Page 102 of How to Entice a Fiend

Quietly, I push out of bed and slip out of the bedroom, glad she doesn’t wake up. I head back to the kitchen where Marcus is talking to Alexei with two dogs by his side. He must have left to get them and was just coming in since he’s setting the keys to the vehicle on the table.

“Here’s Finn’s phone. Tell him I said thank you,” I say as the large dog comes over to sniff me. I hold my hand out to himand he scrutinizes it while the little one jumps on my legs for attention.

“I will,” Marcus replies.

I hesitate. “And thank you for everything else. I don’t deserve the help you’ve given me. I’m very thankful that Finn has the ability to forgive like he does or I’m aware I wouldn’t have received any of this assistance.”

“He’s a pretty special person… but you did save his life. Even if it was for Rylee’s benefit, you saved him when I couldn’t,” Marcus says. “Finn is very precious to me.”

“Why haven’t you changed him?” I ask, a question that has been floating around in my head.

“The council has denied permission, but now that the council is in shambles, who knows what might happen. Although, we’re afraid of what will happen if we do. Would his new body work against the prostheses? Would the uniqueness of his blood affect his ability to be turned? There are so many what-ifs that make us both nervous.”

“Maybe Mads would have the answers to that. And if you’re afraid of going to prison, I would try to change him, but I don’t… exactly know if he’d turn out like me or like a normal vampire. I’m already going to spend most of my life running, so if we can prove that I can turn him into a normal vampire, I’d readily do it for you. The only reason the VRC isn’t hunting me down right now is because of the fuckup with the council. But after this is over…”

“We’ll see where we are after this is over,” Marcus says.

“Yeah.”

I head down the hallway to my room before hesitating with my hand on the door. I don’t know why my eyes trail down the hallway. I was so tired just minutes ago, but as my eyes betray me, I find that exhaustion leaving my body.

I wander off to the nearby bathroom, pulling drawers open to no avail when I hear Finn walking up to the open door.

“What are you looking for?” he asks with a coy smile as he leans against the doorframe.

“Just… seeing… what’s here.”

“Yeah?” he asks as I see him flick something between his fingers. “Something like this?”

I stare at Finn as his smile widens. He’s clearly having too much fun with this.

“I mean… I might be willing to give it to you… for a price,” he continues.

“And what price is that? Not that I was looking for such a thing.”

“I don’t know yet. I want one favor… and I’ll tell you when I want it.”

Eyeing the packet, I say, “Fine.”

Finn grins as he flicks it over at me. “You’re gonna do what I want and I can’t wait.”

I sigh as I slip it into my pocket, having absolutely no idea what I’ve just agreed to. And also a bit irritated that he knows my plans. I’m not even sure of my plans and he’s over here well aware of them.

As soon as he’s gone, I contemplate going right back to my room, but I can’t make it past Mads’s door. I hesitate a moment before I push it open and shut it behind me. I’d assumed he’d already be asleep, but instead, he’s writing something down at a desk in the corner.

“What have I done to deserve such company?” he asks.

I lean against the door, and seeing I’m not being overly chatty, he gets up and walks over to me.

“Has my company forgotten the fine art of speaking?” His eyes are traveling all over me as he gets closer.

“You speak enough for both of us.”

“I won’t deny that,” Mads says with a grin as he steps up to the door I’m leaning against. He presses me against it then leans in until his mouth is close to my ear.

“You know these rooms are quite soundproof. I could barely hear you enter.”

“What’s that mean?” I ask.

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