Page 52 of Fated In Blood

She was going to be absolutely fucking perfect.

I would mold her into whatever kind of weapon I required, and I didn’t feel a shred of guilt using Evangeline. Her familyhad decimated our kind. Hunted down innocent females and younglings and killed good males in their beds without a shred of honor.

After all the violence they’d wreaked, it was fitting she became my means of freeing my clan from the monster who terrorized us.

Balance would be restored, and Evangeline Silverwood would be the one to bring it.

No, not Evangeline.

I needed to keep the walls up between us, to not get attached.

I pulled her against me, trying to ignore those soft curves pressing against the length of my body, and the constellation of freckles on her innocent-looking face, and told myself she was only a means to an end.

Silver.

I’d call her Silver. Because silver was poison to our kind, and that’s exactly what she was.

Pure poison.

25

EVANGELINE

Riordan plunked me down and stepped away, brushing off his suit with a faint curl to his lip. I couldn’t believe I’d ended up back at this wretched mausoleum, wallowing in the smell of dust and isolation.

Four people—at least—had died since I’d left this place, one of them by my hand.

And Riordan…I’d never seen anyone as powerful as him. Never imagined vampires had magic that could fuckingcut someone in half. Even after everything I’d done, the viciousness of their deaths left me shaken. I had to sort out my feelings, as pathetic as that sounded. And now that I’d drank from Riordan, I was fucking high again, riding this bucking bronco of endless power.

A curse, really, because I didn’t want a single drop.

I wanted to be human again, goddamnit.

I swayed, the hallways spinning. “I have an apartment, you know. Not that far from here. I know, because I had to walk there after your buddy Blake abandoned me to my own devices.”

“You, of all people, should understand why Blake left. Don’t pretend to be the injured party.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. You turned me against my will and made me into a monster. Should I be thanking you?”

“You should. The alternative wouldn’t have been pleasant, I can assure you.”

The urge to punch Riordan in his perfect mouth had me fisting both hands. I got the feeling if we spent any more time together, I’d actually follow through. But…Ididn’thave to stay here, not if I didn’t want to.

In fact, I’d like to see this asshole try to keep me here.

“You know what? This place looks like it’s infested with bedbugs. I’m sleeping in my own bed tonight, under my own roof.” Okay, my landlord’s roof, but same thing. “You want to try to stop me?” I dared him, feeling pretty damned invincible. “Go right ahead, Your Royal Highness.”

Riordan’s lip curled back, and I shivered at the sight of those fangs. “What a surprise. You’re not going to comply with my rules?”

“Rules are for losers.” I headed for the same door I’d left through a few hours ago. “And this is all starting to feel a little monotonous.”

I had no plan beyond getting out of here and into familiar territory. I just needed time to regroup.

I could handle this…vampire thing.

I’d gone hungry before. Lots of times.

Mom always worked her ass off, but money was tight, so I was used to an empty stomach. This hole in my belly was nothing new. Self-control and a freezer full of steak would get me through until I got Angel away from Tyrell.

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