Page 34 of Dead

“If you want out of this room, you’ll answer my questions,” Valen said firmly.

“I don’t know any vampires. They’re not real, dude.”

Valen growled.

“Unless you’re talking about—”

Valen focused on the words coming from the human’s mouth.

“—those goth kids who think they’re vampires. Dress all in black. Moody little assholes. Still… I don’t know any personally.”

“Do you think this is some kind of joke?” Valen demanded.

Jeph’s frown deepened. “Trust me. I do not think this is funny in any way.”

“Admit it. You’re a distraction, aiding the vampire attacks, are you not?”

Either the human was one of the best actors on the planet or he truly did not know anything about the vampires.

It still didn’t stop Valen’s ire.

He would have his answers. Slamming his fist on the table, he half shifted and screamed across the table. “Tell me what you know!”

Jeph fell back in his chair and scrambled across the floor until his back hit the wall behind him. His eyes were wide, his lips quivering. “Wh-what are you?”

Valen drew his gorilla side back and returned to full human. “I’m the stuff of your nightmares. And I’ll have my answers one way or another.”

* * * *

Hours later, Varian was in custody. His cousin sat in a lone chair in the dark room, a spotlight above his head as several king’s guardsmen surrounded them. Adriel stared at the warlock, now bound and unable to use magic for seven days. Adriel could feel pure rage emanating from the man, but he also sensed fear. Considering the trespass, his cousin had no right to feel anger.

What does he fear?

“Why?” Adriel asked. He didn’t need to elaborate. He couldn’t, not without the answer hurting him.

Varian remained silent, looking anywhere but Adriel.

Adriel allowed magic to cull within one hand. He lifted it, the waves of violet energy almost the same shade as his eyes. “I don’t wish to harm you… unlike what you might’ve planned for me.”

“I planned nothing,” Varian said. “I only placed a tracking spell on you.”

“For the vampires,” Adriel said, testing to see if his guess was right.

Varian’s silence spoke volumes.

“And what did you think they would do to me if they tracked me?”

“I couldn’t think about that,” Varian said. He lifted his stare to Adriel. “I didn’t want to harm you. I had no choice.”

No choice? Adriel frowned.

“They have my father.”

Ralnur? “He was just at dinner with me a few days ago.”

“I didn’t act fast enough, so they took him as collateral. They claim they would kill him unless I placed a tracer spell on you. I attempted several times at the dinner, but that damned bear shifter stuck to your side like glue all night.” Varian paused. He lifted his head.

Adriel stared into his cousin’s eyes and sensed the truth. Yet there was still a chance it was a lie and a means for another trap. He had to tread carefully. There was no one he could completely trust. “You could’ve come to me instead. We could already be searching for Ralnur.”

---