Page 33 of Taste of Forever
I lowered my gaze to the table and noticed my hands were shaking. Curling them into fists, I hid them in my lap and tried to take deep breaths.
“What’s running through that pretty blonde head of yours?” Soren picked up another taco and took a big bite.
I shook my head, unable to pull my thoughts out of the tangled, panicked spiral. Whatdidn’the know about me? He knew where I lived and where I worked. For all I knew, he was spying on me every minute of every day through my phone, computer, or whatever else. And he clearly had no problems with hurting me.
Never before had I felt more trapped. More helpless.
“I just want you to leave me alone,” I confessed. “I won’t go back there or talk to him ever again if you’d just…stop everything. Stop following me to my house and my job. Stop…observingme.”
Again, Soren took his sweet time chewing and swallowing his food. “I would honestly love that too. Frankly, you’re not all that interesting to follow.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “But I have my orders. And my superiors are very interested in the information you can gather. So, how about we set a term limit on this job you do for us?”
“Isn’t there another option?”
“’Fraid not.” Soren’s eyes flashed with a type of malice that made my skin erupt in goosebumps. “I was sent here to make you agree to gather intel, with no limits on how to do so. I don’t want to hurt you, Heather. But I can. So here is my offer.” He shoved aside his food container and brought his palms together in front of him. “Give me three months’ worth of good intel, and I’ll be out of your life like I never existed.” A smirk pulled at his lips. “This is the best, and only, deal you’ll get, so don’t bother trying to negotiate. Make this easy on yourself and just say yes.”
I felt beyond trapped now. More like I was drowning, and the only way to survive was being allowed a tiny sip of air before my head was shoved underwater again.
Everything in my gut screamed that this was wrong. It would be leading Laith on, and possibly putting the vampires in danger. And that was still saying nothing of the dishonesty and betrayal of my relationship with Justin.
But what other choice did I have?
I just had to endure for three months and then I’d be left in peace.
The answer dragged out of my throat like stones rolling uphill.
“Fine.”
Chapter 9
Laith
Iswung a leg off the motorcycle, and craned my neck to look up at the tall, stately home. “Why don’t we do all of our meetings at Novak’s place?”
“Because we’re not of his clan,” Thorne grumbled, tossing a spent cigarette. “Can’t give him all the power.”
“His place is nicer than ours, though. And his chef always has food prepared. Why don’t we have a chef?”
“You are more than welcome to hire one,” Thorne said irritably. “And knock yourself out with a home remodel. I can’t wait to see what you do with that squirrel brain of yours.”
Okay, he had a point there. But he didn’t have to be so grumpy about it. Actually, who was I kidding? Thorne was always grumpy.
If anyone had an excuse to be grumpy, it was me. I was still starving. Marrow was starting to lose its edge. I needed blood, Heather’s blood, really fucking soon or I’d be in big trouble.
Cyan was the third and final person of our merry little band. He’d been the first to park in Novak’s courtyard and now waited anxiously for me and Thorne by the front door. His foot jiggled as we approached, then he lifted the knocker to announce our arrival.
I grabbed his shoulder and gave it a friendly little shake in hopes of calming him. “Novak said it was good news. It’s gonna be all right.”
“Yeah.” He didn’t sound any more at ease. I could practically hear his teeth clenching.
Cyan was never anxious. Everything rolled off of him like water on a duck’s back. Except when it came to Kalix, which was precisely the nature of our visit.
When he was imprisoned by clan Carpe Noctem over twenty years ago, Kalix left a massive hole in Blood ‘til Dawn that we all continued to feel. None moreso than Cyan, who Kal had mentored like a father figure.
Quietly, Thorne had been trying for the last decade to break Kal out. But despite having risen to become the ruling clan, it couldn’t happen with a single command. Carpe Noctem was powerful and resourceful in their own right. And their imprisonment of Kal was seen as justified, since it was due to the killing of their leader.
The door opened a moment later, with Novak himself grinning from across the threshold. “Hey, everyone. Come in.”
He held the door open wide while the three of us shuffled in. The guy was dressed down, but still looked more polished than us in our scuffed leather and jeans. His long, silvery-blonde hair was down, and he wore slacks and a buttoned shirt with the sleeves rolled past his elbows.
