Page 77 of Craving Her Vampire

My stomach turns. He doesn’t know everything. Turner tells him bits and pieces, but I can piece together the rest. My mate is going to be heartbroken.

Blood joins Shawn’s tears on the floor. He won’t last much longer.

“Saphira?”

“Yes?”

“Do you want to finish him?”

“Oh, goody. It would be my pleasure.” Her brothers have no idea what she does to cope with her past.

“He’s all yours,” I say and stand.

“Oh fuck,” William cries.

“Oh, fuck is right.” I move faster than he can track and shove my hand in his chest. “It’s amazing to hold someone's heart in your hand. Truly astonishing.” His body is locked in shock at the invasion, but he is still alive. “All I have to do is flex my fingers.” I do. His gasp joins Shawn’s cries of terror. “I don’t have time to fuck around.” I yank out his heart. His body drops. “Saph, you done?”

“Yes.”

“Daisy is going to need us.” Heath hands me a towel, as he did many times when we worked together. After I wipe my hand, I pass it to Saphira. She smiles, and pride slides through me. There is no one I would rather have by my side. “Call the others. We may not need them, but I have the feeling they have several shifters working with them.”

“A feeling? Or a memory from his brain?” Quinn asks.

“A little of both.” I walk between the two dead coyotes on my way to the back of the store. “Block the front door; we’ll clean them up later.” I open the back door. Daisy’s scent is barely noticeable and cuts off as I step out. “I won’t wait for you.”

“I’m shifting,” Saphira says.

“Someone will notice a large dragon in the streets,” I say dryly. I realize she doesn’t want to be left out, but the sight of a dragon in town can’t be brushed off. “Wait until you are out of town. If you lose our scent, Ryker or Bash will message you.”

“Fine,” Saphira grumbles.

A step later, I’m gone. Daisy’s blood shows me the way. I can feel some of her emotions. Since she left, she has felt fear, frustration, anger, and confusion. She has been in one place for a while now, and it kills me she is facing it alone. I have no doubt about her ability to handle anything, but now she doesn’t have to.

Once I have my eyes on her, she can tell me to kill or not to kill.

I’ll try to listen.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Daisy

The car is silent until Turner stops in front of a castle.

“Are you kidding?” I ask, staring out the front window. It’s a small castle, but still a castle. The walls aren’t in the best shape, and there isn’t a mote. “Is he a vampire?”

“No. Why don’t you give me the coin before we go in,” he suggests.

“I don’t think so,” I deny.

His nostrils flare. “Get out of the car,” Turner says, opening his door.

“This is the scene of a horror movie,” I say. I can see it play out in my head. The female character goes on a blind date; it’s going great; she may let him get in her pants. Then he asks if she wants to see his castle, and stupidly, she says yes. That’s when the chasing, torture, and blood starts.

“Daisy, you have to get out of the fucking car,” he snarls. “It will not go well for you if you don't.”

“Going into that castle isn’t going to go well for me,” I protest, and he shrugs. Dick. He’s such a big, horrible dick. “Fine, let’s go into the creepy castle.” I open my door and take my time getting out. I kind of hope Micah isn’t far away. I know I wanted to do this alone, but that was before I was faced with a dark, cold, stone building.

I bet there are cobwebs. I shudder.

---