Bound by Night(28)

Riker didn’t owe her an explanation, but what the hell. They didn’t have anything else to do while they hung out in the cave except talk. Besides, maybe if she understood the importance of getting Neriya away from the humans, Nicole would be more willing to cooperate.
“I’m sure you’re aware that the vampire race suffers from a low birthrate, and when a female does get pregnant, the birth can be extremely complicated and dangerous.”
Nicole moved around in front of him. He wished she hadn’t. Even though she was dragging her fingers through her messy locks in an attempt to tame them, she still looked like she’d just gotten out of bed after a tumble with a man, and he definitely didn’t need to be picturing her on a mattress. Or with a man.
Or with him.
“One in four deliveries results in the death of either the mother or the child or both,” she said, sounding like she was reading straight from some Vampires for Dummies book. “I know.”
“Well, Sunshine Smartypants, all vampires develop special abilities at some point in their lives, depending on if they’re born or turned. One of the rarest abilities is also the most precious. We call it usdida.” Crouching, he gathered the first-aid supplies and tried to stuff them back into the box. They appeared to have multiplied.
“Basically, people with this gift can ease labor and deliver babies safely. No one knows how it works, just that very rarely does a child or a mother die when a midwife with usdida is present.” What the hell—seriously, did bandages breed? Frustrated, he forced the kit lid closed.
“Neriya is a midwife from another clan. We arranged to have her present for a birth, but on our way to return her, our team was attacked by hunters, and she was taken.”
“What makes you think my company has her?”
Nicole asked.
He glanced up at her, a little surprised at the lack of defensiveness in the question. “Because a warrior who survived the attack reported hearing the hunters mention having a buyer at Daedalus lined up.”
There was a long pause, as if Nicole was gathering her thoughts. Finally, she shook her head. “That’s impossible. We don’t have people out gathering vampires for us. It’s illegal for anyone but federally sanctioned hunters to capture wild vampires.”
Wild vampires. As opposed to domesticated slave vampires, he supposed.
“So you’re saying my warrior is a liar.”
“I just think he’s mistaken,” she said, like a perfect little diplomat.
He ground his molars so hard his jaw ached. “Baddon doesn’t make mistakes.”
“I see.” Arctic air practically swirled around her.
No doubt, she didn’t believe him and was sure her fabulous company was completely misunderstood. “In any case, I can understand why you’re desperate to get Neriya back.”#p#分页标题#e#
“You have no idea.” He shoved himself to his feet with a little more force than was necessary. “Her clan, ShadowSpawn, has given us until the new moon to return her. If we don’t, they’ll destroy us down to the last child.”
Nicole’s mouth fell open. Closed. Open again. Finally, she simply turned away. “There’s so much more to your people than anyone knows.”
“Shocking, isn’t it, how we have feelings and families and we even celebrate holidays.” He wished she’d turn around so he could gauge her reaction, but he’d have to settle for listening to the beat of her heart as it sped up or slowed down . . . or skipped a beat the way it had a moment ago. “But you know what ruins our families? Our holidays?” He let the answer fly like aright cross. “People like your family. ”
Nicole wheeled around so suddenly he actually stepped back. “I’m not defending what humans have done to you,” she said fiercely. “But my family was good to our servants.”
“Servants? My mate wasn’t a servant. She was a slave. You can’t even say it, can you?” Loathing billowed up inside him, raw and hot, as two decades of festering wound tore open, spilling fresh pain. “Your family ripped her from our home and turned her into a damned nanny to a snot-nosed kid who grew up to hate vampires.”
“I loved Terese!” Nicole took an aggressive step toward him, her hands fisted at her sides. “She was like a sister to me. She cared about me.”
“I cared about her,” he shot back. “You took her away from me. From the people she loved.”
“Yes,” she said, her voice as caustic as the acid she’d nearly killed him with. “Your mate loved you so much that she tried to abort your baby. Twice.”