“No, there wasn’t.”
She raised her right leg and with a swift roundhouse kick, sliced the tip of her shoe across his bare chest. He panted, trying to tamp down the stinging pain. The cut on his left pectoral was short, but went deep. She lowered her leg, the toe of her high-heeled shoe exposed so he could see the bloody blade glinting from the end.
He tilted his head and small flecks of drift snow landed on his face. He glanced at the star-dotted, black sky above, wishing he was on his way to one of the many planets out there. The glow of the huge moon provided the only light in this cell, but somehow also sharpened his senses. Just one look and the slash along his chest no longer stung, the metal around his wrists didn’t burn as much.
Looked like he’d already found his place in the darkness.
“What did you do with my people?”
He blinked a few times, suddenly feeling woozy. How could he go from injured to feeling better, and then be back to feeling like shit? He stared at the moon, praying for the satellite to help keep him focused. Until he remembered he was becoming a vampire, not a shape-shifter.
“You better start answering my questions, Knox.” Meiling leaned over him, blocking his view of the sky. “See, you’re telling me that you found my ship abandoned, and that doesn’t make sense.”
“I’m telling you the truth.”
“Are you sure you didn’t see two men and a woman, maybe a few girls?”
He shook his head, closing his eyes for a moment as lethargy flowed through him.
She kicked him again, slicing a second line along his skin. “Are you sure?”
The pain woke him up. She’d left a bloody X on his chest, and the woozy sensation deepened. “I’m positive.”
Meiling’s eyes shone with rage.
Knox didn’t condone violence against women, but couldn’t help fantasizing about snaking his legs around this bitch’s neck so he could drag her to him and drink the life blood from her veins.
If this irritating woman got close enough, would he bite her?
The thought made his gums ache until the fangs elongated, and he growled to keep them at bay. He refused to become just another violent asshole. There was no denying he was already deep in thrall of the change, but he didn’t have to lose complete touch with his humanity. As strange as it was, remembering what the creepy old lady said helped keep him anchored, encouraging him to keep a tighter grasp on his self-control.
Knox’s knowledge of vampires wasn’t extensive, but it was enough. He needed blood to survive and would spend the rest of his life sneaking around in the dark. But he wouldn’t admit defeat by turning into a vile monster.
Meiling crouched in front of him. His determination to remain in control gave everything a surreal edge.
“Stealing something that doesn’t belong to you wasn’t a good idea, was it, Knox?” Her teeth gleamed under the moonlight.
“I told you everything I know. What do you want from me?” She was too close, causing his hunger to swell. His skin felt too tight over his bones. If she didn’t step away soon, no amount of restraint would keep her safe. He needed her blood. Now.
“I just want to know where Keith, Garth and Carrie are. The last time I spoke to them, they claimed to have some precious cargo for me.”
He avoided her eyes, but could still smell her blood. Her heart beat louder than the others. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
She tsked. “I need to know.” She ran a hand over his bristly cheek. “We all answer to someone, don’t we?”
Knox squirmed at her cold touch.
She sighed, her breath cool on his face. He thought she might finally back off, but instead continued to caress his cheek. Her fingertips ran down the side of his neck, leaving a chilly trail along his skin. She paused near the twin bite marks.
“So these are the scars that mark what you are?”
Scars? The last time he’d felt the vampire bite, there’d been twin punctures. “Nah, they’re from a work-related injury.”
She dragged her finger down his shoulder, pausing just above the X she’d cut into his chest. “It’s such a shame to mar this lovely body.” Her index finger slipped between the two cuts, pinching his skin but otherwise not causing much pain. “Are you leaving anything out?”
“No.”
“What did you do with my people?”
“Nothing.”
“Why did you kill them?”
“I didn’t.” He gritted his teeth, determined to keep up the charade and pretend her attempted torture was working. The real torture was having her so close, the intoxicating scent of the blood pumping through her body made him ravenous.
“Who are you, and where do you really come from?”
He collected his thoughts, trying to clear away the hunger. “I’m a warrior from the Clash Arena, damn it!” Maybe that would get her off his back.
Shock softened her features, but just for a moment. “You’re one of the gladiators?”
He clenched his jaw tight and managed a nod.
“Well, you might be more valuable than I thought.”
She was still too close. Every bit of his self-control was slowly disintegrating. All he wanted to do was unhinge his jaw because the fangs felt too big for his mouth. He growled and snapped his teeth at her to find any bit of exposed skin, but Meiling pulled away.
She scrambled backward, glaring at him with shocked, wide eyes. “Control yourself, blood-getter.”
The man with the rifle stepped closer, his weapon still aimed at Knox. “Shit, I think I remember him. He was one of the last fighters to take the stage before the arena blew up. I thought there was something familiar about him. Boss, that’s when he was bitten! Are you sure it’s a good idea to keep him around? Moe’s now MIA because he attacked him, I don’t think we should expose anyone else—”
“Hogan, calm down.” Meiling was already standing, never taking her attention from Knox. She glared at him for a few silent moments. “As much fun as this little chat has been, I have other business to attend to. But before I go, what can you tell me about Jenks Maine?”
