On the Prowl (Bad Things #2)(42)

“Because I want to hear about him,” the muse continued quietly. “Tell me again how your Thomas convinced you to marry him. Tell me about him again…so that before I die, I can know that at least someone was happy, once.”

“You aren’t going to die,” the witch told her.

The muse laughed. “What else would he do with us? For his love to come back, you know we have to die.”

They both knew more than she did. They’d been in their cells when she was first brought to the facility. She should question them but…she didn’t want to know if death was all that waited. Not right then. “I’d like to hear more about Thomas,” Lila whispered.

How long had it been since they’d had food? None of the guards ever came in to check their cells. The Collector had left strict orders that no one was to enter this domain. He’d been gone for days. If he didn’t come back soon…

He will, though. He’ll come back and the pain will just start again.

Her head lowered. “Tell me about love.”

Because all I know is pain.

“I met Thomas when I was sixteen…” the witch began, her voice soft. “And the first thing I did was curse him.”





Chapter Thirteen


Leo pressed his hand to the human’s forehead. Instantly, she awoke, jerking upright and gasping.

“Nice trick,” Rayce muttered, and he actually meant that.

Leo didn’t look back at him. His eyes were focused on the woman—the woman who appeared increasingly terrified as her frantic stare flew around the room.

“Who are you?” she demanded. “Where am I? What’s happening?”

Leo touched her forehead again. “Your name.”

Rayce rocked forward on the balls of his feet. “Yeah, so, the last human that Simon got—he’s still locked up in a cell, by the way—we needed vamp blood to break the compulsion that controlled him. So you might just want to hold off on the question and answer session until Rose is back in fighting form.”

“I don’t need Rose. Humans are under my dominion.” Then Leo muttered something low—something that sure sounded like some kind of spell. Mind be free, respond only to me.

Rayce’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell me your name,” Leo ordered.

The terror vanished from the woman’s face. “Keri.”

“Keri, what were you supposed to do when you reached the island?”

“Shoot anyone who wasn’t Rose.”

“And just who gave you that order?”

“Simon. Simon says…find the vampire. Shoot the others…”

Rayce was getting real sick of old Simon. “How’d she know what Rose even looked like?”

Keri blinked. “I saw her picture. He showed me, on his phone.”

Rayce’s hand raked over his face. “Right. Of course. His freaking phone.”

“I was supposed to call him if she’s here.” Her words tumbled out quickly, easily, as if she had to speak them. “Simon says he’ll fly in. Simon says they won’t hurt me. I’m human… They won’t hurt me.”

“See?” Leo glanced back at Rayce, smirking. “I told you, she’s under my dominion. I can control—”

“Simon says death.” And the little human had just yanked a knife from her boot. “Simon says kill if anyone gets in my way.” She drove the knife straight at Leo. Blood flew from his neck, but when she came at him again, he knocked the knife from her hand.

It clattered across the floor.

“Sonofabitch.” Leo glared at the woman.

Her face was slack once more. “Simon says kill.”

Rayce wouldn’t let himself smile. Oh, hell, why not? It was his turn to smirk as he said, “You should really consider waiting on Rose. That vamp blood might come in handy after all.”

Leo grabbed the woman’s arms and pulled her up. “Mind be free, respond only to me.”

“Yeah, that didn’t work so well the first time…”

But Leo ignored him. “Tell me the plan. When you find Rose, what are you supposed to do?”

She blinked her wide, blue eyes. “Don’t have to do anything. He’s already coming…I already told him she was here. Saw her from my boat.” And then Keri smiled. “Simons says…we will all die.”

***

“Julian?” She had him on the bed. He’d stumbled out of the shower with her then collapsed on the mattress. His eyes were closed and he barely seemed to be breathing…and he was terrifying her. “Julian, wake up.”

Her shaking fingers pressed to his throat. The wounds she’d made with her bite were still there. They usually faded—he usually healed so quickly.

But he’d been tranqed today. And I…I took too much.

Guilt ate at her soul. She knew she’d taken too much. But she’d been caught in some kind of firestorm. She’d seen herself from a distance, and she hadn’t been able to stop. She’d fed and fed and the fire inside of her had demanded more. It had demanded that she keep taking. Taking. Until nothing was left.

A tear slid down her cheek. She brushed her mouth against his. “I’m sorry.” She’d hurt him. But she could make this right. He was still breathing. His heart beat…it was just slow. I have to make this right. She bit her wrist and then forced it to his mouth. He’d take her blood and he would get stronger. It had worked before for them. It would work again.