She shouldn’t be surprised by her sister offering her services. At least she’d have a good defense for Drantos—insanity. “I know that.” Dusti sighed. “I’m tired. It’s been an awful day and I just want to get some sleep.”
“Good idea.” Drantos suddenly shifted his position and slid to his hands and knees, facing Dusti. “Move over and make room for me on the blanket.”
“What?” She gaped at him.
“The temperature is going to drop more within a few hours. Take off my jacket, we’ll use it for a pillow, and I’ll keep you warm.”
“I’m not sleeping with you!”
Those strangely beautiful eyes of his seemed to glow for a split second again. It startled Dusti and made her realize she hadn’t just imagined seeing it in the woods.
“You are.” His voice deepened. “Lie down on your side after you take off my jacket. My body heat will keep you warm if I spoon with you. My brother and I are going to make sure both of you make it through the night.”
“Hell no,” Kraven groaned. “They can keep their own body heat.”
“They can’t.” Drantos stretched out beside Dusti and literally pushed her over a few inches to make room for him. “You know they need us.”
Kraven clenched his teeth, the muscles in his jaw tensing visibly. “I’ll trade you.”
Drantos seemed to ignore the comment, instead arching an eyebrow at Dusti. “Take the jacket off now and lie down.”
“No.”
The blue of his eyes turned colder. “Now. You and I are going to curl up and get some rest together. You will allow me to hold you to keep you warm.”
A shiver ran down her spine at his raspy, deep tone. Fear had her moving to do as he’d ordered. She removed his warm jacket. She shivered again, this time from the cold, and handed it to him.
“Wait a minute,” Bat protested. She gasped in the next instant.
Dusti swung her head to stare where her sister had been, only to find her gone. She turned her head farther and spotted Bat flat on her back with Kraven stretched out next to her. He had one thigh over her sister’s legs and his hand cupped her face. They seemed to be staring at each other, faces inches apart. She couldn’t be sure though, since she couldn’t see Kraven’s eyes. But he had obviously put her sister in that position and had her pinned.
“He won’t hurt her. He’s just going to keep her warm and quiet until she falls asleep.” Drantos gripped Dusti’s arm to force her to face him. “Don’t make me control you too. You wouldn’t like it, and I wouldn’t either.”
“You’re threatening to hurt me? You said you wouldn’t do that.” Fear shot up her spine.
He suddenly sat up and gripped her head. His long fingers curled around the back of her neck while his face drew closer. She stared into his gaze and saw the blue of his irises seem to lighten, turning a brighter shade. His hot breath fanned her lips when he leaned closer until their noses lightly touched. She couldn’t look away from his incredible eyes. They stunned and frightened her at the same time. Eyes shouldn’t change colors that way.#p#分页标题#e#
“I’m strong-blooded and you’re not. I probably won’t be able to take your free will but I can immobilize you. Your body will refuse to move. I’m ordering you to hold still.”
Dusti attempted to lift her arm to push him back but her body didn’t respond. Her limbs hung limply at her sides. Panic set in as she tried to do it again but it was as if she’d been paralyzed.
“Easy.” Drantos’s tone lowered, turning husky. “You’re fine. I don’t want to argue with you but it would be bad if you make a scene. We’re going to cuddle up together nicely without you fighting me. If you resist, I’ll keep you this way. Do you understand?”
She couldn’t even form words to respond but a tiny whimper did manage to squeak past her parted lips. The brilliance of blue in his eyes dulled as suddenly as it had sharpened. Dusti gasped in air and was actually able to move when she jerked back. Drantos released her completely but didn’t look away.
“How did you do that? Bat? Talk to me!”
Dusti leaned back, her hands clawing at the blanket, and inched farther away from Drantos. Her head turned when her sister didn’t respond, only to find the other couple still frozen in the same position as before. She was suspicious that Kraven had control over her sister the same exact way Drantos had just controlled her.
Her mind refused to acknowledge that though. It was too unreal to be true. She found reasons instead. Her and Bat were tired, they’d had a rough day, and had survived a plane crash. It left them stunned and easily susceptible to wild thoughts and ideas. She latched hard onto that excuse. It sounded reasonable. People who’d survived traumatic events could be convinced of things not real or true. Their minds were messed up. Drantos had just used the power of suggestion. She’d listened subconsciously because he was crazy.