His teeth had almost returned to normal. “I can’t tell you anything. I wasn’t exactly chatty with him.”
“I suppose that’s the first truth you’ve told me. How long were you at the arena?”
“Almost three years,” he answered.
“And how did you become one of his gladiators?” Meiling’s eyes shimmered, as if his answer would weigh on something she already knew.
“I didn’t become anything.” Knox looked away. “I was forced into that fucking arena.”
“Reports claim that Jenks died in the blast. Do you know for sure?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know, but I hope he did.”
“Fair enough. I’m sure many feel the same way.” Meiling turned her back on him and left the room, with three guards trailing after her.
One guard remained, his weapon drawn.
Knox glanced at the bloody mess on his chest, and found it was already healing into a nasty scar. His head throbbed, and his stomach felt hollow. So much for being sated! Getting used to this new metabolism would be a struggle.
Knox tested the chains. They slid along vertical tracks on the stone wall, but there was no give. At least he’d learned that vampires were also affected by silver, because these cuffs were burning his skin.
Laughter filled the cell. “You’re never going to break them, monster. So stop trying.”
He glared at the man. How trigger-happy was this guard? Could Knox use that against him? Maybe. Maybe not. For now, he decided to stay quiet and conserve his energy before the bloodlust drove him insane.
After almost attacking that Meiling woman because of his deep-rooted hunger, he wasn’t willing to tempt fate. He didn’t want the loss of any more lives at his hands. He’d done enough of that to survive while locked away in the arena.
“I saw the footage. A vampire bit you inside the arena and now you�
�re one too,” the guard said. “You’ve already done the same to Moe, but you won’t get the chance to do it to anyone else. Not on my watch.”
Knox focused on the exposed roof. If silver cuffs burned his skin this much, he hated to think what would happen when the sun rose.
As soon as Lian stepped inside the prisoner’s cell, she found he wasn’t alone.
Hogan stiffened and peered over his shoulder. “Li, what the hell are you doing here?” He lowered his rifle and moved toward her.
“I… I…” She tried to look past him, but Hogan stood in the way, blocking her view with his broad frame. “I just wanted to see…you.”
A small flare of hope brightened the guard’s face, making his brown eyes and skin sparkle in the moonlight.
Her heart pounded so fast she felt as if it were knocking against her ribs. She didn’t know what else to say. Lian had initially been angry with Hogan for abandoning her, but her mother would have made it hard for them to see each other. She’d probably punished him in other ways as well. He refused to talk about it whenever she’d broached the subject.
“You know we can’t be together.” Hogan’s face fell. “Not if I want to live.”
“What?” So Meiling had actually threatened his life? Lian wasn’t surprised because there was no decency left inside that cold shell of hers.
He lowered his voice and touched her cheek with the back of his gloved hand. “Your mother will have me killed if she catches us together. You should get back to your room. Don’t look at me like that—she told all of us to make sure you stayed there.”
Yet there’d been no one but Vera on her floor.
“Who let you out?”
“No one—”
“It was Vera, wasn’t it?” He shook his head. “She’s going to get into a lot of trouble one of these days. And so are you.”
Lian snorted. “You mean more trouble than if Meiling finds out the three of us are stealing slaves right from under her nose?” If she found out, Hogan’s life wouldn’t be the only one threatened.
Hogan’s eyes hardened.
“What happened when you told her they were gone?” asked Lian.
“I didn’t. As soon as I got back, I headed out to the crash site.”
She tried to catch a glimpse of the man in question, but Hogan stepped in front of her.
“Your mother is pissed, though. We’re going to have to be really careful now.” Hogan looked away. “We might have to skip more than a few groups, to give her suspicion time to die down.”
“No way! We can’t,” she said with a shake of her head. “That’s why I’m here, Hogan. We need to get this guy out before Meiling comes back.”
“Uh-uh, not gonna happen.”
“What’re you talking about? It’s what we do.”
“Lian, we protect innocents from being sold into slavery. A grown man who stole one of your mother’s ships is not someone we need to help.”
“But, Hogan—”
“You need to go. There’s no need for you to worry about this guy.”
“I can’t do that.” She ducked under Hogan’s arm before he could stop her, until she stood only a few feet away from the man from her dreams. What had appeared to be dark stubble on his head was actually lighter under the moonlight. His chin hung low, pressed against his blood-streaked chest where an X was scabbing over his skin. Had her mother done this to him? “I want to know who he is.”
This stranger set her heart racing.
“You don’t need to know anything about this monster.” Hogan put a hand on her shoulder. “Step away from him. He’s dangerous.”
She barely heard him. All she could do was imagine what someone as strong as this man could help her achieve. It wasn’t just that she saw him as their way to freedom. He had a physical effect on her like no one ever had before. She wanted to know his name, where he was from, how he’d ended up here—everything.
Even during her time with Hogan, she’d never felt this sense of connection. Her stomach was aflutter, her hands clammy with anticipation.
When the man raised his head and his dark eyes peered into hers, she gasped. An electric shock of excitement tore through her.
