Predatory (Immortal Guardians #3.5)(45)

Vampires, lots of them, stood in the shadows at the edges of the room. Motionless, silent, they watched her from gleaming eyes, hungry eyes. Except for one. He wore sunglasses and had a hoodie that hid most of his face. Which was scarier, what she could or couldn’t see? Her breath caught in her throat.

Zareb broke the silence. “Ethan told me what happened to both of you.” He pointed to a bag he’d set on the coffee table. “I stopped at McDonald’s. Ethan already ate.” He didn’t offer to explain.

A vampire stopping at McDonald’s. That should make her laugh, but all Cassie could do was shudder at the thought of all those silent killers listening as the water ran—imagining, hungering.

“My children and I will be paying a visit to Eternal Rest as soon as Ethan’s change is complete.” The predator lived in Zareb’s voice, his gaze. “You’ll stay here with the cat.”

Cassie opened her mouth and said what was probably the most stupid thing she’d ever uttered.

“No.”

Chapter Five

“Did she just defy you, Zareb?” Darren’s voice was quietly mocking.

Ethan frowned. Darren wasn’t one of his favorite vampire brothers. He’d killed too often with too much enjoyment, and now the Second One was close to claiming him permanently. It made him eager for violence wherever he could find it. At least he’d had the sense to wear his sunglasses and hoodie.

“Can you allow that to go unpunished?” Darren injected a fake note of concern into his voice.

Ethan ground his teeth. He’d gladly separate Darren’s useless head from his shoulders. The jerk wanted to see Zareb hurt Cassie. He lived for causing pain.

One glance at Cassie assured Ethan that she recognized the danger too. He crouched. When had his mind made the decision to defend her against his maker?

Zareb didn’t even glance at Darren. “Your need to see blood flow is much too obvious. Do you really think you can manipulate me, Darren?”

“Of course not.” Darren sounded nervous as he moved farther into the shadows.

Zareb’s smile never reached his eyes. “I didn’t think so.” He looked at Cassie. “And why do you think you should come with us?” His expression gave away nothing.

She fixed her gaze on the middle of his chest. “If someone found Ethan’s home and attacked his friends, then who’s to say they don’t have a list of where all of you live? I don’t think Cat and I would do a great job of defending the old homestead.”

“I’m certain that Cat is a ferocious warrior.” Zareb’s lips tipped up in a brief smile.

Ethan relaxed a little.

“Besides, they killed my friend. I want . . .” She took a deep breath. “I need to be there to see that they’re punished.”

Zareb nodded. “I understand the hunger for vengeance.”

She corrected him. “Justice.”

He shrugged. “Call it what you will. You deserve to see them punished.”

“You’re letting her come?” Ethan narrowed his eyes. Amazing. His maker didn’t do crap like this. Stupid. Who took a human into battle anyway?

Zareb moved toward the door. “Yes.”

Ethan didn’t even try to explain away his need to protect her. “She’ll die.”

“It’s her choice.” Zareb’s expression said the decision was made.

Ethan glared as he watched his maker head for the door. “Do you still keep your weapons in the same place?”

Zareb paused. “Yes. You’re going to arm her? Excellent idea. I’ve learned that the least capable among us often perform extraordinary feats given the right incentives.” Then he left. The other vampires disappeared after him.

“And sometimes the ‘least capable’ have skills that could put your butt in the ground.” Her mumbled response was almost lost in the slamming of the door.

Ethan would have smiled, but he was too pissed to find anything funny right now. “You’d be a lot safer here.”

Her gaze challenged him. “I’ll be a lot ‘safer’ if I operate under the assumption that hiding isn’t an option until these animals are stopped. Because from what you’ve told me, they’re very good at finding people, and a false sense of security could kill me.”

Cassie was wrong. She hadn’t seen what they’d be facing.

He reached for another argument. “What do you fear the most, Cassie?” Whatever it was, he’d use it to convince her to stay away from Eternal Rest.

“Having to cook dinner for my whole family? World’s worst cook here.” Her smile was small and tight, but at least it reached her eyes.

“Right. Won’t have to cook Garrity dinner.” He searched his mind for a clue to her real fears.

Then he remembered her words when she’d seen the bodies of his neighbors: “I’ve been afraid of the dead all my life.”

“Death. You’re afraid to die.” He knew he sounded triumphant. “If you go with us, there’s a good chance it could happen.”

She ignored him.

Frustrated, he watched her pull on a borrowed jacket. If she was determined to go, he’d have to give her a weapon, for all the good it would do. Ethan turned to head down the hallway. He pulled open the door to the smallest bedroom, strode to the walk-in closet, and took the key from the hook beside the door.