Shiver

by Yolanda Sfetsos

  Why wasn’t she scared? And why had she returned to see him?

  She flashed him a smile. “I can’t believe it’s really you.”

  “I saw you outside, in the snow.” This was the woman he’d been convinced was the angel of death. Had she come to claim his cursed soul? Someone so perfect couldn’t be real.

  “I’ve seen you before. Many times,” she answered.

  This beautiful woman had the body of a dancer—not tall, but thin—with muscles evident in her arms and pale legs. Long, ebony hair fell like a silk curtain over her shoulders to the small of her back. The simple, white, knee-length dress made her appear young, and her bare feet seemed to be in stark contrast with the climate in this hemisphere. Her toes dug into the snow and concrete as if the cold didn’t bother her.

  A small grin curved the edges of her full lips when she caught him staring.

  “Who are you?” He had to know. “Are you an angel?”

  She shook her head. “Hardly. I’m Lian Shan.”

  Knox couldn’t help but flinch. She shared the family name of the woman who had interrogated him. The more he looked at her, the more he could see a slight resemblance. Nothing about her mannerisms resembled the older woman, though.

  “And who are you?” Lian looked over her shoulder before lowering her voice. “I need to know your name.”

  How could he not tell her? He would answer any question she asked if it meant he could listen to her voice and gaze upon her radiant features. She might not be the angel of death, but she was certainly an angel. “I’m Knox.”

  “Knox,” she whispered.

  The way his name rolled off her tongue made his body pulse. All of his pain, the injuries he’d suffered, even his time in the arena were forgotten when she was near. If only he could be free from these chains and feel her body against his. He’d been away from women for too long, and not only because of the arena. His family and duties had ruled his life, denying him personal time. Now that he had nothing, and felt such a strong attraction toward someone, it made him foolishly hope for a future. Maybe some sort of happiness was within his grasp.

  But he was chained to a wall inside a roofless room and was slowly becoming a bloodsucking fiend. He found it amazing that she could make him hopeful when he’d been inundated with despair for ages.

  Lian went to the cup of water on the floor. It had been left out of his reach.

  “Here, you must be parched.” She grabbed the wide cup and settled on her knees before him. She held the rim to his bloody lips and tipped some of the crisp liquid into his mouth.

  The water rushed down his throat with globs of ice, filling his stomach with a chill he welcomed. It helped the taste of her blood spread. “Thank you.”

  She placed the empty cup back down and met his eyes. “You were never going to reach it on your own.”

  This exotic woman fascinated him. “Aren’t you scared of me?” He was a stranger chained inside a dungeon, who’d casually taken some of her blood, and she was showing him hospitality. Now she was kneeling too close and tempting him to take another sip. As much as he wanted to block out the scent of flowers and sweet blood, he couldn’t stop himself from sniffing the air deeply.

  “Should I be scared?” Her eyes were wide and stared at him with curiosity.

  “I just…” Knox looked away. “I just bit you, drank some of your blood. I think you should at least be cautious.”

  “You didn’t hurt me. It actually felt good.” Color rose on the top of her cheeks, and it made her look even more youthful. “Besides, I’ve been expecting you.”

  “You have? Why?” Knox couldn’t keep his gaze off her. Her proximity stirred a whirlwind inside his gut—something raw and primal flowed between them. Her beauty was enough to get his blood pumping, but her kindness—and disregard for danger in spite of what he’d done—captivated him.

  “Yes, I’ve dreamed about you.”

  He licked the last remaining drops of water and Lian’s blood from his lips. She ran her fingers over his face, causing his eyes to close to her soft touch. “That’s not possible.” Lian didn’t respond with words. Her warm breath tickled his face seconds before her lips lightly met his. She closed the gap between them and deepened the kiss. His lips moved in tandem with hers, and when her soft tongue slipped inside his mouth and her fingertips raced down his abdomen, he felt a pang of desire burn through him. The tip of her silky tongue caught on one of his fangs and she made a move to end the kiss.

  He licked the blood drops from her, making sure to seal the small cut while enjoying the way she tasted once again. She didn’t push him away.

  “What happened to you, Knox?” she whispered, holding his face with her soft hands.

  He sighed. “I was bitten by a vampire.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Are you scared now?”

  She shook her head, not looking away.

  A woman, one he’d never seen before charged into the cell. “Lian, it looks like Hogan’s coming back. See if you can do something about those chains. Quickly!”

  “Okay, Vera.”

  The woman disappeared out of the doorway again.

  “What’s she talking about?”

  “We’re going to get you out of here.” Lian stood and headed for one of the side walls, focusing on the chain column. “Shit.”

  Though only a few feet away, he could already feel her absence. “What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t get them open.” She stuck an index finger into a port on the wall he hadn’t noticed. “Damn. I can’t override the lock.”

  Lian raced back to his side and attempted to pull the cuffs from his wrist, causing the skin to blister.

  “I guess silver’s not my friend anymore.”

  “I’m so sorry. I should’ve been able to override the system…” Lian was quiet for several moments, staring into his eyes. “This isn’t going to work, but we have to find a way to get them off.”

