Page 16 of Revelations

Claude spoke again, this time utilizing less game show salesmanship than before. “I promise you, dear, that I speak the truth. I have no reason to lie when reality is so invigorating.” He peeked over Kael’s shoulder at her. “After you have had a chance to experience what the trees provide, I have no doubt that you will believe, too.” He sighed deeply, inhaling the sensuous fragrance permeating the air. “However, if you decide to back out of our deal, I can have your friends killed right now.” His smile faltered.

Ah, there it was. The threat. Submit or others die. She had heard that more times than she could count. Somehow, it made her more comfortable. Threats she could deal with; truth between her and Kael, not so much.

“How do we even know you haven’t already done that? We haven’t seen them at all,” Greylyn retorted.

“Ah, yes. Proof of life? Of course.”

Claude took out a cell phone from his back jeans pocket and hit one button. He twisted the phone around so she could see the screen. In a couple of seconds, a video pulled up showing two humans pacing in a tiny room similar to the one inwhich they had awakened.

“Note the date and time stamp. This is a live feed.”

The blonde waif girl looked frightened with mascara smudged down her cheeks, while the young man wore an angry scowl and a swollen bottom lip.

Claude pressed another button and spoke into the receiver. “Hello, my friends.”

Both turned around, frantically looking for the source of the voice. The man—had Claude referred to him earlier as Brian?—jumped back, nearly knocking his girlfriend to the ground.

“Please say something so that our other guests know you are okay and being well cared for.”

The male let loose a string of curse words while the poor girl wailed, sinking to her knees.

Claude clicked the phone off. “Not much of a gentleman, is he? Not sure I really want to keep him around. Are you sure we cannot dispense with the deal as it pertains to them? They really are not worth it.”

Greylyn’s eyes narrowed on the vampire. “They remain safe and unharmed, or no deal.”

Claude’s face fell in disappointment, but he nodded.

“Fine. Let’s get this charade over with, shall we?”

He gestured for them to sit underneath the tree and positioned them just inches from each other. Stepping back, Claude smiled down on them. “Such a beautiful couple. True love is always so inspiring to behold.”

Greylyn rolled her eyes at him with an exaggerated expression of aggravation. He simply winked and took his leave. A couple of minutes later, the steel door clicked locked behind him.

Kael opened his mouth to say something, but an unfamiliar female voice with an Italian accent boomed over an invisible sound system. “No talking.”

Fantastic. I’m in the Garden of Eden with nothing better to do than stare into Kael’s dark topaz eyes; absolutely nothing to worry about.

Considering how traitorously her body had reacted to the dark guardian in normal circumstances, she did not want to imagine what being this close would do to her over the long term.

Twenty-four hours? Did the vamp expect them to do this little exercise for that long? At the very least, they should be given potty-breaks.

Her head already throbbed with tension as it fought her body for control. She could not allow herself a second to relax. All it would take was one moment of weakness.

Too late. His closeness was already sending ripples of goosebumps up her arms while a delicious heat crept up her cheeks. To distract herself, she scanned the garden for signs of surveillance, anything to avoid looking at Kael. Being there with him made her more nervous than facing down the entire throng of Olivier’s minions months earlier.

Absentmindedly, she pulled out a platinum chain tucked underneath her shirt and toyed with the ring dangling from it—a nervous tick that she hadpicked up after their first encounter. The ring had been in the pocket of the drab wool dress in which she had been buried; the one and only link to a life that she did notremember—a normal, human life.

Kael reached over to touch her face, but a voice boomed over the loud speaker again. “No touching.”

He withdrew his hands, holding them up in the air as a sign of surrender.

Forcing herself to lock eyes with Kael might be the hardest thing she haddone since tearing herself away from him at Gaelic Haven. She had wanted nothing more than to lose herself in his arms. That night had haunted her ever since. She had dreamed of melting into his strong, inviting arms, caressing the stubble along his jaw-line…

Great balls of fire, Greylyn! Get over it! Hasn’t even been two minutes!

This was exactly what she had been running away from the last three months. No matter where she turned, she still saw only him. No matter what monster she fought, no matter how many lives she had saved, she could not get away from him.

She expected Kael to be a smug ass now thatthey were forced into intimacy. With all his innuendo over the last few hundred years, he had to be enjoying making her squirm. She lifted her head to glare at him, but surprisingly, the usual gold flecks in his eyes did not sparkle with glee. Instead, they seemed sad, uncertain, and nervous. Never had she seen him this way. He was always confident and in control, but the way he gazed down at her was almost… vulnerable.

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