“I’ll call you if I remember anything, though.”
Rourke blinked as though remembering he had an act to keep up and smiled. “That would be great. And we might send someone over for a follow-up. Will you be here all day?”
Not if she could help it. Every internal alarm in her body blared and Claire had never wanted to run as badly as she did now. “Yep.” It took every ounce of will she possessed to appear calm. “I work until five.”
“Great. Thank you for your time, Claire. I’ll be in touch.”
A dangerous aura surrounded Detective Rourke. One that made Claire think she wouldn’t want to tangle with him a second time. She needed to get out of there. And she needed to find Mikhail. God, she’d been stupid to so easily shun his protection. The connection blazed between them, whatever cosmic force that had bound their souls. In that moment the decision had been made for her. Whatever came from here on out, they’d have to be in it together. Claire was through with going it alone. She needed Mikhail. And she wasn’t going to live another moment without him.
CHAPTER
22
Mikhail paced the confines of Siobhan’s lair, all the while cursing the reviled sun that kept him from going to Claire. He’d fought against the crafty female’s stalwart guards in an effort to get to her, only to feel the searing heat of the sun lick at his body while blisters formed on his flesh moments before they’d pulled him into the protection of the shadowed alley.
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“You’re making me dizzy,” Siobhan complained. She lounged on a makeshift throne, one shapely leg bouncing over the arm. “You’re here until sundown, Mikhail. Why worry about what you can’t change?”
For thirteen hours he’d been cooped up in the ramshackle building Siobhan claimed as her own. He’d awakened well before sunset, his body fighting against daylight’s hold in his need to get to his mate. Honestly, he was surprised they hadn’t killed him the moment daylight had put him down. It was unsafe for a vampire to be away from the protection of his home during the day and this was why. Gods, Siobhan been talking for hours and already Mikhail was sick of her. He rounded on the dhampir, fangs bared. “And just what do you expect me to do?”
Her emerald eyes flashed with silver as a half smile tugged at her full lips to reveal the delicate point of one fang. “I think we should talk, don’t you?”
He snorted. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Nothing?” Her mocking laughter echoed in the empty building. “Not even for the female who saved your life?”
“Dragging me away like a hostage is hardly saving my life.”
“True,” Siobhan agreed. “Though I could have let the slayers have you. Or I could have watched you burn in the sunlight. But since I was feeling benevolent, I chose to help you.” She paused, a calculating smile spreading across her face. “And to look after your mate.”
Mikhail stiffened, a growl building in his chest. He forced the words from between clenched teeth. “If any harm comes to her—”
“Relax, Mikhail.” Siobhan gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “I couldn’t be bothered to give a single shit about who you’ve chosen to bed. She’s safe. Carrig followed her from that rathole diner to an apartment building on South Westlake. I’ve got to say, I never took you for the type that would slum it.”
Anger churned in his gut and rumbled in his chest. “Mind your tongue, female. You’re speaking of my mate.”
Siobhan gave a superior smirk. “For such a favor—protecting what’s yours—I think I deserve a boon. Don’t you, Your Highness?”
Mikhail chose to ignore the sneer in her tone. If he didn’t rein in his temper, he’d rip open her throat and start a war he didn’t have time to fight. “I gave you my thanks. Is that not enough?”
Another round of amused laughter answered him. “Not by a long shot.”
Of course not. Not for someone as devious and calculating as she appeared to be. “What do you want then?”
“I want Ronan.”
Mikhail quirked a brow. Ronan? No, Siobhan wanted power. A higher rank than that of her current existence. How could Ronan possibly elevate her, unless she knew that the male had been turned and sought to exploit that power somehow? “Ronan isn’t mine to give any more than he’s yours to possess.”
“He’s sworn allegiance to you. Release him of his troth.”
Not likely. “Why?” With Ronan in her court, Siobhan could turn her entire coven, create a force to be reckoned with. But she’d made no secret of her disdain for vampire-kind and wanted no part of being soulless and untethered. So why, then, would she want a vampire in her folds? “Perhaps your disdain of being turned is simple pretense? Do you want to be turned, dhampir? Do you secretly yearn for the strength your king could give you?” She sat up straighter, baring her teeth as a warning hiss gathered in her throat. “Whatever your plans, Siobhan, I will not release Ronan from his troth. Only he can do that. If he wants to break his allegiance with me, then so be it.”#p#分页标题#e#