Page 23 of Fated In Blood

The bigger one—gleaming hazel eyes pinning me down like a flapping butterfly—was willing to doom me to a life I’d despise.

I refused to spend a single moment of my existence as a vampire, not when I’d been trained my entire life to hunt them down. Vampires were a scourge on humanity.

An abomination.

If I became one of them…everything I’d trained for would be for nothing. I would become my own worst enemy, hunted by my own kind. Eventually killed, like a dog in the street.

“There you are, my love.” Tyrell stretched out his hand. “Your sister is about to join our ranks, and you two can be together again.”

Tyrell’s face softened as Angel took his hand, pure adoration—the same adoration she used to show me and our mother—shining on her upturned face. “I told you I’d deliver her to you, Laurent. Is she everything you expected?”

“Yes, she is. You’ve done well, my pet.”

I couldn’t breathe as they both turned to me, their faces twin voids of humanity as Tyrell’s voice rang inside my head.

I Made every vampire in this room. That is why the king and his protector cannot move against me, no matter how much they wish to. What a delight it will be to have you under my thumb, along with them. What lovely games we will play, the five of us. For centuries I have waited to have the Silverwoods under my control, and here you both are, finally mine.

Does my sister know?The question popped into my head, followed by Tyrell’s creeping, vicious laughter.

Of course not. Your sister is an innocent child. You, however, will become my blade, Evangeline. You will slaughter those who threaten our existence. You will kill your own blood, using the very weapons and tricks they taught you.

No.My family were monsters of a different kind, but I would never serve this bastard. Would not kill my own kin, not for him. I shoved against his control, and little by little…the iron cage holding me prisoner weakened. Hate gave me the strength to rip away the gleaming possession in Tyrell’s eyes. I could move my good hand. I became hyperaware of the leather sheath banded around my hip. The only weapon I had left—a silver knife dipped in wolfsbane.

I’d sharpened that blade myself. The keen edge would cut a sheet of paper midair.

I won’t fight for you. I won’t do shit for you, asshole.

You don’t have a choice. As soon as the brute drains you, you will belong to me.

He turned toward the two vampires, Angel’s curious gaze lingering on me for a moment until he tugged her to his side. “We will bear witness to her turning, to make sure the usual customs are followed.”

Oh God. This was really happening.

Yes, it is, slayer, and this day has been a long time coming.Tyrell’s silky promise was a death sentence I couldn’t escape.

I don’t know how Tyrell discovered who I was. Perhaps he’d gone into my sister’s mind and uncovered our dirty family secret, but he knew. I had a rudimentary idea of how a human was turned, including the low survival rate, but I couldn’t chance I’d be one of the lucky ones who didn’t make it.

No, chances were, with my bloodline, I’d survive.

I’d end up a monster, under the control of an even bigger monster.

The big vampire bared his fangs, and I shuddered at the idea of having them anywhere near my skin. “I’m not fucking doing this in front of an audience, and I’m sure as fuck not doing this while you hold her captive,” he growled. “Let her go. I want to hear her consent.”

“Consent? You have no choice in the matter…And neither does she,” Tyrell crooned, pulling my sister closer. The way she went so willingly, how she eagerly wrapped her arms around his neck, made me want to vomit.

But I had to focus through my rage. The second he set me free I’d fight my way out of this room, and I’d start by slitting that bastard’s throat.

See if his ancient ass was immune to silver and wolfsbane.

None of that, pet.My jaw locked up, like Tyrell had grasped my face and squeezed.We’ll need you quiet for this. No spilling the family secrets, so to speak. Bosch chuckled then wrenched my broken wrist to the side. Bile surged up my throat, sweat breaking out all over my body. God, I couldn't pass out, not now.

“I said I’d fucking turn her.” The big vampire growled, shrugging off his leather jacket. “Call off your fucking dog before I put him in the grave, Tyrell.”

“That’s enough, Bosch. I want her to be conscious.” Now be a good little human and obey.

The pressure holding me in place slipped away and I crashed to my knees, weak from the pain. For a moment I stayed hunched over, my bad arm banded over my belly, my other hand resting on the richly patterned carpet. I dug my fingers into the soft wool.

Expensive, from the feel.

---