Page 38 of Taming His Vampire Mate
Thierry let out a long breath, frowning at me as though my reaction had surprised him. Which was probably true. And if it had, he was in good company. If you’d told me a month ago I’d spend even a moment empathizing with vampires, I would’ve told you to get bent.
“Yes,” he said. “They’re gone. Just like that.”
“And the whole town…” I let it trail off.
“That’s precisely right. The whole town,” Thierry said hollowly. “I imagine this place will be very different when the sun sets. Quite well-populated. Provided, of course, the newborn vampires are still here. They may have moved on in search of fresh feeding grounds.”
I felt a chill at that thought. A thousand newborn vampires, unleashed on the unsuspecting world.
Thierry yawned again, stifling it with the back of his hand. His eyes were still watering and bloodshot. He was clearly miserable but hiding it well. I stared at him for a long moment,something twisting in my chest at the idea of his discomfort—and that was what made me decide to act.
“Come on,” I said, turning away from him and walking out of the kitchen. I made it through the living room before realizing he hadn’t followed. I paused, calling over my shoulder, “Look, we both know you’re not going to let me go off on my own to get eaten by a horde of bloodthirsty vampires, so quit pretending you don’t give a shit.”
Thierry sighed. A moment later, he appeared in the doorway, scowling.
“This changes nothing between us,” he said solemnly. “The king would be upset if I got you killed, is all. I don’t personally care about your safety one way or another.”
I smirked at him, but I was pretty sure we both knew he was lying. “If that’s what helps you sleep at night. Or during the day. Whichever.”
“Have I told you how much I loathe you?”
My smirk widened into a grin. “You might’ve mentioned it once or twice.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN || THIERRY
“You and the wolf must leave immediately,” Nathaniel told me after I’d filled him in on enough of my situation for him to know I was in a remote town in the middle of nowhere—probably home to dozens, if not hundreds, of hungry newborn vampires. “It is far too dangerous. Your mission is over.”
Yawning despite myself, I stepped out of the rental office and onto the sunbaked asphalt of the motel parking lot, cell phone pressed to my ear.
It was midday, the sun almost directly overhead. Which meant I scowled at both Nathaniel’s words and the daylight in equal measure. It was too bright and far too warm. If I’d been a younger vampire it would have been overwhelming. As it was, it still made me want to crawl into a cool, dark place and sleep for a thousand years.
“Thierry, are you listening to me?” Concern tightened Nathaniel’s voice, though that was hardly surprising. For better and worse—often in equal measure—he wasn’t the sort of leader to force his people into danger, even for the greater good. “You’ve already stayed too long. We’ll send a larger force to contain and neutralize the fledglings before they harm anyone else.”
“The vampires aren’t going anywhere so long as it’s daylight. They’re too new. I have until sundown,” I whispered harshly into the phone, not wanting Jeremy to overhear. But when I turned,he wasn’t behind me anymore. “If I leave now, we won’t know where they’re holed up.”
That wasn’t the real problem, of course. A small team of witches or warlocks could easily locate the vampires.
My problem was twofold.
First: Godric hadn’t revealed himself. What had I expected—that I’d arrive and he’d be standing in the middle of town waiting for me, just like in my dream?
Actually, yes. That’s exactly what I’d expected.
Why would he bother to hide? He was centuries older than me, his psychic gifts made him absolutely lethal, and he had to know I was coming. Soon this place would be crawling with witches and vampires, which would reduce his odds of killing me. If he wasn’t out in the open, it likely meant he was gone. Besides, stalking prey had never been his style. He was direct. Brutal. Centuries had passed, but I doubted that had changed.
Second: if I left now, I’d be abandoning any human survivors in Rookwood to fend for themselves against scores of hungry newborns. If, that is, there were survivors.
“Knowing where the newborns are hiding is hardly a priority,” Nathaniel cut in. “I’ll discuss this with the witch queen. I’m certain we can send a large force to handle this. Two or three teams of witches, vampires, and—”
“That’s all very well and good!” I snapped. How could he not see the obvious flaw without me spelling it out in small words? “But it’ll take you time to assemble those teams. And more time still for the drive down. It’ll be well into the night at best. And it makes far more strategic sense to send them at daybreak, so we can use the sunlight to our advantage.”
“Exactly, which is why you and the alpha—”
“I’ll send the wolf on his way, but I can’t leave yet,” I said flatly, forgetting to whisper. “There might still be survivors.”
Naturally, that was the exact moment Jeremy walked out of the manager’s office, keys dangling from his fingers. He leaned a shoulder against the doorway—sex on a stick—and smirked, eyebrows raised. Clear as day, he’d overheard, and shamelessly kept listening.
I glared, fuming.
