Page 67 of The Baritone's Rival

Lavinia laughed, a low, rich sound. “Fragile? I doubt that. No one who was chosen by fate to mate a supernatural would be fragile. I doubt he’ll let his humanity stop him, and if I know Justin, he’ll be on his way as well, the minute he escapes from whatever cell you’ve got him in.”

“I don’t want either of them here! They’re safer staying away.”

“That’s not what family does, sweetie.” Lavinia smiled, and it was wide and kind, if a little ferocious. “Family comes when danger calls.”

Oscar hummed softly. He hadn’t had much of that kind of support in his life. Those six years with his foster dad Alexander, he’d gotten a taste of it. He hoped to show Trent the same.

He stood. “Okay. I can’t talk to Trent, but I can contact my coven master. They’ll be here soon enough to get us out.”

Freddie?

He waited for his master to respond. After all, he was sure Freddie was busy with whatever shenanigans were happening back on land. It’s possible they were attacked after Elliott lured Oscar away.

Freddie? Need some help here.

One minute of waiting turned into two, and then into five, and still no response. Oscar began to pace. Why wouldn’t Freddie answer him? Surely they’d realized that he’d been captured.

Lavinia gave him a hard side-eye glance. “Not workin’, huh?”

Oscar shook his head and pressed his lips together. Had Freddie been knocked unconscious? Or was it possible to block the bond between a vampire and his coven? He hadn’t thought so, but now he was questioning it.

He threw up his hands. It didn’t matter. The link wasn’t working, and they had to move on to a different solution.

“Okay, we have to figure this out. They’re not going to leave us alone here forever. I could try to Compel Elliott, but I doubt that would accomplish much. I’ve grown in power since I’ve known him, but he’s older as well. And he’s more vicious than he’s ever been. One of his henchmen was able to resist when they attacked me initially, so maybe they’ve been training against my powers.”

“Still worth a try, darling.”

There was a loud clack as the door to the room was unlocked. Oscar startled as the sharp metallic noise penetrated his ear drums. When the door swung open, Elliott stood there, a grim expression on his face. Behind him were two other vampires, almost as muscular as he was. The three of them made an intimidating picture.

“Are you ready?” Elliott’s voice was sicky sweet, a parody of affection.

“Ready for what?” Oscar snapped. Just because he was trapped didn’t mean he had to be pleasant.

“Ready to start your life as my mate, of course.” Elliott took a few steps toward him, and Oscar suppressed his instinctual flinch. “In the morning we’ll dock the boat in New Jersey. My vampires have been readying our new covenhouse in Hoboken.”

Rage coursed through Oscar at the vampire ordering him around. He stood and called forth the demon, his vampiric energy filling the room.

“Leave us. Exit the boat and let us go free.”

Everyone there froze, including Lavinia. Their faces went slack, and a tiny nodule of hope burst in Oscar’s chest. After a moment, though, Elliott shook his head like a dog drying itself.

“Nice try. But we’re prepared this time.” A shit-eating grin spread across Elliott’s face. “Didn’t you wonder why you couldn’t contact your British dandy of a coven master? A few friends of mine lit some leaves and waved their hands around and poof! Locked down tight.”

Oscar’s jaw dropped open. What had Elliott done?

“You’ve allied yourself with thewitches?!”

Elliott shrugged and pursed his lips. “I told you, I’m building an empire here. Besides, if I’m going to set up shop in New Jersey, I have to deal with the witches. That’s where they live.”

Oscar shook his head and rubbed his eyes with his right hand. His ex was even stupider than he’d thought. Witchesdidn’t lend their gifts without exacting a steep price. Generally, vampires avoided them at all costs.

“What did they demand in return?” Oscar asked.

“That’s not your concern. All you need to know is that they set up their shield around the ship, and they’ve been teaching us to resist your mind powers. So, you’ll need something more powerful than your parlor tricks to?—”

Loud footsteps echoed in the small room as Elliott’s two henchmen ran off at a clip, finally overcome by Oscar’s command.

“I guess my ‘parlor tricks’ aren’t totally ineffectual,” Oscar said with a defiant smirk.

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