Page 55 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

Part of me wants to tell Illren to go for it, but I’m not a killer. There’s a difference between killing in self-defense and ordering someone’s death. “No. As tempting an offer as that is, we don’t need his entire clan gunning for us.”

Henry deflates in relief, but Illren’s not satisfied. “I could keep you safe, Mistress. I will gladly kill them all for you.”

“No,”I repeat forcefully. “Rescue me when you need to, protect me when my life is in danger, fine. But no senseless killing, okay? Can you manage that, at least? Geez. Bloodthirsty much?”

Illren chuckles. “Very well. Call the elevator.”

I don’t have to be told twice. I want out of here. As I step toward the elevator and press the button, Illren never moves from his defensive stance. I’m sure he won’t lower his sword—yes, I said sword—or take his eyes off Henry until the elevator doors close between us.

When the elevator arrives, I quickly jump in and Illren backs into it, never taking his eyes from Henry. “This is your only warning,” he says as he reaches for theLbutton. “Harm her again, and I will end you whether she wants me to or not.”

I flip the asshole vampire off as the elevator slides closed.

Illren leads me throughthe casino to the main parking lot. We aren’t stopped. When we step foot out the main entrance into the fresh winter air, I take a deep breath to clear my senses of the carnage we left behind. Plus, it’s just nice to be free.

I shiver and don’t realize why I’m so freezing until Illren drapes his thick leather coat around my shoulders. When it occurs to me that I’m only wearing a sweater, I snort. Illren cocks a brow at me. “Not a fan of chivalry?”

I shake my head and pull the coat tight around me, grateful for its warmth. “It’s not that. It’s just…I lost my new coat.Again.It must be up in Henry’s penthouse.”

Illren glances back at the casino behind us. “Would you like me to retrieve it?”

He sounds way too eager to oblige me. “Would that require a body count?”

He smirks. “Most likely.”

I snort again. “I think I’ll just replace it. It’s too bad about my purse and cell phone, though. Maybe Henry can mail me my stuff.”

Illren shakes his head and starts walking me through the parking lot. “Your purse and cell phone were left with the sorcerer. Most likely so that you couldn’t be tracked.”

“And how is Oliver? Was he out there too long?”

Illren shrugs. “I’m not sure. He was at the hospital wrapped in a blanket when I spoke to your clan.”

My heart falters.“The hospital!”

“It was only mild hypothermia. They were just being cautious. I assure you he is fine. They were releasing him when I left.”

I grind my teeth, anger rising up in me all over again. “That piece of shit asshole!” I glare at Illren, though it’s not him I’m mad at. “I should have let you kill him.”

We reach a shiny black Volvo sedan, and Illren opens the passenger door for me. “Just say the word, Mistress.”

I laugh and slide into the car with a shake of my head. “You really are a bloodthirsty menace, aren’t you?”

Illren shrugs. “It’s just what I do. I’m an assassin. Have been for nearly eight hundred years. Before I left Faerie, I was the Winter Queen’s personal assassin.”

I blink at him. How in the world does one respond to such a confession? He shuts my door, leaving me to contemplate both his age and his profession as he rounds the car and climbs behind the steering wheel. “Where are we going?” I ask when we turn the wrong direction out of the parking lot from my home.

“I’m taking you to get something to eat. You look pale, and you’re shaking. I think you’re in a bit of shock.”

I lift my hands, surprised to see the slight tremor in them. “It’s not shock,” I promise. “It’s just the adrenaline leaving my system. Plus, I was drugged and had my brain scrambled.”

“And you probably haven’t eaten since you were kidnapped this morning.”

He’s right, and as if to confirm his suspicions, my stomach growls. He grins. “Dinner, it is.”

I glance at the clock on the dash. “It’s three in the morning.”

“Skinny’s is open twenty-four hours.”

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