Page 17 of Blood Illusions

He sighed. “No, it would be suicide with those things. You can barely keep your eyeballs open.”

I gently pushed on his firm arm. “You’ve been fighting the Sandman as much as I have, brother.”

He followed the winding road off the highway until he spotted the familiar sign for an overlook in Genesee. Tourists often came to this spot to view the majestic buffalo, but it was empty now.

He glanced at his watch. “We’ll grab a few Z’s before we toast the vampires.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. I curled up next to the passenger door and closed my eyes. This wasn’t the first time, nor would it be the last time I grabbed some sleep in the car. With the heater going, it was as toasty as my bed.

Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.

I jerked awake, thinking I would be staring up into the flashlight of a cop, but I was dead wrong.

Justice’s gaze was intense as he studied me through the car window. His long dark hair gleamed with subtle light highlights, and my fingers twitched from the temptation to reach out and touch it. His thick black eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings around his deep brown eyes.

“Shit.” Damon reached for the sword he kept tucked in the back seat.

I jumped at Damon’s curse. What was I doing? Justice was the enemy. He had to be using his glamour mojo on me.

“Open the door.” Justice patted the top of the car. “We need to talk.”

“Don’t touch my car.” Damon got out with his sword and slammed the door shut. He stormed around the back of the car. “Get away from my sister’s door, bloodsucker.”

“I’m not the enemy,” Justice insisted as he held up his hands and backed away.

“So you say.” Damon edged closer, gripping his sword so tightly his knuckles were white.

Justice darted out of the way. “They’re gone.”

I opened the door. “Who’s gone?”

“I combed through the cave, and I couldn’t find any sign of them.” Justice’s voice was thick with weariness.

His shirt was stained crimson in several places, and there were still ragged wounds on his arms where he’d been attacked.

Damon flashed his gaze over him. “You were wounded.”

He shrugged. “I’m a fast healer.”

Vampires usually healed faster than that. Something wasn’t adding up. I gestured toward his arm. “Why aren’t you healed yet, then?”

Justice glanced at his arm. “You’re right. I don’t know why I’m not healing as fast as I normally do. There’s something different about these creatures.”

“Vampires,” Damon corrected.

He furrowed his brow and shook his head slowly. “I’m not so sure. There’s something off about them. They’re not acting like vampires.”

Damon snorted. “That’s rich coming from a bloodsucker.” He raised his sword, poised to strike. “Now, prepare to die.”

I held up my hand. “Damon, wait.” I gave him my back-off tone.

Damon gave me a you’re-kidding look as he slowly stalked Justice. “Why do you think they’re not acting like vampires?”

Justice never took his eyes off Damon’s sword. “They’re doing something strange.”

Damon cocked his eyebrow. “Stranger then wanting to suck somebody’s blood?”

Justice ignored him and focused on me. “You need to look in the cave. There’s markings in there that I can’t decipher, and I have been around the block once or twice.”

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