  “Don’t.” He didn’t want to put her in any further danger. “This isn’t your fight.”

  “I want to…” Her voice trailed off as she peered over her shoulder, and the woman named Vera entered the cell with the guard from the interrogation. “I can’t get the shackles off him.”

  “Of course you can’t,” the man said with a shake of his head.

  “Did you get the transport?” she asked.

  “It’ll be here in a few hours.”

  “Hours?” Lian raised her voice. “We don’t have hours! We need to get Knox out of here before Meiling returns.”

  The man’s eyes darkened. “It’s the best I can do, Li.”

  “Well, it’s not good enough.”

  Knox didn’t like the way the man seemed so familiar with Lian. Something deep inside him—an animal part that had already claimed this woman—reacted. A lungful of air calmed him down.

  “Lian,” Vera said. “I know how much you want to set him free, but we can’t rush this.”

  She seemed to mull over the comment, then nodded. “Okay, you’re both right. How about we meet back here as soon as Hogan’s got access to the transport?” She turned to the guard Knox assumed was Hogan, and the man dipped his chin. “In the meantime, I’ll see if I can get Mya to figure out how to get these chains off.”

  Her accomplices nodded and Lian turned to Knox with a hopeful look on her face. She leaned close, brushing her lips against his and pulling back far too quickly. “I’ll be back for you. I promise.”

  Before Knox could respond, the three left the cell.

  The falling snow intensified and collected around his cramped knees, but he didn’t feel the cold. The heat of Lian’s blood coursed through his stomach, spreading until he felt as if she occupied every inch of his body.

  Her fiery passion filled him with anticipation, and hope.

  Lian raced out of the snowy cell and into the cool corridor, following close behind Vera and Hogan. The excitement of their plan and her encounter with Knox had her body buzzing. S
he’d never felt this way after kissing anyone.

  Hogan rounded on her when they cleared the cell. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “What’re you talking about?”

  “You kissed him.”

  “So?”

  “You don’t know the first thing about this guy. You don’t know how dangerous he is.” The anger in his eyes made her shrink back.

  “If you’re talking about him being a vampire, I already know.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure we should be risking our necks for some monster. The slaves don’t deserve to be sold off, but we don’t know anything about this guy. Well, aside from the fact that he used to be a gladiator in the Clash Arena.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t care.”

  “Do you know how many of those fighters are criminals or pirates?”

  “Hogan, I said I don’t care!”

  He touched her arm lightly. “I don’t like what’s going on between you.”

  “It’s got nothing to do with you.”

  He dropped his hand. “Sure it does. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect you.”

  Vera stepped between them. “Hogan, back off! We’ve got other things to worry about right now. We need to clear this area before anyone finds out we’re here. Otherwise all of our plans will be ruined.”

  “Well, well, well, what have we here?” an all-too familiar voice called.

  Lian’s blood ran cold. She looked up the stairs and spotted Meiling stalking toward them with three guards shadowing her—two positioned on her either side, one behind.

  “You know you’re not supposed to be down here, Lian.” She shook her head as if disappointed. “And you two should know better.”

  “It’s not their fault. I wanted to see the prisoner, that’s all.”

  “You don’t have to lie. I know what’s going on.” She glared at Lian, then Hogan and Vera. “You all think you’re so clever, convinced you’ve gotten away with it, but did you really think I didn’t know what you were doing behind my back?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Meiling,” Lian snapped.

  “Boss, I was escorting her back to her room—”

  “Shut up, Hogan. You’ve disappointed me for the last time.” She raised a hand and motioned for the two guards beside her to step forward. “Remember what happened when I found you with my daughter?”

  He tensed, his hand moving toward the rifle at his side.

  “Well, this time you’ll lose a lot more than a hand.”

  Lian couldn’t help but turn toward him, horrified. Hogan started wearing gloves after they were busted together, but she hadn’t thought anything of it, and he’d never showed any weakness on either hand. She felt sick and was glad she’d skipped breakfast.

  She’d never felt such hatred toward a person before and wished her mother was dead.

  The bitch laughed.

  “He didn’t do anything!” Lian yelled.

  “Really?” Meiling turned to her daughter. “Are you going to look me in the eye, and tell me that the three of you had nothing to do with my missing cargo?”

  Lian’s heart pounded faster. No, no, no. We were so careful. Yet deep down, they all knew Meiling would figure it out. Any amount of missing slaves had to affect her business. Not to mention damage her treasured reputation. What happened with Sergei was probably the last straw.

  “They had nothing to do with it. I made them help me. It was all me.”

  “Save it, Lian.” Her mother’s dark eyes narrowed. “I had extra surveillance installed. I know what you’ve been doing, actually watched where you really went during dinner after Sergei left. Did you honestly think you were smart enough to steal my profits without me knowing?”

  “What are you saying?” Lian felt numb at the implication of her words.

  Meiling leaned forward, close enough to whisper, “All those slaves you saved, it was only because I let you. With the amount of slaves I acquire, it didn’t hurt to let a few slip away.” She paused to drum her fingers on her chin. “Although, did you actually free them, or did they somehow wind up back in my custody?”

