“And if I do, what will you give me?” Wyatt wanted to immediately know.
It was a devil’s deal. One that Ryder had known would come, but he had no choice. His hands dropped to his sides. He stared straight ahead. When he concentrated hard enough, he could see Wyatt through the glass. The fool didn’t know it. The doctor was smirking. His stance too cocky. His flunkies weren’t nearly as close to the glass. Because they were afraid.
Despite the guy’s IQ, Wyatt didn’t seem to have the sense to fear.
When death comes, you won’t be so cocky. You’ll be so afraid then that you piss yourself.
Death would be coming soon for Wyatt.
“What will you give me?” the doctor asked again.
No choice. “Whatever the hell you want. Just give Sabine back to me.”
Silence. Wyatt’s gaze drifted down to his notes, and the men behind him shifted nervously. Then, finally, once he’d proven that he thought the power was his, Wyatt’s stare rose to meet Ryder’s. “Deal.”
CHAPTER THREE
Seven days. Seven long, fucking days, and then they finally brought her back to him.
“Stand against the back wall,” Wyatt’s voice ordered, seeming to echo in the small room. “If you make a move to attack any of the guards, we’ll kill her.”
Again.
The word hung in the air. Ryder wasn’t in the mood to watch her die so he marched toward that back wall. He lifted his hands, showing that he wasn’t attacking anyone, yet. And he waited.
The footsteps came. He caught the faint scent of flowers. Still? Light, sweet. Even after everything, she still smelled of flowers? Then the metal grated. The door opened.
Sabine stepped inside.
She was dressed in loose, gray sweats and a T-shirt. Her long hair tumbled around her shoulders. Her eyes were wide, nervous, and her dark stare instantly locked on him.
The guard behind her pressed his gun into her back.
Ryder’s gaze jerked to the man’s face. He knew that guard—Mitchell. Barnes Mitchell. A prick who liked to dole out pain.
I’ll give you pain. It was a promise Ryder planned to keep.
Sabine took a few steps forward. The door swung shut behind her, the hollow clatter of the metal making her jump.
Ryder lowered his hands.
She shook her head. “Don’t even think of coming at me with those fangs again, vampire.”
Ah, so her memory was back. His gaze swept over her. He was glad there weren’t any flames around her this time, but he had to confess that he’d sure enjoyed the sight of her naked body.
His cock was hard just thinking about her lush curves.
Control.
Too many eyes were watching them, and he’d already revealed too much weakness to Wyatt.
“If you can keep your fire in check, phoenix, then I’ll try to keep my fangs to myself.”
She frowned at him. “What did you call me?”
His heart slammed into his chest. “You don’t know, do you?”
A small shake of her head.
Fuck. Wyatt had let her die, and the woman hadn’t even known that she’d be rising again. She must have been so afraid.
His gaze fell to the floor. Her blood still stained the heavy, stone tiles. “I’m . . . sorry.” The words sounded harsh to his own ears. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d apologized to anyone.
“Sorry for what? Biting me? Drinking my blood?”
Like a damn moth, he headed for her flame. So beautiful. Her shoulders stiffened as he approached and one foot edged back. Poor phoenix, there was nowhere to run. Wyatt had made sure of that.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.” Too many had died over the long centuries of his existence. He hadn’t stopped death but with Sabine, things were different. She can come back. She’d given him a second chance.
Her breath whispered out. “You . . . you made me drink your blood.” He noticed that her small hands fisted.
If she wanted to take a swing at him, he’d let her. She sure deserved some payback. “It was the only way I could think of to help you. Vampire blood is very powerful. It can heal, just about anything.” And the blood had been working, until the guards had dragged him away from her.
Mitchell had been one of those guards.
After the guards had chained him, Ryder hadn’t been able to break out of the chains fast enough. She’d died.
Burned.
Her fist lifted. He didn’t even brace for the blow. Sure, a phoenix was powerful, but he’d take—
Her palm flattened on his chest. Her fingers were still warm, far warmer than an average human’s, and the heat seemed to sink into him.
Made him want her even more.
“Your heart’s beating.” Her gaze held his. “I can see you breathing. I-I thought vampires were supposed to be dead.”