War of Hearts(29)

Focus, Thea.

“Have you been to the theater yet?” The vampire’s lips brushed against her ears.

She shivered in distaste but the tightening grip of his hands on her hips suggested he’d confused the shiver for desire. “No.”

“It’s closed tonight. Would you like a private tour?”

Considering this, Thea decided ultimately it was best to get him away from the crowds. She didn’t want to kill the vampire, but she would disable him if he attacked first.

Thea nodded, and he smirked in satisfaction, releasing her hips to take her hand in his. She let him lead her out of the music hall and then tugged on his hand. “I need my stuff.” She gestured to the cloakroom.

He frowned. “Get it after.”

She stroked her thumb over the top of his hand and smiled prettily. “It’ll take two seconds.”

The vampire scowled. “Fine.”

The young woman working the coat check handed over her backpack, her eyes wide on Thea’s companion. She’d gone pale as soon as she’d seen him and had given Thea a look of pity.

Hmm.

Her telepathic friend from earlier had said the “night children” ran this place. As she let the vampire take her hand, she wondered how big his coven was, how far up the hierarchy he was, and if killing him would lead to a shitstorm for her here in Prague.

Seriously, fuck my life.

The theater-turned-cinema wasn’t huge either, lights blaring to life to reveal the ornately carved galleria that wrapped around the central seating facing the old stage and screen. “It’s beautiful,” she murmured, coming to a stop beside him.

The vampire gestured for her to go ahead but there was no way she was turning her back to him. She stared at the rows of dark peach velvet seats and then turned around so her back was facing them and not him. Thea took a few steps away from him.

They were alone.

There was no need to pretend anymore.

She dropped her smile. “What do you want, bloodsucker?”

Surprise slackened his features. “Clever girl.” He took a step toward her. “So, you know what I am? But I still don’t know what you are.”

“I’ll tell you what I am … a bad investment of your time. You should have chosen a weaker victim.”

“You don’t look so tough.” He bared his teeth and his incisors lengthened.

Thea widened her legs, hands on her hips. “Was that supposed to scare me? Because I’ve seen bigger.”

His lips nearly vibrated with his answering snarl. “I’m supposed to keep you alive, but I won’t if you piss me off, little girl. Instead, I’ll rip into that pretty fucking throat and drink you dry.”

Alert, Thea cocked her head. “Who asked you to keep me alive?”

“Someone you don’t say no to. That someone asked me to watch out for your arrival.”

Was it Conall? Did he have vampire connections? Or was it the mysterious person behind the humans who’d shot at them?

Thea supposed it didn’t matter. It looked like it was kill or be killed because she would be no one’s captive. Ever. Fucking. Again.

The vampire shot across the space toward her, a streak of movement shockingly fast.

She was faster.

She ducked him, a lightning-quick shadow, and moved across the room toward the door.

Which was barred by two new vampires.

Shit.

She backed down the aisle toward the stage.

Her attacker watched her in consternation. “How do you move that fast? What are you?”

All the hair on Thea’s neck rose, and she looked up.

Two more vampires stood above on the galleria, teeth bared, incisors out.

Five vampires.

A knot of worry tightened in her gut, but she forced herself to ignore it. She was strong enough to fight all five.

She had to be.

“I’ll tell you what I’m not. I’m not your prisoner or your walking blood bank.” Relying on the element of surprise, she dashed behind one of the thick pillars holding up the galleria, and was nothing but wind under the balconies as she headed past the vamps toward the entrance.

Suddenly, however, someone grabbed her throat and slammed her hard against the wall, the impact of which would have knocked out a lesser being. Instead Thea shook off the confusion and glared into the face of the vampire she’d been dancing with. Her neck was clasped in his strong hand as he held her suspended above the ground.

The son of a bitch was fast and strong. He had to be pretty freaking old to rip her out of her top running speed.

Goodie for me, she huffed.

His grip tightened around her neck and although uncomfortable, it didn’t elicit the panic he was hoping for. Instead Thea grabbed his wrist and twisted with all her might, the answering crack extremely satisfying.

The vampire dropped her with a roar, and she darted by him only to encounter his companions. They were on her before she could run. Ducking and diving their punches and kicks, Thea blocked where she could and swiped one off his feet. As much as she was holding her own against the bastards, they were pushing her farther and farther away from the entrance.

Finding a gap in their attack, she dove between two of them and tumbled into a roll, shooting up onto her feet and into a run, eyes to the door—

His leg came out of nowhere.

A roundhouse kick to her chest.