  “No.” How could she talk about humans in such a callous way? The possibility had never occurred to her. Could Meiling have known exactly what they were doing and just recaptured those they’d freed? And if so, where did she keep them? “What have you done?” She glanced at Hogan and Vera, who looked just as horrified as she felt.

  “As soon as I found out what you three were doing, I had to improvise. These aren’t the only cells I have at my disposal.” A chuckle escaped her. “Besides, I’ve been working on a much bigger project and had to keep you busy with something.”

  “There’s no way you found the safe house,” Lian said. Only Hogan and the pilot of the transport knew.

  Meiling glared at Hogan. “I didn’t need to. They never made it to a safe house.”

  “How could you be so cruel?” Lian couldn’t believe this.

  “I’m done with the pretense.”

  Lian didn’t know what else to say, so she glowered at her mother. She couldn’t help but think about the captives she thought she’d saved, and the ones she’d let slip away because she didn’t want to rouse her mother’s suspicion. Were they really all back where they started? And what bigger project was Meiling talking about? It took all her will to stand on her shaky legs.

  “You three are liars and saboteurs.” Disappointment filled her eyes. “As encouraging as it was to see you stand up for something, I expected better from my daughter, and two of my most trusted staff. After everything I’ve done to protect and keep you out of harm’s way, you show your gratitude by trying to ruin my name and reputation?”

  Lian stood straight, ready to confront the woman who had made her a prisoner in her own home. Now that the charade was finished, she no longer cared about the consequences—she just had to fight her mother every step of the way.

  “I’ll find where you keep the others. I don’t care what you do to me. I’ll keep saving the prisoners from the captivity you’re forcing them into,” she said.

  The slap caught her by surprise, and the sharp pain extended to her neck as her head whipped back. Meiling pulled her hand back to reveal a studded glove. A line of warm blood trickled down Lian’s cheek.

  A growl reverberated from inside the cell behind her and a shiver rippled down Lian’s spine. Not from fear, but because Knox was responding to her. After so many months of dreams, they’d found each other and were now bound together by her blood.

  “What was that?” The guard at Meiling’s back made a move.

  She put a hand on his chest. “Don’t. I still have a few bits of information to extract from the prisoner. Besides, I’m not going to dispose of him. I can always use a strong man around the house.”

  “No.” The whisper escaped from Lian’s lips before she could stop it.

  Her mother noticed and her eyes shimmered. “Would you like to watch?”

  Lian shook her head.

  “That’s too bad.” Meiling waved her hand in the air. “Take Hogan to the Ledge.”

  “Mother, no!” Putting Hogan out on there would ensure he froze to death. He wasn’t a vampire who could withstand the elements. She hadn’t called her mother for so long, and hoped it would be enough to soften her intentions.

  Meiling looked at her for a long moment, as if processing what she had heard before shaking her head. “Take him to the Ledge.”

  Hogan raised his rifle and pointed it at Meiling. The guards stopped their advance, watching him closely. “Come any closer and I’ll shoot her.”

  Meiling looked bored. “Go ahead.”

  He pulled the trigger but nothing happened. When he tried it a second time, the guards jumped him—one smacking Hogan in the face while the other stripped the weapon from his hands.

  Vera drew the weapon on her hip and aimed it at Meiling’s head. “Lian, come over here.”

  “This is getting tiresome,”
Meiling said. “None of your guns will work. As a precaution, every single weapon in the house has been disabled.” She patted the blaster at her side. “Except mine, of course.”

  Vera hesitated a second too long, and the third guard slammed the butt of his rifle into her midsection. She toppled to the ground and he pinned her with his knees while pointing the weapon at her face.

  “Now, hurry up and get him to the Ledge!”

  The guards stopped pummeling Hogan long enough to yank the gloves off his hands. Hogan winced when they took the left one. Only a stump remained. No wonder Lian couldn’t tell, he’d been wearing a prosthetic hand. They stripped his coat, thermal sweater, pants, shoes and socks, dumping them on the floor.

  Hogan gave Lian one last look. They both knew he would lose more than a hand this time.

  The guards then took Hogan by either arm and dragged him away.

  “No, don’t do this. Leave Hogan and Vera alone, I just told you this was all my idea.” She stepped closer, almost nose to nose with her mother. A move she knew would infuriate her. “Punish me if you want, but leave them alone. Even after everything you’ve done to them, they have been loyal to you for so many years.”

  Meiling laughed. “You’ve proven yourself to be a conniving little liar, and these two helped you. I know how to deal with people like you.”

  “Fine, that’s what I’m saying. Deal with me—”

  “I’ll deal with all of you.”

  The guards had Hogan at the end of the corridor.

  “Please, don’t do this,” Lian pleaded.

  One of the guards shoved Hogan onto the Ledge and the other slammed the door shut.

  “Come, Lian, I have something to show you,” Meiling said, turning to face her. “We’re going to have a little chat with your father. I think it’s time you learned a few home truths.” She extended a hand out to Lian—the ungloved one. “Take my hand. We’ll take Vera with us. I want her to see what I’ve got planned.”