Page 12 of To Crave Truly

“What the fuck was all that about?”

He laughed darkly. “Merely trying to progress my plans. You really are something. Not even the oldest vampires would have been able to resist the amount compulsion I was pouring into you.”

“I guess you don’t have as much of a firm grip over me as you thought,” I jibed.

His smile darkened. “Don’t think that just because I let Jasper go, doesn’t mean I won’t kill him later. I meant what I said about removing that annoying little bond between the two of you. But perhaps Iver is right. Keeping him under my thumb will keep you in line.”

My body moved at vampire speed without me even realising. One second I was by the door, the next, I’d manoeuvred to the other side of the room and stood directly in front of Mordecai. My fangs elongated and the sudden need for violence burst to life.

“If you harm one hair on his head, I’ll kill you,” I snarled.

Mordecai laughed in my face before pulling a small knife from one of his pockets and placing it in my hand. “Go ahead, little one. Try.”

My fingers wrapped around the hilt, and I didn’t waste a second. I slammed my hand down towards his chest, aiming for his heart but, right at the last second, my hand stopped, its downward decent halted by some unseen force.

The tip of the blade hovered right above his sternum.

“What?”

“It’s impossible for you to kill me.” Mordecai tucked a strand of hair behind my ear affectionately. “I am your maker and it is forbidden for a sireling to kill their sire.”

Dammit. Although I had expected something to backfire when he’d handed me the knife. I knew he wouldn’t really have been stupid enough to put his actual life in my hands. But it was disappointing to know that I’d never be able to hurt the fucker.

“Now then, onto more important matters. I remember you saying that you would do anything in order to go and see your vampire.” Mordecai took the knife from me and put it back into his pocket. “I’m more than happy to let you spend some time with him if you do something for me.”

I ground my teeth. Knowing him, it was no doubt something unpleasant. “What do you want?”

His ruby red eyes glittered manically. “I want you to steal something from the Conclave for me.”

Chapter Six

Lori

He wanted me to what? Steal something from the Conclave? Would that mean he’d let me go? But what about Jasper? He wouldn’t be letting him tag along with me and I knew he’d put some caveat in place to ensure my return.

“What are you expecting me to steal?”

Mordecai shrugged as he draped his elegant frame in one of the wing backed chairs by the fire. “Oh, just a little something. Small enough to fit in your pocket.”

“And you’re just going to let me walk out of here, back to my team at the Conclave, and hope that I come back?”

His eyes gleamed. “Yes. If you don’t come back, I’ll kill your vampire. I’ll also be forced to come and steal you back and I imagine that would cause a lot of death and destruction. Innocent lives will be lost and blah, blah, blah. Do you really want that on your conscience?”

No. I didn’t. I thought about all the people who had taken residence in the Conclave. It had started as a safe haven for vampires, but all kinds of supernatural creatures had taken up residence there and it had grown over the centuries until it resembled a small town. I couldn’t let Mordecai destroy it. He’d already attacked the town before, merely to distract the team and start the process of turning me into a vampire. We’d been unprepared and he’d made the attack look easy. He had used souls from Hell to help him which seemed like a bit of an advantage. I mean, how can you kill something that’s already dead?

I glanced at Iver, his obsidian eyes giving nothing away.

“Perhaps I could accompany her and ensure her return?”

Mordecai looked at the demon with narrowed eyes. “I still don’t trust you being here. Why would I entrust you with my progeny?”

“It’s true that Lucifer let me go. He thinks he can use me to help rescue his little love, but I belong here with you and Selene. We were always family. There was only ever us. Why would I rely on anyone else?”

“What about Iveri?” I asked.

“What about her?”

“She’s waiting for you. She—”

---