“Never.”
Dominic’s empty eyes shifted to Melissa. “I don’t know about that. With this act you’ll be tarred with the same brush as the rest of us.”
“I’m only doing what I need to in order to protect my family.”
“What do you think about that, vampire?” Dominic said to her. “How do you like knowing your lover is ready to sell you out if the right offer comes along?”
“I think you can both go to hell,” she hissed, hopefully convincingly.
“How ever did you catch her?” Dominic asked with narrowed eyes.
Tarian’s grip on her arm tightened slightly before he opened his mouth. “It wasn’t all that difficult. A little seduction and a few words of praise and she was eating out of my hand. It’s not hard to get the better of a vampire desperate for a little attention.”
This time there was no stopping her flinch and Dominic seemed to take vicious glee in her reaction.
He’s acting, she reminded herself. Don’t pay attention to his words. You know you’re more to him than that.
“Yes, I’ve heard about Lucian’s sheltered daughter. I imagine it wouldn’t be very challenging to open her legs with just a bit of flattery and a show of interest.”
Don’t kill him, she repeated to herself in a running mantra. Buy time.
“Like I would ever stoop to considering a necromancer as a viable partner,” she said. “A girl can have a good time without envisioning white picket fences and starry futures.”
“You should thank your lucky stars that one of us even deigned to notice you.” Dominic sneered. “Tarian is much in demand.”
She stiffened even as her lover drawled, “I can do better than the walking dead, Grandfather. She was fine for a single night but not an inventive enough lover to keep.” His laugh sent spikes stabbing through her heart. Though she knew every word was an act calculated to buy Lucian the time he needed, she still couldn’t help wondering if any of it was true. He hadn’t fought for her when they came to New York. Not to mention, he was eons older than her. The old ones were notoriously hard to please in every aspect of their lives, especially the bedroom.
Had he been disappointed with her?
“Surely your spies told you I left her as quickly as I was able,” Tarian continued, echoing her own fears. “I had no interest in the girl beyond some momentary pleasure.”
Dominic’s smile remained firmly fixed on his face. “My spies did relay that information. And the pain on the vampire’s face seems to support your claim.” He took a step closer. “But I also know you, Tarian. I find it hard to believe you’d sacrifice one innocent for another, even a disappointing lover.”
Warning bells went off in her head. They weren’t anywhere close to fifteen minutes and there was no denying the suspicion on Dominic’s face.
“We’ve been over this,” Tarian said. “As long as I get my sister back I’ll do whatever you ask.”
“So you say. But centuries of watching you indicates otherwise.” He snapped his fingers and Eilin was pulled back into the shadows. In her place a dozen necromancers appeared, forming an intimidating crowd down both sides of the parking garage.
“What is this?” Tarian demanded, looking around.
“Hand the vampire over,” Dominic said. “If you do without protest, I’ll give you Eilin and we can go our separate ways.”
Melissa glanced around at the necromancers just waiting to take a piece out of her.
“Don’t you trust me, Grandfather?” Tarian asked.
“No.” A cold smile twisted Dominic’s lips. “I don’t.”
She took a careful step away from Tarian in case she needed room to defend herself.
“Melissa, I’m sure you can see how this evening will end, and I’d rather not have to force you to come with me.”
“You’re asking me to meekly follow my kidnapper off to God knows where?” There was no hiding the disbelief in her voice.
“Yes.”
“Go to hell.”
“Such a shame.”
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she sensed Dominic’s rising powers.
They were out of time.
…
She burst past him in a rush of speed. Tarian cursed as her slender hands wrapped around his grandfather’s throat.
Chaos exploded around them. Necromancers rushed in from all sides, and Tarian threw out his hands, unleashing his magic.
One of the guards turned and tripped another before running into one of the cement posts and knocking himself unconscious. Tarian immediate switched targets and took control of one of the men running toward Melissa. This one he ran into a comrade and grinned as they both went down.