Page 32 of Dark Flame
The look he gives is like I’m a bug on the bottom of his shoe—worthless of his attention. “You have every reason to lie.”
“Yeah, but I’m not.”
“Both of you, shut it.” Dormer’s command is only enforced by the quick slice on the same palm I cut with the rock. It re-opens the wound, enticing a curse out of me that all three vampires ignore. Assholes probably haven’t felt pain since they were human.
“That fucking hurts,” I hiss, but it gets worse when Dormer presses his thumb beside the cut, forcing blood to well faster. It slides to the edge of my hand before dripping into the goblet, the small amount forming a pool of everything I’ve spent years avoiding.
I jerk my hand away, my movement clearly unexpected to him because he doesn’t stop me, and the next drop doesn’t join the others in the cup. My pitiful resistance only lasts so long when Dormer appears behind me, his arms coming around my waist to regain control. He pushes even harder into the cut, and I twist to glare, hoping those heightened senses of his pick up on the level of hatred I have for him.
Just in case he can’t, I mutter, “I fucking hate you.”
“I’m aware.”
He abruptly pulls back, satisfied with the inch of blood in the cup. He releases his hold, his body disappearing from behind me before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a silk handkerchief, handing it to me.
His nostrils are flared, his voice a grating command. “Clean yourself.”
Taking the handkerchief, I wrap it around the cut, fisting my hand to soak up as much of the blood as possible before the others get triggered.
Dormer passes the goblet to the other vampire, who eagerly snatches it. Dormer’s friend comes up on my other side, his attention on the show about to take place.
In truth, Iamcurious to see the outcome of what my ancestors did as well. Out of all possible chances at witnessing the transformation, this is probably the best and safest one.
The vampire lifts the cup to his mouth and tips it back, his throat working in large gulps as he swallows it—me—down. Dormer crosses his arms and observes all his hard work with a look of satisfaction.
After all…one hundred thousand dollars made this possible. One vampire, and a few drops.
I’m never getting out of here.There’s nothing I can offer him that’ll replace this business opportunity—money that’s unfathomable to me. It’s a realization as heavy as the shadows Hecate keeps sending after me.
The cup lowers, and the vampire wipes blood from the corner of his mouth, swiping it against his fang for what’ll be the final time. “Your blood tastes like honey.” He glances towards Dormer. “You will be making a fortune off her. How long does it take to work?”
“Few minutes.”
“And if it doesn’t? I’ll need more.”
Dormer snarls, inching himself closer to me. “You’ve gotten plenty.”
The other vampire opens his mouth, presumably to argue, but then he gasps. His black eyes wildly dart around the room, as though seeking answers to a question he isn’t asking, before a full-body shudder drops him to the ground, a pained cry filling the room.
His shrill scream is loud enough my ears would likely bleed if he went on for a while. He manages to get on his hands and knees, and his back bows, his head lowering to the ground.
“Fuck,” Dormer’s friend whispers, his tone amazed.
This is the cure at work. This is why my ancestors did this. To eradicate vampires, one bloodsucker at a time. Maybe there will be an upside to captivity…
The screams fade into pants, and the man’s head darts up, his gaze landing on me. Only this time, he no longer has fangs but straight, human teeth that grin in a non-malicious manner. Brown eyes instead of black, and his skin darkens with the newly changed blood coursing through him.
“It worked,” he whispers, a sense of wonder filling his tone.
Thirteen
ALEC
It worked.All my planning is paying off. All my years of hunting Sinclairs only to end the line in a way most satisfactory to me.
For you, Cora. All for you.
Beside Sinclair, Cedric watches on with an equal measure of shock and wonder.
