Page 11 of Bite of Sin

“My heart beats just as yours does,” he murmured, keeping my palm on his chest. “Blood runs through my veins just like yours.”

I could feel his calm heart beating against my hand, not understanding where he was going with this. I tried tugging away, but he held me in place, his stare boring through me.

“You’re dead,” I hissed. “And your kind is trying to kill or capture mine.”

“You’ve already admitted to killing my kind. I’ll say it again—we really aren’t that different.”

“I do it to survive.”

“You live in Project Hope. That’s the only reason you’re this close to the city with nothing on you.” He named the city I lived in. “I hear civilians aren’t allowed to go past the walls. You’re going to get in trouble.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Suspicion burned through me, wondering how much he knew about the way our city operated.

“So you’re not planning on sneaking back in unnoticed?”

“Get off me,” I bit out.

He laughed. “How do you plan on doing that when you’re all cut up? I could smell your wounds before I even saw you. But even with human eyes, it would be impossible to miss.”

“What’s with all the questions?” I burst out, losing patience. “Stop playing. If you’re going to try to kill me, then just fucking do it.”

“I find you entertaining. Come with me.”

My lips parted in shock. “What?”

“Did you know that there are humans living with us? By choice?”

My heart pounded. “You’re lying.”

“They say it’s better than being trapped in the city. They have freedom with us,” he whispered, his eyes locked on mine.

“Freedom to do what? Be a food bank?” I asked in disgust. “I’ll never choose that life.”

“Or I could turn you.”

His words had me freezing in fear. He watched me intently as I glared at him. That was one secret humans didn’t know. The whole process of how vampires turned humans was a mystery. The vampires kept that quiet. We knew that they could bite us without us turning, but that was it.

“Why don’t you tell me how you’d turn me, and I’ll think about it,” I said snidely, trying to calm my nerves.

He chuckled. “Humans have been trying to figure that out for decades. You think I’d tell you?”

“I think you’re playing with me, and I’m getting bored.”

“You won’t come back with me?”

“No,” I snapped.

“Fine. Then go.” He released me and took a couple of steps back.

I didn’t move a muscle, not sure if he was playing some kind of twisted game. He could easily overpower me. Vampires had brute strength that humans couldn’t touch. They were also faster. Not super-speed fast, but more than enough to overtake anyone trying to outrun them. Without weapons, I didn’t stand a chance.

“You’re letting me leave?” I asked skeptically.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because not all vampires are as bad as you think.” He paused. “Most are. But we’re all different too. And I don’t particularly care to feed on girls who have that much pain in their eyes. Whoever they killed at the river must have been close to you.”

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