breath shuddered from her, gusting this time. All right. Youre right. I know youre right.
Good, because his mouth was already watering, desperate for a taste. And maybe he was pushing for this because he craved it so badly, not because he thought it would save them, but just then, he didnt care. Ready?
Yes.
He rolled on top of her, and she softened against him, turning her head to the side to offer her hammering pulse. His gums started aching, throbbing really, and he ran his tongue overfangs, he realized, shocked to his soul. For the first time, his teeth were as sharp as razors. Not as long as Victorias, but noticeably longer than theyd been.
You first, he rasped, wanting her as strong as possible for his bite.
A tremor moved through her, but then she was licking his neck, sucking, warming his blood, biting, drinking, and unlike before, her bite hurt, no chemical shooting through his vein, numbing him, but he didnt care about that either, he liked that she was taking what she needed from him; it was what hed begged her for since the moment hed met her. And when she finished, he was doing the same to her, licking, sucking, warming, biting, drinking.
She moaned, the sound echoing through the room. Her fingers scraped through his hair. That feels good, she rasped.
Then he was the one moaning. So sweet, so delicious, filling him, flowing through him, strengthening him, quieting Junior, consuming them both. He was rubbing against Victoria before he registered that he was moving at all, but she didnt seem to mind, seemed to like it, meeting his every motion with one of her own.
But soon that wasnt enough for either of them. Aden pulled his teeth from her neck, surely the most difficult thing hed ever done, but he didnt want to take too much, had to protect her, even from himself, and she groaned in disappointment. He couldnt move away from her.
Aden, she said on a husky catch of breath.
Yes.
More.
Biting?
A soft, glowing smile. More everything.
As if he needed further prompting. He kissed her until he was forced to come up for air, and then he kissed her again.
Sometime during that second kiss, their clothes disappeared and their hands began exploring. He hurt, but hed never felt so good. He needed more as shed said, but couldnt take much more. His thoughts were short-circuiting. This was everything hed thought it would be, only better. So much better.
Too fast? he rasped. Should I stop?
Too slow. Dont stop.
C-condom, he said. He didnt have a condom. And he couldnt be with her without one. He wouldnt risk pregnancy. There were STDs out there, he knew that, too, and even though he knew she didnt have one, that vampires were immune to human diseases, he wasnt going to be stupid about that, either.
Ibrought one. After our conversation in the forest, Ive been carrying one. All the time.
The crinkling wrapper at last made sense. If only hed known at the time.
She wiggled out from under him to get it, and he mourned the loss of her. She was back a few seconds later, and they picked up where theyd left off.
Not once did the souls comment. Not once did Junior roar. Or maybe Aden was simply too consumed with what he was doing to notice them. There was only Victoria, only here and now. Their first time. His first time.
Hiseverything.
TWENTY-FIVE
DO YOU TRULY WISH to challenge me, boy?
Vlads words echoed in Tuckers mind, menacing, as sharp as a blade. The very blade he held in his hands as he paced the floor of his motel room. Hed rented this crap hole in the same dump where the others wereor rather, had beenstaying, and on the same floor. Not that theyd known it. Hed wanted to be close to Mary Ann, to feel at peace again, but it hadnt worked. He could still feel Vlad pulling at him.
The bastard wanted his own daughter eliminated. Wanted all the players responsible for his downfall eliminated. And he was close to getting what he wanted. Those players were finally together and on the same board. Aden, the power. Riley, the security. Victoria, the eye candy. Fine, she was the intermediary. And Mary Ann, the brain.
Tucker should have offed them already.
At least Vlad had no idea Tucker had made a deal with them. A deal they had better honor.
After Aden had finished boning his vamp, the two-some had talked, all lovey-dovey and crap. Tucker was still shuddering. On the other hand, Mary Ann and Riley had sniped at each other, nearly drawing blood. He kinda preferred the cooing. Thankfully all that ended when the foursome had gathered together and left the comfort of the motel for the wide-open battleground of the outside world. They were still vulnerable to attack, and thats exactly what Vlad wanted him to do. Attack.
Are you listening to me, boy? I dont like being ignored. Bad things happen to those who irritate me.
Like Tucker didnt know that already. Look what Vlad had already forced him to do to Aden. What Vlad had forced Ryder to do to Shannon.
The pace of his steps increased, his boots digging into the carpet. How was he going to get out of this mess? Without casualties? If he killed Aden, Aden couldnt save his brother.
Tucker scraped a hand through his hair, the one holding the blade, the metal hilt leaving grooves in his scalp.
Youre going to do what I told you to do. Theres no fighting me.
There had to be a way.
I will kill your brother if you fail me. Have you forgotten?
No, I havent. But if you kill him, youll have no way to control me, he snapped.
Vlad might be getting stronger, but his hold on Tucker was not. Every hour, it weakened a little more. Tucker figured he was building up an immunity. Not quick enough, though. Not nearly quick enough. Vlad could still force him to walk up to anyone, hurt themphysically or mentallyand Tucker could only grin and bear it.
