way to deal with Katie’s problem except to change Tezra. Yet it wasn’t a sure solution either. What if a vampiric Tezra stil couldn’t reach Katie?
Tezra paced, silent, chewing her bottom lip.
The thought of licking her lip came rushing back to mind. But when he sensed another vampire’s approach, he pul ed her into the house and shut the door.
She folded her arms. “If I agree to be turned, I won’t be forced into being your mate or anybody else’s.”
Not about to give an inch on this, Daemon stood tal er. “Living the life of a vampire can be tenuous at best. Some vampires prey on the fledglings, which is what you’d be for a good century. I wouldn’t turn you then leave you to fend for yourself. You’d have to be…hel , what am I saying? I’m not turning you. End of discussion.”
She raised her brows. “Fine. Go about your business, why don’t you? And while you’re at it, I’l look at the tissue samples you stole.”
He couldn’t fathom what she was up to, but her words reminded him of his brother when he was bound and determined to do something Daemon didn’t agree with. Speaking with an ancient authority, he offered no room for argument, simply stating, “You won’t be turned.”
He transported himself to the greatroom, then slipped her sword into the hidden panel next to the fireplace. He would protect her, help her, but he would not al ow her to be another vampire’s mate.
He made a telepathic cal to the vampires to spread the word. “Death to any who try to turn the SCU investigator, Tezra Campbell . All will obey me in this.”
Once again, he felt he was tumbling down the dark chasm after a mate, but this time he was determined not to make the same mistake again.
***
Tezra paced across the darkly woven Turkish rug as soon as Daemon vanished. “Okay, so where are the damned tissue samples, Daemon?”
He didn’t respond, and she ground her teeth.
Then she glanced at the patio door. Had he locked it? Her heart hammering, she opened the door as quietly as she could, worried the door hinges might squeak. Yet, subconsciously she suspected a trick on Daemon’s part.
Not bothering to close it for fear a click might give her away, she rushed across the balcony and peered into the woods that surrounded the property—guarded, he’d said, so she needed a weapon to venture there.
She ran back into the bedroom, pul ed on her leather coat and yanked the spare sword out from under the mattress. After attaching the sheath to her belt, she returned to the balcony. Evergreen vines wound through a wrought iron trel is attached to the house, perfect for use as an escape ladder. As long as the rungs didn’t suffer from corrosion, she figured they would hold her weight.
She swung over the top of the railing and let herself down. The toes of her boots felt for the first rung. Gingerly, she tested her weight on the metal. When it didn’t give, she eased down. Her boot slipped on glossy leaves. She lost her footing and stifled a wild cry of alarm. With a thud, she landed on the grass. Panicked that she’d be discovered, she hurried to her feet and crouched in place.
Darkened windows al across the back of the house made her skin tingle. She felt like a fish in an aquarium. Daemon could be watching her from anywhere.
Surely if he saw her, he would stop her flight. Yet she halfway suspected he planned the whole damned thing.
For now, she had one goal in mind as she dashed for the woods—focusing on her mission. Time to track down Krustalus and end his miserable life.
The autumn midday sun couldn’t part the thick gray cloud cover, and the mist stil clung to the ground, rising three feet from the wet grass. The forest itself appeared dark, deep and ominous, but her only concern now was freedom and slowing the thunder of her heartbeat for fear Daemon would hear it no matter how far she ran from him. She wished the legend that vampires could be exposed to sunlight and burst into flames was
Tezra paced, silent, chewing her bottom lip.
The thought of licking her lip came rushing back to mind. But when he sensed another vampire’s approach, he pul ed her into the house and shut the door.
She folded her arms. “If I agree to be turned, I won’t be forced into being your mate or anybody else’s.”
Not about to give an inch on this, Daemon stood tal er. “Living the life of a vampire can be tenuous at best. Some vampires prey on the fledglings, which is what you’d be for a good century. I wouldn’t turn you then leave you to fend for yourself. You’d have to be…hel , what am I saying? I’m not turning you. End of discussion.”
She raised her brows. “Fine. Go about your business, why don’t you? And while you’re at it, I’l look at the tissue samples you stole.”
He couldn’t fathom what she was up to, but her words reminded him of his brother when he was bound and determined to do something Daemon didn’t agree with. Speaking with an ancient authority, he offered no room for argument, simply stating, “You won’t be turned.”
He transported himself to the greatroom, then slipped her sword into the hidden panel next to the fireplace. He would protect her, help her, but he would not al ow her to be another vampire’s mate.
He made a telepathic cal to the vampires to spread the word. “Death to any who try to turn the SCU investigator, Tezra Campbell . All will obey me in this.”
Once again, he felt he was tumbling down the dark chasm after a mate, but this time he was determined not to make the same mistake again.
***
Tezra paced across the darkly woven Turkish rug as soon as Daemon vanished. “Okay, so where are the damned tissue samples, Daemon?”
He didn’t respond, and she ground her teeth.
Then she glanced at the patio door. Had he locked it? Her heart hammering, she opened the door as quietly as she could, worried the door hinges might squeak. Yet, subconsciously she suspected a trick on Daemon’s part.
Not bothering to close it for fear a click might give her away, she rushed across the balcony and peered into the woods that surrounded the property—guarded, he’d said, so she needed a weapon to venture there.
She ran back into the bedroom, pul ed on her leather coat and yanked the spare sword out from under the mattress. After attaching the sheath to her belt, she returned to the balcony. Evergreen vines wound through a wrought iron trel is attached to the house, perfect for use as an escape ladder. As long as the rungs didn’t suffer from corrosion, she figured they would hold her weight.
She swung over the top of the railing and let herself down. The toes of her boots felt for the first rung. Gingerly, she tested her weight on the metal. When it didn’t give, she eased down. Her boot slipped on glossy leaves. She lost her footing and stifled a wild cry of alarm. With a thud, she landed on the grass. Panicked that she’d be discovered, she hurried to her feet and crouched in place.
Darkened windows al across the back of the house made her skin tingle. She felt like a fish in an aquarium. Daemon could be watching her from anywhere.
Surely if he saw her, he would stop her flight. Yet she halfway suspected he planned the whole damned thing.
For now, she had one goal in mind as she dashed for the woods—focusing on her mission. Time to track down Krustalus and end his miserable life.
The autumn midday sun couldn’t part the thick gray cloud cover, and the mist stil clung to the ground, rising three feet from the wet grass. The forest itself appeared dark, deep and ominous, but her only concern now was freedom and slowing the thunder of her heartbeat for fear Daemon would hear it no matter how far she ran from him. She wished the legend that vampires could be exposed to sunlight and burst into flames was
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