Hogan must have misunderstood her reaction for fear and tightened his hand around her shoulder, gently encouraging her back. “Don’t look him in the eye. I’ve heard monsters like him can hypnotize and make people do things they don’t want to.”
Lian shrugged his hand off her shoulder. “He’s secured. He’s not going to hurt me.” Besides, she was pretty sure she’d be willing to do plenty of things with this man, without the need for hypnosis.
He’s not a monster.
She’d managed to hear most of her mother’s interrogation and knew what they thought he was. She didn’t care if they were right. She’d actually seen him take blood from someone during her dream, and it hadn’t discouraged her.
“Damn it, Li, don’t do this,” Hogan said.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t give me that innocent look. You’re as attracted to the danger he poses as you were to the danger of us getting caught.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but shut it. Was he right? Was it just the danger drawing her in? This man certainly fit the rough and dangerous bill, and she’d always found the prospect of getting caught with Hogan exciting.
No, this was different. The dreams meant something, she was sure of it.
“I knew it.” Was that pain in his eyes?
“Hogan…”
They both turned to find Vera standing by the open doorway, arms at her sides. Her timing was perfect. Lian didn’t want to have this conversation right now. Maybe six months ago, even three—but not now.
Hogan glared at Vera. “What are you doing here?”
“You know she’s right. He might not be an innocent kid, but no one deserves to be kept in chains.” Vera’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. She motioned to the collar around her neck, then to the one Hogan also wore. “We’ve all been where he is. Try to remember how it felt before it’s too late for him.”
Lian touched the back of Hogan’s gloved hand and he flinched.
“Damn you two! You’re going to be the death of me.” He sighed. “We’re going to have to make this quick. The other guards won’t be gone for long.”
“I’ll keep watch while you go round up the transport,” Lian said, eager to get him out of the cell.
He shook his head. “I can’t do that on such short notice.”
“Fine. Work out another way to smuggle him out, then. Hurry!”
Hogan hesitated before squeezing her hand and heading for the door. “Vera, don’t leave her alone with him.” He ran out into the corridor.
“You don’t have long,” Vera whispered. “Satisfy your curiosity and let’s get moving before your mother finds out what we’re doing.”
“Thanks.”
When Vera stepped out of the cell, Lian took a small step toward the chained man. Something about him made her want—no, need—to get closer. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. She had to find out what the endless dreams meant, and why he starred in so many of them until he’d practically landed on her doorstep. Her dreams had been filled with hope and passion strong enough to make her feel a sense of belonging. When she’d never felt like she belonged anywhere.
Was this man going to be her salvation?
“Are you awake?” She swallowed the lump in her throat, wondering how she could be so excited and scared at the same time.
She waited for a response. When none came, she relaxed.
Lian raised a hand and reached out for him. The stubble growing back matched the whiskers on his face. She noticed the skin on both of his wrists was scalded underneath the cuffs. Was that where the burning smell came from?
She took her time closing the distance, pausing when she felt his light breath on her. With her hand still poised above his head, she anticipated the contact.
Before she
could say anything, his head snapped up and his mouth clamped on the underside of her wrist.
Lian was so shocked that instead of instinctively pulling back, she froze. Something sharp pierced her skin. A moan escaped her lips when the most euphoric sensation she’d ever felt washed through her body, making her weak at the knees.
Chapter Five
Her sweet fragrance was intoxicating. The smell of fresh flowers filled his nostrils until he could taste it in the back of his throat, intensified by the purity flowing within her. Unfamiliar sensations rushed through him as her sweet blood poured into his mouth, coming together with the drumming of her heartbeat.
Knox stared into her gorgeous, blue, almond-shaped eyes and he realized she was the most captivating woman he’d ever seen. She was also the sweetest. Her blood coated his throat the way good wine from the vineyards on his family’s farm had. It satisfied his animal hunger, making the experience more intimate than he could ever have imagined.
She’s delicious.
And he didn’t want to hurt her.
The rage he’d felt while taking blood from the random guard, and the way Meiling stirred something feral inside him that demanded blood, dissipated. He felt none of that with this beautiful creature.
His fangs withdrew from her silky flesh and he ran his tongue over the matching points on her wrist. She murmured as he licked her skin, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She hadn’t screamed and he sensed no fear on her. The fact Knox could read people’s moods should have struck him as weird, but he wasn’t exactly himself anymore.
Maybe the more he fed, the stronger his vampiric abilities became. Being so rude to the old coot might have been a mistake. She’d seemed ready to expand his understanding of being a “blood-getter”. He should have given her the chance. No point in crying over spilt milk—or blood.
“That was amazing.” The woman whispered the words as if she was drunk and didn’t step away. Instead she turned her wrist over and looked at it. “Where did the marks go?” She moved her delicate, long fingers over the back of her own wrist, her brow slightly furrowed.
Knox shrugged and was glad his meager knowledge of vampire lore had allowed him to feed without turning or taking this beauty’s life. The desire to hold her was overwhelming, but with both arms restrained, all he could do was explore her radiance and courage. She seemed to shimmer under the moonlight, which added to her unreal quality.
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