Page 98 of Caller of Crows
So he locked gazes with his vampire and gave him his most serious expression. "Stop," he whispered. "Please don't do this."
Altair blinked down at him, taken aback by Sven's words. "Sven," he whispered back. "Don't worry." He put a hand on Sven's shoulder. "I'm stronger than he is."
Sven shook his head. Under normal circumstances, perhaps Altair would have been right. These weren't normal circumstances, though. Altair's rage masked his exhaustion well, but the sunburn had weakened Altair tremendously, Sven knew. So he pushed closer against Altair's body and breathed in deeply before exhaling slowly. "No, listen to me, please. I need you alive, you idiot."
Altair stared down at Sven, his expression filled with surprise. His eyes softened and widened a fraction before he glanced back over to Nephariel, then back to Sven. After a moment, he nodded. He pressed his lips to Sven's forehead, and Sven relaxed against him.
They'd be okay.
Except that Nephariel was still in the room with them. "What a wholesome scene," he teased. "Isn't it nice to have a mortal?"
Both Sven and Altair turned toward Nephariel as he took several steps closer, then suddenly lunged.
Before they could react, he grabbed Rhyme, pulling him close, his sharp nails digging into Rhyme's neck. "Look, I've got one too. It's much better trained, as well."
Rhyme winced, but Nephariel didn't loosen his hold, only pressed harder as he smirked at them triumphantly.
Rhyme struggled to get free, but the vampire simply lifted him slightly so his feet no longer touched the ground. He looked like a trapped cat, kicking helplessly. "Not a sound," Nephariel ordered. "Or I'll slit your throat."
Rhyme stopped moving.
Sven swallowed heavily. He knew exactly what Nephariel wanted him to take away from this scene: Altair might manage to free one mortal tonight, but he wasn't leaving this place with both.
Sven couldn't leave Rhyme behind, though. Not now, not ever. The other mortal had done nothing wrong. He didn't deserve this. And Sven wouldn't trade Rhyme for himself. No way. Rhyme should be rescued too.
Nephariel smiled, watching them, taking in their reactions. Then his hand moved around Rhyme's neck. He could kill Rhyme so easily with a squeeze, Sven knew.
Shit.
"Don't worry," Altair said. "He's not going to kill the boy."
Sven shook his head. Nephariel might notkillRhyme, but he would continue to hurt him, abuse him… Rhyme couldn't stay here with this monster.
Rhyme shouldn't be anyone's slave, dammit.
"I can't leave him behind," Sven protested, giving Altair a pleading stare. "I can't."
Altair met Sven's gaze, and Sven hoped with his whole heart that he hadn't been wrong about Altair, that Altair was better than his brother, that he wouldunderstandwhy Sven couldn't leave Rhyme here.
Finally, Altair turned to his brother. "Put him down," he told Nephariel.
Nephariel raised one eyebrow at that command. He tilted his head at Altair. "The boy is my possession. You can't tell me what to do with him."
"Put him down," Altair repeated, a sharp edge to his voice that hadn't been there before, a more commanding tone than Sven had ever heard him use. "I am your sire, Nephariel. You will obey me."
Nephariel froze. After a second or two, though, he snapped out of his stupor with murderous rage. "How dare you?" He glared at Altair. "Howfuckingdare you?" He spat on the ground, then placed his mouth against the skin on Rhyme's shoulder, biting down hard.
Rhyme cried out at the sudden pain and squirmed in Nephariel's grasp, struggling weakly to free himself from the vampire's grasp.
"Stop," Sven yelled. "Leave him alone!"
Nephariel didn't even glance in his direction as he continued sucking at the blood trickling from Rhyme's skin.
Altair growled, and then in a flash he was moving, his form blurring from the speed. He grabbed Nephariel by the throat, pulling him off Rhyme with brute force. They crashed together, hitting the stone floor hard as they wrestled for dominance. The next instant, they rolled, Altair getting on top of Nephariel and slamming him against the floor. Nephariel hissed in response, claws digging into the skin on Altair's shoulders, his feet kicking out, trying to knock Altair over. Altair grunted but held tight and used the momentary advantage to deliver a blow with the palm of his hand to the bridge of Nephariel's nose. There was a sickening crack as Nephariel's head snapped back and a roar escaped the younger vampire's throat as blood streamed down his face. He glared furiously at Altair.
"You broke my damn nose," Nephariel snarled.
Altair gave him a cold smile. "You should have listened to your sire." He lifted his fist and punched Nephariel again, knocking his head to the side.
