Page 55 of Short, Lethal & Claimed

“It’s a good place to start,” Jill murmured absently as she took in the neatly stacked toiletries lining the bathroom counter before she turned around and leaned back against the wall, giving the vampire that ruined her life her undivided attention.

“Shouldn’t you be more concerned about the three marked shifter children that are part of my diabolical plan?” Logan drawled, watching her curiously.

“I don’t know. Should I?” Jill asked, blinking at him as she silently dared him to say something that would force her to grab the stake that she hid beneath his bureau a few weeks ago.

She watched his silver gaze flicker to the bottom of the bureau before settling back on her. “The children are under my protection,” Logan said firmly.

“Meaning…”

“Exactly what it sounds like,” Logan said, shifting to get more comfortable as he considered her.

“What happened to using them as bait?” Jill asked, watching him closely, looking for any sign that he was lying to her.

“I’ll find another way,” Logan said, not really sounding all that concerned. “I’ve waited eight hundred years, Angel. I believe that I can wait a little longer.”

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” he murmured.

“Why?” Jill asked, knowing that there had to be more to it.

“I don’t normally make it a habit to explain myself to prisoners,” Logan said, sounding bored.

“Prisoner,” Jill repeated back slowly, testing the word. “Is that what I am?”

“What else would you be, Angel?” he asked, not quite able to meet her gaze and leaving her wondering about that.

“That’s a good question,” Jill said, gesturing for him to get on with it.

“Is this where I share my tale of woe?” Logan asked mockingly.

“That depends,” Jill said, pushing away from the wall and made her way back to her spot by the door, her chain quietly clinking behind her as she moved.

“On what exactly?” Logan asked as she sat down.

“On whether or not you’re going to tell me about Elizabeth,” Jill said, taking her time adjusting her skirt over her legs.

“It’s never going to happen, Angel,” Logan said firmly as she sat there, slowly nodding.

“Then, I suppose we’re at an impasse,” Jill said as she met his glare.

“I suppose we are.”

CHAPTER 28

“How long are you planning on ignoring me?” Logan found himself asking as he watched Jill take her time straightening the fresh stack of books that she’d placed on his nightstand a few minutes ago.

“I’m not ignoring you,” Jill murmured absently as she shifted her attention to the stack of pillows that she shoved against the headboard so that she could ignore him in comfort.

“Then, what would you call it?” Logan asked as he watched her grab a book before climbing onto his bed with a satisfied sigh.

“Finding new and interesting ways to pass the time until you break,” Jill said only to end up grumbling to herself as she closed the book and tossed it on the nightstand before grabbing another one, letting him know that she already read that one.

“You do realize that none of this counts unless you answer my questions, right?” Logan pointed out as he watched her settle back against the pillows with a satisfied sigh.

“And you realize that you’re still not healing, right?” Jill countered with a pointed look in his direction.

“I had noticed that,” Logan murmured as he followed her gaze to the red marks covering his torso and arms that refused to go away no matter how much bagged blood he drank.

---