Dying to Date(21)

Resolve filled her, banishing the pain ripping her apart. When she opened her eyes she did not look at Tarian with the longing of a lover but the clear gaze of an adversary. Every person on this property was her enemy, and she’d best them all. She didn’t need someone to rescue her. She’d do it herself.

Somehow.

Tarian moved forward, though his eyes never left hers. Rounding the table, he crossed the length of the room to Dominic’s side.

“Grandfather,” he said with a bow.

Melissa didn’t even flinch at the word. His relationship with her captor was irrelevant. It was just one more piece of proof that all she’d been to him was a means to an end.

“How did you find us?” Dominic said, gesturing to the chair that had been brought for Tarian.

“Eilin,” he replied as he sat. “You should have told me yourself.”

“I didn’t think you’d have the stomach for such business.”

Tarian reached for the roll on Dominic’s plate. “It’s been a long time since we’ve spoken. You don’t know what I have the stomach for anymore.”

“You’ve left your pacifist ways behind you then?” Dominic passed him the butter as if his sudden appearance was the most normal thing in the world.

“Of course.” Tarian sliced open his roll. “They were the ideals of a foolish young man. I can see this new world we’re in, Grandfather. The vampires need to be reminded they fear us for a reason.”

Dominic clapped a hand on his shoulder. “I can’t tell you how good it is to hear that, Tarian.”

He took a bite of the roll before saying, “You should have brought me in on this.”

“Apologies. Even leaders make mistakes. But you played your part all the same. Without you we never would have had access to the Redgrave.”

Both men turned to her, but she kept her face carefully blank.

“Melissa, I realize you may have lost your appetite,” Dominic said solicitously. “But you need to keep up your strength. Drink.”

Again her body moved without her permission, raising the glass to her lips. Beneath the table, she fisted her hand in fury. It seemed a hundred times worse being treated as a puppet in front of Tarian. Was he enjoying her humiliation?

She risked a glance at him in time to see a tiny frown mar his face before it smoothed into bland amusement.

“She is easy to control,” Dominic said with all the interest one would show a lab rat. “Given her relatively young age it should be a simple matter to confine her to the house.”

“Excellent,” Tarian replied. “Perhaps the children can practice on her.”

“Terrific idea. I’ll see to it a session is arranged for tomorrow. We’ll need every member of our community in the best shape possible in case things go wrong with the vampires.”

Tarian gestured to one of the waiting servers to fill his plate. “They may outnumber us but our powers are stronger than they believe. It would be unwise for them to attack directly.”

“I doubt it will come to that. Lucian is a reasonable man and say what you want about the vampire, he loves his family.” Dominic reached out to stroke her cheek. Melissa quelled the urge to sink her teeth into his hand. “He’ll want this lovely creature back.”

“When will you send the ransom demand?” Tarian asked, cutting a piece of chicken.

“I thought I’d let them stew for a day or two. Once they are truly panicked they’ll be more inclined to consider our offer.”

“Wise.” He ate without so much as glancing in her direction. The irony that they’d shared their last meal together laughing and flirting didn’t escape her. What a difference a day made.

Grabbing her wine glass of her own accord she drained the last drops.

“Dominic,” she said, setting the glass down. “If you were speaking truthfully about allowing me to walk around this house freely, then I’d like to be excused. Recent company is turning my stomach.”

Though the smile never left Dominic’s face, she saw anger flash through his eyes. Perhaps she should have resisted the urge to comment on Tarian.

However, Dominic merely patted her hand. “Of course, my dear,” he said. “You remember the way to your room.”

“Yes.” She tossed her napkin onto the table and stood. Not bothering to look at her betrayer, she stalked from the room with her head held high.

The second the doors to the dining room closed behind her, she collapsed against the wall. Out, she needed out.

Calling on her vampire super speed she raced to the window, only to see armed guards patrolling the perimeter of the property. She retraced her steps to the front hall to find another guard in black posted at the door. He looked at her with dead eyes as if daring her to try something.