The Immortal Hunter(67)

"Me?" Dani straightened slowly and just as slowly turned her head to peer at him with disbelief. "They won't trade your sons for me."

Leonius was silent, his gaze concentrated on her face, and then his eyebrows rose. "You actually believe that," he marveled, apparently having suffered sharing her headache long enough to read her mind. "You have no idea of your value, do you? How charming."

He broke out in laughter, making Dani wince as the sound grated on her nerves and aggravated her pounding head.

"Now listen," he said suddenly, the laughter dying as abruptly as it had started. "Let Daddy teach you a thing or two that you can use." Leonius paused until she met his gaze and then said, "A life mate is more valuable than anything else on this earth. Most immortals would give up any and all wealth they'd accumulated, their family, and even their own lives for a life mate. You are a precious jewel. Do you understand?"

Dani nodded slowly, but only because he expected her to. She didn't really believe that she carried that high a value for Decker. She simply couldn't. They had only met the day before. Dani liked him... well, more than liked him, she acknowledged; she liked him a lot ... And she was definitely in lust with him and-judging by his performance that day-thought he might be in lust with her too, and maybe liked her a lot as well, but that didn't mean he was going to turn over this man's murdering sons for her. At least, she hoped not. Dani didn't want them free. How could she enjoy any peace of mind knowing those animals were out preying on innocent women because of her?

"Are you feeling recovered enough to walk?" Leo asked solicitously. "We should really go inside. We mustn't keep our hosts waiting."

Dani turned her head slowly to the building they were parked beside, her gaze sliding over an old Victorian house with a wide, white front porch. She then swiveled to peer at the outbuildings and fields of corn and felt her heart sink. She was sure this was not his house. She was also sure their "hosts" weren't willing ones, and she feared this was all going to get much worse before it got better.

"Come, I have a couple of surprises for you, and I know we're going to enjoy them mightily." Leonius took Dani's arm and half dragged her up the steps to the porch of the old farmhouse when she didn't move quickly enough for his liking. She winced at his bruising hold, but otherwise didn't react. She had no intention of saying or doing anything that might add to his enjoyment of this nightmare.

"Here we are." Leo leaned past her to push the front door open and then forced her inside.

Dani closed her eyes briefly as the bright, overhead light sent shafts of pain through her head. The smell of cinnamon and apples teased her nose and brought her eyes slowly open. They stood in an old country kitchen with white cupboards and a wide-planked, hardwood floor that was undoubtedly as old as the house itself. Her gaze slid over a rooster-shaped teapot on the table, cow figurine salt and pepper shakers, and finally to the source of the sweet smell; a pie, not long from the oven. It sat on a cooling rack on the far end of the old, long, butcher-block table before her.

"I was watching from the woods in front of the house when you and Decker went into the barn," Leo said beside her. "When you stayed there so long, I approached under cover of the rain. Once I saw what the two of you were up to, I knew I'd have time to search for a place close by, somewhere near enough to keep an eye out, and to bring you to after I captured you." He paused to explain, "I didn't expect you to go shopping or even to really leave the grounds. I expected I'd have to steal you from the house while the others were sleeping.

"Anyway," Leo continued, urging her to the opposite end of the table. "I was very pleased when I found this place. It's nice and cozy, with only the mister and missus to worry about... I was a little worried about it being right next door, but-" He brought them both to a halt in front of the pie and ran one finger lightly over the crust. As light as his touch appeared to be, some of the crust flaked away. It made him smile, and he continued, "When I came in the old woman was just taking the pie out of the oven. I decided to take that as a good omen and risk it."

Dani frowned at the mention of an old woman, wondering what had become of her, but then his words sank in and she realized how close they must be to the enforcer house. Right next door. If she could just get away-

"Your heart rate has picked up," Leo commented with amusement, and when she cast a startled glance his way, he explained, "I have very good hearing. We all do. And your heart is racing. What could you be thinking, I wonder?" He leaned close and whispered by her ear, "Could you be thinking of escaping? Running away to your Decker?"

He burst out laughing at the thought, then shook his head and said, "So amusing" as he turned and led her to an archway leading to the next room.

It was a living room. With no lights on it was dark enough that she had trouble making out much. Leo didn't seem to have the same problem, and she was reminded that Decker had said the nanos improved their night vision when he asked with distaste, "Very colonial, don't you think?"

She glanced to his face and thought he was wrinkling his nose, and then he confided, "I despised the colonials. A bunch of jumpy redneck idiots with guns who shot first and asked questions after. It was hard for a self-respecting no-fanger like me to get a meal without getting a chest full of buckshot in the process."