Dying to Date(27)
Melissa eyed the door, knowing she’d only have one chance. She’d have to be fast. Faster than she’d ever been before.
Behind her Tarian inhaled as his body started to wake, and she shot from the bed.
She was out of the room and flying down the corridor in seconds. Decreasing room numbers flashed passed her as she sprinted for the stairs. Her vampire speed allowed her to cross the distance in a fraction of the time it would take a human.
The stairwell was only a few feet in front of her when magic washed over her skin
No, she thought as her legs stopped running.
She jerked to a halt, standing frozen in the motel hallway. Without her permission, her body turned, and she saw Tarian leaning against the doorjamb of their room. He hadn’t even bothered to chase after her. Not that he’d need to.
With his powers surrounding her, her feet moved forward of their own accord as she walked back to her betrayer. Unlike when Dominic had controlled her, Tarian’s magic wasn’t biting. It caressed her skin in a touch that was unwelcome but not wholly unpleasant. The fear she’d felt when Dominic had controlled her was absent under his command.
You’re a fool, she told herself. He posed just as great a threat to her as his grandfather. The fact that he could use his magic on her without a qualm was proof of that.
Her legs stopped moving when it reached the door to their room.
“I’m going to release you,” Tarian said, arms crossed over his chest. “It’s your choice whether to walk into this room so we can have a civilized conversation or whether I have to chase you down again.”
The tingling in her limbs drained away, until she was once again in control.
“I’m going to enjoy watching my father eviscerate you,” she promised with a smile.
“Let’s just add this to the list of things I need to make up to you before we reach New York.” He gestured into the room, and she strode passed him with her head held high. The last thing she wanted him to know was how unnerved she was to be powerless in his presence.
Melissa heard the door close behind her but refused to turn. Instead, she went to the window and looked out at the dark parking lot. She wasn’t used to being the weaker partner in any sort of relationship. Vampires were stronger than most immortals, but all her usual advantages were wiped away with Tarian. She had nothing to fight with if things went south, and the knowledge made her want to do physical damage.
“This isn’t how I wanted to start our night,” he said from behind her.
“I can’t tell you how devastated I am to have ruined your plans.”
“Let’s have a seat and discuss our situation calmly.”
“Or, and I’m just tossing ideas around here, I could continue to curse the day you walked into my life and do everything in my power to escape you.” She turned, ready to stare him down. “Decisions, decisions.”
“You could,” he agreed, as he perched on the edge of the bed. “But you’ll fail.”
Her fangs burst from her gums as she hissed at him. “If at first you don’t succeed—”
“You don’t want to try again.”
Silence stretched as she regarded the man she’d been so happy to see walk into her office just a few nights ago. Now everything was different. Her world was splintering and she had no idea who to trust.
“Is this were we get to the portion of the evening where you rain threats down on me?” she murmured.
His eyes were blank as he looked at her. No hint of her boyish would-be lover remained in the necromancer before her.
“That’s not how I want this to play out,” he replied.
“But a bastard’s gotta do what a bastard’s gotta do, am I right?”
He stood, and every instinct in her flared to life, even though he looked harmless enough.
“I don’t want to use my power on you. Never did. I regret that circumstances made it necessary to do so today.”
“Please,” she replied. “Necromancers love nothing more than to use vampires like puppets.”
“I’ve told you before, you have no concept of my race.”
A smile twisted her lips but she doubted her expression was pleasant. “Your grandfather gave me a crash course.”
“We’re nothing alike.”
“I’m sure.”
“I gave you a rield.”
The words cut off the snarky comment she’d been about to voice. Instead she kept her peace and waited for him to continue.
“Dominic took it from you, so I know you understand what it means.”
She swallowed before inclining her head. “I don’t know why you gave it to me, though.”
“I wanted to protect you,” he replied, walking toward her. “Even from myself.”