Page 10 of Revelations

“In time. You will be welcomed to leave if you agree to hear me out on something.”

Kael gritted out between clenched teeth, “I assure you…we aren’t interested in anything you are trying to sell.”

Greylyn added, “Sorry, sir, but the fact that your girl goons attacked me and brought me here against my will…I’m not really in an obliging mood.”

She knew better than to agitate a vampire, especially with her hands tied behind her back, but her mouth ran of its own accord. Besides, she did not like relying on Kael to back her up. She could take care of herself; well,most of the time, anyway.

Claude strolled over to crouch directly in front of her on the ground. Long, delicate fingers tipped her chin up until she was staring into dazzling purple orbs that deepened in color the longer she held his gaze. “I do apologize for the mistreatment you received. Sometimes my family can be a little rough when they are so enthusiastic to make new friends. Now if you promise not to try to escape, I will unshackle you and your friend. However, if you try something I do not approve of, you will both pay the price, as well as your friends.” A shiver ran up her spine at his cool tone.

Once she nodded her consent, Claude unfastened her wrists first, and then her ankles. “Now, what about you, Mr. O’Shea?”

“Sure. Whatever.” His tone was placating, but she heard the strain underneath.

Claude moved with the grace of a ballet dancer to unchain Kael from his restraints. Something so simple as a few steps…how could anyone be that sylphlike?

The chains had not even clinked to the ground before Kael was standing in front of her. Extending his hand, he pulled her up. Warm tingles spread up her arm.

He didn’t let go once she was on her feet. His eyes roamed up and down her body. For a moment, they were alone again, dancing under the gazebo. Her body instinctively leaned toward him until their host cleared his throat, breaking apart the memory.

Four more vampires, looking like bouncers from a 1920’s speakeasy, stalked into the room. Claude gestured to theFab Four.“I apologize for the extra security measures, but considering how you took on my friends at the club, I suspect you are more than what you seem, Miss MacLeod.” His lips quirked up on one side as if they shared a secret.

No kidding.

They were escorted from the stark cell, down a pristine white corridor, to a plush living room, complete with a black leather sectional and a black marble corner bar. Claude waved his arms to indicate that they should take the smaller love seat. An expansive marble coffee table sparkled with the flicker of what seemed to be hundreds of candles on its surface.

Greylyn rubbed her wrists where the chains had chafed them raw. The stinging burns from the shackles and the bruises would soon fade, but her ego would take a while to recover. She resisted the urge to lean fully back against the leather despite her body screaming to accept its cooling comfort on her agitated skin.

“Would you care for a drink?” As he was asking, thevampire soundlessly walked over to the bar and poured himself a nice tall tumbler of a thick crimson beverage.

Nausea roiled in her gut. One sidelong look revealed Kael’s nose scrunched up in disgust.

They shook their heads in unison.

“Well, then. Please sit back and listen to what I have to offer you.”

The way he closed his eyes and sniffed the drink as if it were a fine wine soured Greylyn’s stomach even more. Revolted, but also fascinated, she watched him press the tumbler to his lips for a long sip.

He held the liquid on his tongue, savoring the taste, before his Adam’s apple bobbled and it slid down his throat. “Ah. Delightful.”

Greylyn turned to Kael and rolled her eyes. Was the guy a hard-core, bloodsucking monster or a traveling salesman? At this point, she would rather slug it out, preferably with a machete. Instead, she was stuck listening to his sick, twisted time-share spiel.

Claude sat across from them in an oversized leather chair; so large that it could have posed as a throne. He crossed his legs at the ankles and smirked. “Are you sure I cannot get you a drink?”

“We’re not meaning to insult your hospitality, but after the way we came to be here in the first place, we’re not ready to extend our trust just yet.” Kael’s voice was smooth, but terse. “Now, why don’t you just tell us whatever it is you feel the need to share, and we’ll be on our way?”

Greylyn realized he still clasped her hand in his own. Despite everything, she found comfort in his touch.

The vampire’s grin blossomed. “Straight to business then, shall we?”

They both nodded.

“Well, then you see I have a certain knack for spotting something special.” His eyebrows arched as if he expected them to answer an unspoken question. When neither opened their mouths, he continued, “True love, to be exact. Not the fly-by-night, here today/gone tomorrow infatuation. Rather, the forever type of love. That special spark that binds two souls together.”

Oh, this is more ridiculous sounding than I thought that it’d be. This bastard actually believes the tripe he’s spewing.

Again he paused, waiting for them to say something. When neither interrupted, he shrugged. “It is my specialty. Everyone you see here”—he indicated the rather large crowd that had begun to gather in the room—"are all members of my family. We are all connected by one vital element—deep, abiding love.”

The more bloodsuckers that poured into the room, the more Greylyn’s nerves fired throughout her body. Kael’s hand squeezed her own tightly, but her free hand twitched to have her dagger in it especially when Mila sidled up to perch on the arm of Claude’s throne chair.

---