Page 34 of Undying
That they remain part of the team is a win. If they thought for a second HQ was corrupt, they wouldn’t hesitate to disband.
When the wolves turn to face the girl, she quickly shuffles out of their reach and holds up her hands. “If you think I’m going anywhere with you guys without answers, then you’re bigger idiots than I thought.”
“We don’t have time.” I drop my hands to my hips, barely resisting the need to order the girl to obey. “We can go over any questions that you have later.”
“No, I don’t think—”
“If you want to live, you will do what I say.” I take a step toward her. It should’ve been threatening, but I won’t lie to myself.
As much as I want to deny it, I’m just as beguiled by her as the others.
In all my years, I’ve never met anyone like her. There is just something about her wounded eyes that calls to the monster in my soul, one that I thought I’d vanquished years ago.
Now I know I’ve been foolish.
There is no killing the monster.
It has been waiting.
Biding its time.
And it has woken up because of her.
I’m well and truly fucked if I can’t keep my bloodlust in check.
While I want to reprimand the girl and compel her to obey, I resist. Not out of any acts of kindness or sympathy. I don’t have any. What keeps my mouth shut is the fear that it won’t actually work.
She’s young, barely a few months old, really just a blink of an eye to an ancient immortal.
Yet she was able to defeat an entire house of vampires, including the master vampire.
While she might be dangerous, her age leaves her vulnerable.
Deciding not to test my theory, I enter the cell once more, not stopping until I’m standing in front of the impudent child. Instead of cowering, she lifts her chin in defiance, a death wish swirling in her dark eyes, and a hunger to taste those luscious lips roars through me. I bite back a snarl against the need to stake my claim before anyone else.
I grab her chin, not letting her look away from me, the feel of her skin burning my palms. “If you don’t care about your own safety, then I ask that you give a shit about the men who are trying to save your life. They’re risking everything to protect you.
“I’m not denying that you went through hell, but so has every man in this room. You’re obviously struggling, but you’re not the only one. These men need a reason to live, and for some god-awful reason, they chose you.
“So get over yourself for five minutes and look beyond your pain.” I drop my hand from her to keep from wrapping it around her throat. “You could be the only one to stop the coming war that will kill millions and change the future of the world. Is that not enough reason to stick around and search for answers?”
* * *
JOLIE
Damn him!
I don’t want to live as a monster, but I can’t deny the pull of his words. If I can save people from monsters like me, stop what happened to me from happening to someone else, then shouldn’t I do everything in my power to help? While I wouldn’t bat an eye if a war between vampires occurred—good riddance, I say—it’s doubtful the fight wouldn’t spill over into the human world.
And if the wrong vampires were to win, humans would become nothing more than slaves.
Even more so than they currently are.
Fuck, fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck!
“Fine,” I agree with all the grace of a toddler, barely resisting stomping my foot. I look away, something about his dark brown eyes making me feel all twitchy.
I’m not sure if I want to bite or deck the asshole.