But Vlad had to know his grip was loosening, and thats why he was threatening Tuckers little brother. An insurance policy in the form of his innocent, sweet little brother, a six-year-old kid whose only friends were invisible and whose own father treated him like dog crap on the bottom of his shoes. Ethan deserved happiness, but everyone was always dumping on him.
Tucker loved him, yet he had been the worst offender, and now he wanted, needed, to make amends. To save that kid once and for all.
Theres always a way to control a puny human, Vlad said, laughing smugly. I always find a way.
Very, very true. But Tucker wasnt exactly human, was he? I dont want to hurt anyone else. Didnt want to slay hisfriends. Or frenemies, theyd probably say. They, however, would kill him in a heartbeat. With good reason. But theyd promised to help him save his brother, and Tucker had to believe they would try.
Would they succeed? Maybe. The way Aden had tamed those vampire beastsmaybe he could tame Vlads and use it against him. Yeah, maybe. All Tucker knew for sure was that he couldnt defeat the former king on his own. He needed help. Aden was that help. So, kill him? No.
I dont care what you do or do not want. Do it. Do what I told you. Destroy them. Now.
Tuckers feet were moving toward the door before he could stop himself, the dagger at the ready once more. No. No, no, no. He ground his heels into the carpet, slowing his momentum. A few days ago, he would have been outside and doing as ordered immediately. He hadnt lied to Victoria. The more evil he committed, the stronger he became. Hadnt taken him long to figure that out.
A few days from now, and maybe Vlad would no longer be able to lead him around like this. But did he have a few days? Did his brother?
Probably not.
Tucker massaged the back of his neck. Right now, there was only one sure way to get what he wanted. Hed ignored the possibility before, but here, now, he couldnt. And didnt really want to anymore.
Lead me to wherever theyve gone, he said, his tone devoid of all emotion.
Vlads glee practically slithered from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. Thats my good boy.
TRY AGAIN, Julian said.
Aden knocked on Tonya Smarts door for the sixth time. She was home, no matter how much she might be wishing otherwise right now, and he wasnt leaving until she answered. Or called the police and they escorted him off the premises.
Riley and Mary Ann were a few miles away, checking out the Stones place, making sure they were, in fact, his parents. Aden had declined to go, claiming itd be easier and faster if they split up. In reality, he just wasnt ready to face the two people whod betrayed and forgotten him.
Because what if they were good, decent people? What if they knew nothing about his abilities? What if those abilities had nothing to do with the reason theyd given him up? What if they simply hadnt wanted him?
Even the thought left him bleeding inside.
Victoria stood beside him, holding his hand. Now that he knew she was human, he wasnt letting her out of his sight for any reason. Someone had to protect her, and he wanted to be that someone. Now, always. Not just because her blood tasted heavenly, and he still craved it, would probably always crave it, but also because she trusted him, looked out for him, wanted the best for him and still loved him, after everything hed done, everything hed taken from her.
Again, Julian prompted. Please.
After the loss of Eve, the souls had stopped pushing Aden to learn who they were. Theyd been as scared about parting as Aden was. But now that the information was within reach, Julians fear had dissipated. He was all about the eagerness.
Perhaps we should try again later. Victoria scanned the yard.
Wed get the same results. Aden knocked again. Shes home. I cansmell her. He could even hear the rapid thump, thump of her heartbeat. And yeah, that was kind of freaking him out.
Junior, of course, liked the sound. Though it wasnt a lullaby to him, as it would have been to any other newborn; it was a war drum. He heard, and he hungered, even though hed been fed.
If the woman is that determined to ignore us, we failed before we even arrived. Victorias voice had dipped, becoming husky, like a pinup coming to sparkling life.
His intensified senses were picking up details hed never before noticed. All
No! Julian shouted. Were not leaving.
Not yet, Aden said.
A relieved sigh echoed. Thank you.
I just want to speak with you, Ms. Smart, he called. Please. You could save a life here.
The next few minutes ticked by with no results.
This isnt working. Victoria did her chew-on-the-lip thing. I wish I couldbut I cant. She blinked up at him. You, however, can.
Can what?
Summon her. You can make her talk to you.
Thats right. He could. He kept forgetting.
His head fell back, and he peered up at the sky. Dark velvet with pinpricks of starlight. Vast, never-ending. Like his ability. He could make anyone do anything he wanted. The same way doctor after doctor had forced their wills on him, only with pills. The same way foster parent after foster parent had expected absolute, total compliance for the gift of taking him in. Anything for a check, he supposed.
To do that to othersto keep doing itover and over again, when he knew the awfulness of being on the opposite side of that stick.
Its a good plan, Julian said.
I know. The more he did it, though, the easier itd be and the more hed fall back on it, until he relied on the ability for everything. Justlet me think for a bit.