Page 118 of The Vampire's Thirst
Matty took a sharp breath as he swung his feet to the floor, sitting up. “Do I seem like the kind of guy who would talk? I’ll have you know I got anA plusin dumber-than-shit and will-never-confess-no-matter-what-you-do.”
Dax respected this male. And he respected very few beings, including hisfrerons. Rein, Kole, and Ram numbered among them, but he would never release that newsflash. “Watch out, human. I could end up liking you.”
“I don’t swing that way, but if we’re in here too long, I might change my mind.”
Dax chuckled. “Don’t worry. I have another human I want for that activity.” Now where did such a dumbass statement come from?
Clang.
“Here comes fun,” said Matty, lying back on the cot with a quiet moan.
A guard clicked the remote once and shoved a tray through a trap in the cell. “Eat up, girls. You’re gonna need your strength for round two.”
Dax didn’t answer. He watched as the jailer tapped the handheld device again.Yep. Forcefield. Damn.This place was looking impregnable. The interrogation room might be the only way out. Fat chance. Still. He wasn’t about to go toes up in this shithole. His stepdad, more Aeternals than he could count, andbeaucoupwildings hadn’t killed him. He would not give the honor to these misfit bastards. Until he saw an opportunity, he’d hold out for the Firebrands. In the meantime, stay alive. Stay strong.
He lifted the tray, sniffing. Handing a bowl to Matty, he grabbed the other for himself. “It’s safe to eat.” Dax passed out the bread and a spoon, planted his ass on his cot, and tucked into the prison food, drinking the glass of blood first.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dax perched on the edge of his cot, slurping down a mug of barely-fresh blood while rubbing his temple where a fireworks display exploded. He had returned from another bout of questions accompanied by fists where they must have given up when he slipped into unconsciousness.
Once he finished the breakfast drink, he lifted his shirt to watch a nasty wound close. In another two or three hours when he’d be completely healed, Roark had promised a torture instant replay.
Maybe they’d kill him next round. Good news was if they did, Chiara was better off. No more mooning over him, calling him a hero.Hah. He was nothing but a degenerate vampire who hadn’t protected his mother or sister. Bounty would shed a few tears. Then she’d get on with her life. He would be free from finding inventive, degrading ways to punish himself for his shortcomings. The Firebrands wouldn’t have to debate whether it was time to off him.
Yeah. My death is a plus all around.
“You are one tough bastard.” Matty swilled what passed for oatmeal from a bowl. “When they dropped you off from your date, you looked like a slab of ground meat. Now you’re almost pretty enough to catch my eye.”
“Good genes.” Dax raised the empty glass. “Great blood.”
“Not my choice, but…”
The colonel was cut off when a noise like Thor’s legendary hammer sounded. Dax bounded off the bed, spreading his legs wide to maintain balance while the walls and floor trembled. The guards scrambled, boots thudding when they raced for cover.
“Under the cot,” Dax yelled when iron struts in the ceiling crumpled aluminum-foil style. The cell filled with dust while the quake continued. Tucking his head under his arms, the vampire fell in beside Matty to wait out the disaster. With the roof destroyed, they heard loud screams joined by a bestial roar which came from the outside.
When the rear wall caved in as if a wrecking ball had struck, Dax grabbed Matty’s arm, pulling him out from under the bed. He leaped for the opening with the human in tow.
Though both males were barefoot, they scrambled across iron girders and fallen blocks to escape. They halted abruptly when they saw what awaited them outside the prison. The center of the garrison was in chaos, Arisen Dawn soldiers running in all directions in various stages of dress. Of course, that wasn’t the shocker.
“Holy shit.” Matty pointed with his free hand. “What the fuck?”
Dax, who teetered on a girder, dropped the colonel’s arm to steady himself. He swiped a fist across his vision. “A dragon.”
“Is that…?”
“Yep. A guard between its teeth.”
The beast shook the Aeternal and tossed him into the air. Opening its mouth wide, it caught the guy and swallowed, a big bulge making its way down its neck, a claw swiping across its satisfied lips. Finished with the snack, it swiveled its head toward the escapees, a puff of black smoke snorting from its nostrils. Red eyes locked onto them, its lips pulling into a reptilian grin to reveal rows of knife-like teeth.
“I think he likes you,amigo.” Matty’s voice was shaky.
Whipping its monstrous neck toward two running Arisen Dawn soldiers, the dragon fried them instantly with one shot of its deadly breath. At the same time, it snatched another victim in its long black claws, using him like a pincushion. Sun glinted off blue-green scales while its forked tail swished back and forth. Under its skin, slabs of muscle rippled with each movement.
With the latest victim still in its grasp, the dragon crouched to spring onto a roof. The structure collapsed beneath the beast’s weight. Soldiers scattered, fleeing every building. Standing atop the rubble, the creature opened its mouth. Out came a stream of fire, torching its clasped prey until he was extra crispy. It popped the fried morsel into its maw.Straight up.
Dax grabbed the American’s elbow. “Let’s move while we can.” He bent to snatch boots off two dead assholes, tossing the smaller pair to the colonel. “Here. These are better than bare feet.”
