Page 66 of Mortal Shift
Cole’s name sent a shiver through me, and Thaden nodded, like it confirmed his words. I shook my head in exasperation.
“I’m more than just someone’s mate.” I planted my hands on his chest and shoved him back. “It’s about time all you jackasses rememberedthat.”
“Oh, I already know that, sweetness,” he drawled, catching my wrist and pulling me against him. I thudded into his chest, and he ducked his head, skimming his nose along my throat. “So much more.”
“I’m more than a damn blood bank, too.”
“I beg to differ.”
“At least you’re not tellingmeto beg,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Which makes you about the only one here.”
He canted his head. “Alluring though that is, I prefer my women spirited.”
“Horsesare spirited, not women.” I raised a hand as he opened his mouth. “And if the next words out of your mouth are any kind of horse or riding analogy, I swear to every god there is I will find a way to put a stake through your heart.”
He threw his head back and laughed.
“I like this one,” he said over his shoulder. “You should keep her.”
I started, and peered into the darkness, but it wasn’t until he took a step closer that I made out Cole’s features.
“Rumor has it you’ve already laid claim to her,vampire.” The menace in his voice promised violence, and made the little hairs on my arms stand to attention. I made to back away from Thaden before things got physical—because it looked like Cole had finally got sick of letting him torment me—but Thaden’s hand tightened around my wrist and held me tight.
“If you wanted to keep her to yourself,” the vampire said, “maybe you shouldn’t have let her go wandering around by herself. Dark things lurk in these shadows. Don’t blame me if she goes seeking them out.”
“I didn’t—” I started to protest, but Thaden carried on over the top of me.
“Pretty poor excuse of a wolf, if you ask me.” His teeth flashed in the moonlight as he smirked, and I couldn’t wait for Cole to wipe the smug expression off his face. And, hopefully, remove those fangs. Permanently.
“No-one asked you, vampire. Which, as I recall, never stopped you telling it to half the town, anyway.” He cracked a smile. “How you doing, Thaden? You didn’t show earlier.”
Thaden canted his head in acknowledgement and lifted his chin at me. “I was busy getting this one out of trouble.”
“What…what’s going on?” I asked, twisting round as much as I could in Thaden’s grasp to look up at them both. All sign of aggression was gone, and they looked… friendly.
“Oh, speaking of which, I caught her trying to run. Again.”
He lifted my wrist like he was holding up a dog leash and I flushed red with anger and humiliation. In what sick twist were two of the people making my life hell—two people who were supposed to hate each other more than me—actually working together?
“Thanks. I thought she might.”
Did that mean everything we’d shared in the dorm-everything I’d felt for him and thought he’d felt for me—did that mean that had all been a lie? The humiliation burned hotter on my face and tightened in my chest, and I was glad the darkness was hiding the moisture I could feel shining across my eyes. Because I wasn’t going to let these assholes see I was on the brink of tears because…because…I swallowed. Because for one stupid moment, Ihadthought it was real. I’d believed he cared something for me, and some part of me had rejoiced. And all this time, he’d just been playing with me.
He reached over to claim my wrist and I yanked it out of Thaden’s hand, backing away from the pair of them. I glared at them.
“Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?” I tried again, but my anger was undermined by the tremor in my voice. Dammit, I wasnotgoing to cry. Cole shared a look with Thaden.
“Give us a few, yeah?”
“Of course. Have her back at the party before midnight.” He turned and seemed to glide effortlessly through the darkness until he was less than a shadow, leaving me staring at him in mesmerized silence.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked, and I snapped my gaze back to him.
“Why do you even care?” That was much better, I noted with approval. My voice radiated fury and my tone was more bitter than the night air. No tremors there. I tried for biting sarcasm next. “Maybe you should go catch up with your friend. Seems you prefer hanging out withvampiresto your own kind.”
He laughed once, the sound as bitter as my voice, and shook his head.
“Two months here and you’re as indoctrinated as the rest of them. You see what we’re up against?”
