Page 234 of Flirting with Darkness

“Take as long as you need, my friend.” Then he uncrossed his legs and uncurled from his chair, stepping close to the man. This time I couldn’t help my snarl. Positioning myself between them was instinctual.

Protect… Mine…

The Count’s eyes slid smoothly to me, and his large hand landed on my shoulder. “All is well, Dav. I just wish to greet him.”

I ground my molars together as he held out his hand to the awestruck young man. My mate stared at it for a second as if unsure whether he should shake it or not. I was aware a number of people were staring, surprise and curiosity on some faces, jealousy on others. The Count was powerful, and alliances with him were constantly sought. They always had been, but he chose his allies sparingly and carefully. What he didn’t do was greet strangers by shaking their hand…ever. My heart pounded. Balthazar was the only person I completely trusted. This was my friend’s way of telling me he understood my need to be with this stranger, that he recognised the signs of a mating call, even if I wanted to both embrace it and thrust it away harder than I had anything in my life.

The young man’s eyes widened at the Count’s gesture. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. I watched it, my instincts screaming something was wrong. A bitter smell hit me at the same time as his fear did. I roared and caught hold of the young man’s wrist before the Count could clasp his hand. A ring glinted on the man’s middle finger. Just a band of gold metal. Innocuous. Innocent. Until I forced his hand to turn. On the palm side, a tiny spike protruded.

“What the fuck is that?” My grip on his wrist tightened. He whimpered. I was hurting him, but I didn’t care. Gods damn him to hell, he’d tried to kill my friend, and he’d used me to do it. Self-disgust rolled through me. I was Bal’s best friend and personal bodyguard, and I’d let a pretty face and lust blind me to the danger he was in.

My fangs lengthened and I prepared to rip the man’s throat out. Yet as I looked into his frightened eyes, his fear sour in the air, that tug behind my ribs pulsed and I couldn’t do it.

“P-Please, don’t. I-I…”

Unperturbed, the Count stepped forward, his hand resting on my shoulder. “No, Dav, he lives, for now. Look at me,” he quietly commanded the assassin.

The Count’s power wasn’t something any human, or part human, could hope to ignore; they were too weak minded to resist. It even washed over me like a cool cloud, soothing my anger, and lending me a calmness that I knew was an illusion. My friend was pushing my anger and guilt aside on purpose. He’d spotted the signs of a fledgling mate bond and knew killing this pathetic excuse for an assassin would hurt me. I took several deep breaths and pulled myself together. This human-vampire reject was nothing to me. I could ignore the hand of fate telling me this was my soulmate. I had to. He was just a stranger, an assassin sent to take out my oldest friend. He didn’t deserve anything from me.

Bal’s eyes glowed red, his voice soft. “You will not fight, or try to escape. And you will do whatever this male tells you to do.” He gestured to me. “Understood?”

The assassin's eyes widened. A vacant look settled on his face before he shook it off and snarled a little.

I looked away. This was the safest course of action, but it didn’t mean I had to like my friend having control over this beautiful half-breed. A growl rumbled in my chest as my instincts to yank him away kicked in. What the fuck was wrong with me? He’d just tried to kill Balthazar Rossi! He was either really stupid, or had a death wish.

“What’s your name, young one?” asked the Count, utterly cool and in control.

The assassin gritted his teeth and shook his head, his gaze flitting to my mine. He didn’t have to answer the Count’s question, not when Balthazar had relinquished his compulsion to me. It was clear the youngling hybrid knew what compulsion was, and he was trying like hell to fight it. If Balthazar had to use more compulsion, it could easily break the man’s mind and leave him nothing more than a thrall, a slave to whatever my Lord wanted. I glanced over at the silver poles where the Count’s other captives danced, touching themselves and being touched by others. I couldn’t let that happen.

“Answer him!” I barked, anxiety making my voice harsh.

The man jumped, his gaze flying to mine. His thin body trembled. Whether with rage or fear, I didn’t know.

“E-Elliott,” he bit out.

The Count nodded. “Thank you, Elliot. Give me that ring.”

Elliot just glared, his jaw muscles clenching and his chin lifting. The Count sighed, glancing at me even as my blood sang at the man’s courage and defiance of my best friend. Bal could compel him easily, but for some reason had given me that power. And fuck me, if I didn’t want to keep it.

“Davlov.”

Right.“Take that fucking ring off and give it to him.”

Elliot’s eyes sparked. I glared back and raised my brows. Elliot swore and continued swearing as he pulled the ring off. Yeah, he could fight it, but in the end he had no choice but to do what I said.

“You will go with Davlov now.” The Count looked at me, his pale, almost colourless gaze impassive. “Take the assassin to the castle. Get whatever information you can from him. And use whatever means you think necessary.” He narrowed his eyes on Elliot’s mutinous face. “I’ve a feeling that my compulsion will not be permanent, so watch he doesn’t try to escape. I will see you in three days. I have business here.”

I nodded. “Of course. I will leave a team to protect you and Sorcha.”

The Count gave the hint of a smile. “No need. I will see to her safety and mine. Roco will drive me. You take the helicopter back to the castle. Send it back in three days for me.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“And Davlov?” Bal’s gaze was assessing. “Use this time to learn what you need to know about him. While you do, I shall decide whether I will end him for trying to kill me.”

I swallowed hard, but nodded. I had no idea how to handle this situation. In all my years on this Earth I’d never met anyone who affected me like Elliot did. In the human world they would laugh at the idea of an instant mate bond, even shifters could have potential mates that weren’t necessarily their soulmates. Shifters were lucky if they found their soulmates, their perfect match, but vampires? Original blood-born vampires only had that kind of soul-deep connection with their mate or mates. It wasn’t exclusive to other vampires either. A mate bond could be with any race, creed or gender.

“Move.” I pushed Elliot forward. His jaw muscles popped as he tried to fight the compulsion, and his face turned red. “Stop fighting the need to do as I say. The more you do, the more painful it becomes.”

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