Undead Or Alive (Bad Things #3)(21)

He didn’t answer.

She gave a bitter laugh. “I thought so. I mean—he’d destroy you. I get that you have to look out for your own life. Besides, if you made a deal with him, then you’re bound to Luke. There isn’t a choice for you.”

A muscle jerked in his jaw. He hadn’t liked her answer. Sometimes, the truth hurt. In this case, the truth had hurt them both.

“So you’re just going to surrender to me now? Return to Luke like a good bounty?”

Her teeth ground together. “I’m not good. You shouldn’t forget that. And, no, I’m not going back. I’ll get away from you.”

“No, you won’t.” Cass took a step toward her and he seemed to surround her. He was big and strong and his scent was oddly seductive. It was that danger-bad boy attraction again—her weakness. She was literally flirting with Death, and it made her feel alive.

Had Luke known? Had he realized she’d be drawn to her captor? Luke was such a schemer, always planning his moves so far in advance.

“Tell me what you took from him,” Cass said.

“Are we back to this?” Her gaze dipped to his mouth.

“Tell me…or I’ll find out on my own.”

Doubtful.

The silence stretched between them. Too long.

“Fine,” he gritted out, then he whirled and was grabbing for the saddle bags. He started yanking out the items—tossing her shirts, her underwear, her jeans.

“Stop it!” Frantic, she grabbed the clothes.

He didn’t stop. A scarf was thrown next. Her favorite scarf. Then he was reaching for the black bag she’d actually hidden inside one of her shirts. He’d found that too easily. He opened the bag and pulled out a knife sheath.

Oh, hell.

He withdrew the knife from the sheath, and the bracelet she’d taken from him at the bar—that bracelet fell to the ground. For once, Amber didn’t worry about her bracelet. Her gaze was on the knife. A real beauty of a knife. One with a gleaming blade and a big, thick emerald in the handle.

Cass gave a low whistle. “What were you going to do with this?”

She grabbed for it. “Give it to me!”

Instead of giving it to her, she found herself shoved beneath the stretching branches of a massive oak tree. Cass pinned her there with his body while one gloved hand gripped the knife. “I can feel the magic in this weapon. Very old, very potent magic.” His eyes narrowed. “This is what you took from him?”

Her clothes had fallen from her hands, dropping back into the dirt. “That knife is mine! I didn’t take it from Luke. That’s not what he wants!”

His head dipped toward her. “I think you’re lying to me again.”

“No, not this time. That is mine. That emerald will buy me a new life.” Another one. “I can trade it for a spell that will make sure Luke and Leo can’t ever locate me. I just have to find the right wizard or witch and then I’m set—”

His eyes held hers. The knife was still gripped in his hand. “How many lies have you told me?”

Oh, shit. Shit. He didn’t realize it, but he was holding a very, very powerful weapon that was known in certain circles as the Blade of Truth. When you held it, people near you were compelled to only speak the truth.

“A…lot,” Amber heard herself mutter.

His eyes widened. “You’re not human.”

She laughed. “Hell, no.” The words just fell out. Horrified, she slapped her hands over her mouth. She had to stop talking.

Cass blinked. “Then what are you?”

Her body shook as she tried to hold back the truth. She had to get that knife away from him.

“What. Are. You?”

Her hands fell back down to her side. Dammit. She’d intended to trade that oh-so-valuable weapon for her protection. She’d spent decades searching for the damn thing. And now—it was being used against her. How typical. “The last of my kind,” she snapped at him.

Amber expected another hard question. What she didn’t expect was the flash of raw sympathy that appeared on his face. “Me, too.” He moved even closer to her. “Being alone…I didn’t realize you were like me.”

“I’ve been alone a very long time.” Another truth.

Distract him. Take the weapon. Use it against him. If she didn’t stop him soon, he’d learn every secret she possessed.

Her hands rose to flatten against his chest. She pushed up onto her tip-toes, and Amber put her mouth on his. He stiffened at the touch of her lips, and she thought he might pull away.

He didn’t.

His lips parted. He kissed her. Deep and consuming. Hot and sexy. He kissed her with a raw skill and a desperate hunger that had her heart racing. She’d wanted to distract him…

Now she just wanted more of his mouth.

The kiss became even deeper. She wasn’t just touching his chest, she was now moving her hands and clutching his shoulders. His left hand had curved around her hip and yanked her flush against his body. She could feel the long, thick length of his cock pushing against her.

A basic, undeniable truth…Cass wanted her.

And…her truth…She wanted him.

Wanting someone so much could be very dangerous. Especially when that someone was Cass.

Her eyes were tightly closed, her body leaned into him, and her hand reached for the knife that he still held. Her fingers slid over his, caressing, then she was curling her hand around the—