Page 66 of Blood Ties
“I know,” his tone calmed down and I hoped it meant that with it, his anger. “But Sebastian?”
“Sebastian is…” I looked away trying to find the words I needed before I let my eyes settle on Grayson. “I didn’t want him to kiss me.”
Grayson gave me an obviously forced half smile. “Yes, you did.” He put his finger to my lips before I could protest. “I know you wouldn’t have kissed him, Gaby. I know because you love me, but I…”
I never heard the rest. Something streaked out the corner of my eye drawing my attention down the alley. I moved in its direction when I heard Grayson groan. Before I could return my attention him, I felt a sharp pain in my head then darkness swarm around me.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
I awoke lying on frigid concrete, all but my head which was in someone’s lap. I groaned as I opened my eyes.Not again,I thought to myself. The world spun as I righted myself and saw that the lap I had rested on was Grayson’s.
“What happened?” I hissed through clenched teeth.
“Not sure. We were talking and then we woke up here.”
I looked down and realized that our kidnappers hadn’t even bothered tying us up.
“Must be supernaturals,” I mumbled thinking out loud.
“Why do you say that?” His hands were on me helping to steady me.
“No ties,” I jiggled my wrist showing my point. “They must have known that they’d be useless.”
“I’m really getting tired of being kidnapped,” he joked, but I knew he really meant it. I was too.
“I know,” I admitted with a guilty smile remembering what Anton had done to him. “But at least this time you’re a lot harder to kill.”
“True.”
It was dark and damp where we were. At first, I thought perhaps we were in a basement, but the smell of car exhaust was quite pungent. I looked around the room and saw stairs leading to a door that I was sure was locked, but I tried it anyways. Not only was it locked, but it seemed to be spelled shut too.Witches.Remembering my last encounter with witches, and now knowing who was behind it, I couldn’t help but think that Ava was responsible once more. It was just too much of a coincidence.
I scanned the room hoping to find a way to escape that our abductors might have overlooked. There were no windows or doors, with the exception of the one at the top of the stairs. Unsure what else to do and still feeling dizzy, I sat back down and leaned against Grayson.
“We should have never gone to that party,” I mumbled.
Grayson placed a gentle kiss on my hair. “Next time, we’ll go out of town.”
I at him from under my lashes feeling glad that he said “next time,” not because he thought we’d escape, but because he planned on us being together for a next time. After Sebastian kissing me, his words rang through my head that Grayson could grow tired of the drama that followed me.
Grayson looked down at his watch. Hours had passed since we left the party when I heard the sound of metal scrapping against itself as the door at the top of the stairs opened. Then there was the sound of multiple people heading down. I stood and Grayson followed. I didn’t want to be at a disadvantage by sitting on the floor. An opportunity to escape might present itself and we needed to be ready.
There were five men that took a stance in various spots of the room. I felt the small roll of power coming off four of them.Vampires,about one hundred in age to one hundred and fifty, but the fifth was close to five hundred. I inwardly rolled my eyes asking god why he couldn’t let me catch a break.
The oldest vampire stood in front of us. His bald head and scars on his eyebrow and lip might make a human feel intimidated, but we were vampires. Even as a human, Grayson didn’t intimidate easily. Since he met me and became a vampire, the only thing that changed was that he was now more confident.
“Gabriella Carmichael,” he greeted in ahow do you doway. “Daughter of the leader of the New York nest, Persephone Carmichael and The First Vampire, Damien Maloch.”
“Do you give everyone you kidnap a history on their own pedigree?” I asked snidely.
“Kidnapped? Who said anything about you being kidnapped?”
“You knocked us unconscious and brought us here against our will. Any court in this country would define that as kidnapping,” Grayson pointed out.
“No, you misunderstand. I only wish for information and then you are free to leave. I will even have one of my guys drive you anywhere you wish.”
I doubted that.
“What do you want to know?” I asked figuring I’d play along until I could work out a plan to get out of there. I looked at where each guy was placed. Two were guarding the stairs while the other two were meant to appear as back up to the leader. I didn’t know if they were it or if there were more up stairs. I strained my hearing but couldn’t catch a single noise outside. It wasn’t enough to convince me that they were alone. I knew they had a witch and perhaps there was a spell cast blocking my supernatural hearing from leaving this room.
