Page 120 of The Rogue's Curse

But she’d taken many trips here before that, when Kieran or Lilah would parade her around to sell a bite. And through it all, she’d convinced herself that was the price to pay to be powerful. The vampires who paid to bite her weren’t attentive the way she was with Anita; they didn’t care how she felt, and not one of them had ever closed her wounds with a gentle touch. Meeting Paris and Nikko had showed her that vampires could be better, and if she was going to turn, she wanted to be like them. And that included ripping out throats and tearing off heads if she had to.

Inside, the building smelled of mildew and smoke, which clashed with a thousand mixed scents of old blood. Her vampire senses nearly overwhelmed her now, and she had to hold tight to Nikko’s arm to keep from keeling over. She could even smell Olivia in the mix, from all those months ago. The smell of her sister’s blood, soaked into the wood and the air itself, stoked a primal fury in her belly.

The club had been raided, but someone had at least swept up some of the debris, leaving several tables illuminated by a row of candles on the bar. Lilah had always been dramatic.Great aesthetics, terrible person.

In the corner of the room, Lilah Whitlock sat in a chair with a male companion at her side. Danielle’s blood froze when she saw the man’s face. It was Erik Hale, her former boyfriend and the idiot who had convinced her that hanging out with a couple of blood-sucking monsters was a great idea. She’d loved him once, even if he’d practically pimped her out.And unless she was mistaken, he was now a vampire.

His eyes lifted, and there was the faintest arch to his brows. She prayed to all the gods that Misha’s potion would mask her scent and let her pass for human. Her long-sleeved dress covered her tattoos, and the bun was both cover for her short hair and a reasonable attempt at looking like her more buttoned-up sister. If she had to really sell the act, she’d whip out a day planner and start scolding Erik about being more responsible.

Before she could react, Kieran grabbed her arm, then put the point of a knife to her throat.Fear spiked through her as she was tossed back into a sea of memories, hauled around like a rag doll.

She was strong now. And he was never going to hurt her again. She held her tongue, waiting for the moment to strike. He can’t hurt you, she reminded herself in a silent mantra.

“There’s our Olivia,” Lilah said, beckoning to her. “Now, Olivia, your boyfriend has been a very bad boy. But I’m going to let you both have a chance. He’s going to take his punishment for hurting my Kieran, ruining my business, and fucking up my entire life. And if he takes it like a man, I’ll let you live. I might even let you kiss him goodbye before I take him back to the court.”

Nikko lunged, but Kieran pressed the blade closer. She widened her eyes, only partly faking her fear, and said, “No! Listen to her.”

“Listen to your girl,” Kieran said, pulling her back tight to his body. “How’s that sister of yours? Pretty little pair you two were.”

“She left town,” Danielle said quietly. Not entirely a lie. The old Dani was never coming back.

“Where’s Shea?” Nikko asked.

“I’m going to take you to him, love,” Lilah said, rising from her chair. She held out one hand, and Erik slapped a stake into it. “After I let you feel what my Kieran felt.”

“He’s not here?” Nikko asked, looking at Danielle. As if suddenly remembering to play the part, he said, “Let her go. I’ll go with you.”

“Not a chance, you tricky bastard,” Kieran said.

“Promise to let her go,” Nikko said.

“Cross my heart,” Lilah said. She swung wildly at Nikko, who darted out of the way. “Now.”

A gunshot rang out from across the room, and Nikko cried out sharply, a crater smoking in the back of his shoulder.His legs buckled, but he managed to stay on his feet until another shot ripped into his thigh. With a groan, he fell to his knees.

“I told you,” Lilah said. “Take your punishment like a good boy. Or there are consequences. Say thank you, or the next bullet goes in your girl.”

“Please don’t hurt me,” Danielle pleaded. She squirmed back against Kieran, positioning her hips the way Paris had taught her.

“Watch the way you’re wiggling, lass,” Kieran said with a chuckle. “I’m a taken man.”

Lilah drove the wickedly sharp stake down into Nikko’s back, and he went flat. “Olivia,” he pleaded, trying to push himself up.

“Oh, isn’t that sweet?” Kieran crooned. “I would—”

Danielle grabbed his wrist and twisted it away violently. She expected the resistance that Paris gave her, an immovable object until she could get her fingers right into the tendon that still worked on vampires. But that was the old Danielle, a weak little human tussling with a supernatural creature.

Now, though, power surged through her—a vampire’s power—and she felt Kieran’s wrist crack like dry balsawood. As he roared in pain, she twisted his entire arm around violently, then dropped her hips and threw him over her shoulder before slamming him down onto the floor.

Red flashed in her vision as she zeroed in on her prey. How many times had Kieran promised to turn her? Just one more bite. One more night of feeding to earn her place in their new court. Then she could have what she wanted. Then she would have a family to treat her well and protect her.

One more bite always led to one more and one more after that. Empty fucking promises, and nothing to show for it but nightmares and scars.

“Olivia?” Kieran groaned. She stomped on his back with a satisfying crack, then lunged for the closest chair. As he struggled to sit up, she swung the chair at him and knocked his head sideways. Blood sprayed from his nose.

Another gun shot rang out, and she jolted as fire exploded in her thigh. The pain was intense, and she was far too keenly aware of the smell of her own blood. But now she was fueled by rage. She growled through her aching fangs and pried the bullet from the back of her thigh. She left Kieran groaning and kicked off her shoes.

Zigzagging across the room, she ducked low, then jumped, grabbed the gunman’s neck, and drove her knee up into his groin with enough force to bring them both to the ground. When they landed, she smashed his face into the ground and kicked the gun away.She wasn’t an acrobatic little ninja like Kristina, but brute force and fury were getting the job done just fine.

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