asked.”
“Love sneaks up on us sometimes,” Ana said softly, her voice gentle and melodic as she glanced at her husband with adoration in her eyes. “We aren’t looking for it, don’t expect it, may not even want it at first. But that doesn’t change the truth of it.”
David felt rather dizzy. “I don’t know what the truth is anymore.”
“Then I suggest you figure it out, Mr. Corrigan,” Vlane said pointedly. “Ask yourself why you feel compelled to see this young woman again, and when you can accept the answer, contact me.”
Without conscious effort, David rose to leave.
“Oh, one more question, Mr. Corrigan, if you don’t mind.” David paused by the door and turned back to look at Vlane Masterson. “This nurse that told you about Ryssa. What became of her?”
David looked surprised by the question. He furrowed his brow. “We never saw her again. She was only there that one night, relieving another nurse who had fallen ill with some kind of twenty-four hour thing.”
Vlane nodded, as if that was the answer he had expected. “I look forward to hearing from you, Mr. Corrigan.”
Chapter 8 – Angels and Demons and Vampires, Oh My
J ax stood unnaturally still for long moments after David Corrigan left, his eyes surreptitiously seeking out Ana Masterson. The resemblance was uncanny.
“Why did you not tell me of Ryssa’s special powers?” Vlane asked him bluntly. His voice was even, controlled, but his eyes flashed. When Jax petitioned for her release from Karthik at the same time as his own, he hadn’t mentioned any special gifts. Vlane believed, as he was meant to, that the girl was just a preferred source of food.
His new master’s displeasure pulsed in subtle waves of unseen energy. Vlane was at the top of the Extraordinary food chain; being uninformed obviously did not sit well with him. Jax regretted that, but there was little he could do.
Jax forced his eyes away from Ana and met those of his new master. “I cannot speak of it.”
Vlane’s eyes narrowed. “Cannot or will not?”
The clenched jaw and fists made his answer redundant. “ Cannot. ”
* * *
“A binding?” Vlane murmured, his umbrage morphing into curiosity. Jax’s entire body tensed, confirming his suspicions.
“What is a binding?” Ana asked. Fairly new to this world of Extraordinaries, she had much to learn. Vlane’s eyes softened as they always did when he looked to his bride.
“It is similar to an oath or a vow, but it does not have to be given willingly. It is especially powerful when invoked with magickal blood, such as that of an immortal.” He looked back to Jax and narrowed his eyes. If the young vamp had been using the female as an exclusive food source, that kind of bond would extend far beyond simple loyalty and trust.
Ana nodded as she picked up her husband’s thoughts. “Jax is protecting her. But David Corrigan could speak freely, because he has no such bond.”
Vlane smiled in approval. “David Corrigan is a human. His whole existence is based in the mortal plane. He does not fully understand the knowledge she has revealed to him.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? For both of them?”
“Given his reticence, I doubt he has openly spoken of her with others. He was clearly uncomfortable.” Vlane gave a half smile. “And who would believe him? Mortals would scoff, and he is not the type to cavort with Extraordinaries.”
Having lived most of her life among mortals and being unaware of preternatural beings herself until recently, that was something he knew Ana would readily understand. “David Corrigan is a wealthy, well-respected businessman in the local community. If he started talking about angels and seers, that could change quickly.”
“Unfortunately,” Vlane continued with a frown, “David Corrigan can no longer include himself among the uninformed. He struggles with even the limited knowledge he now carries.”
“He only knows of Ryssa.”
“We cannot be sure
“Love sneaks up on us sometimes,” Ana said softly, her voice gentle and melodic as she glanced at her husband with adoration in her eyes. “We aren’t looking for it, don’t expect it, may not even want it at first. But that doesn’t change the truth of it.”
David felt rather dizzy. “I don’t know what the truth is anymore.”
“Then I suggest you figure it out, Mr. Corrigan,” Vlane said pointedly. “Ask yourself why you feel compelled to see this young woman again, and when you can accept the answer, contact me.”
Without conscious effort, David rose to leave.
“Oh, one more question, Mr. Corrigan, if you don’t mind.” David paused by the door and turned back to look at Vlane Masterson. “This nurse that told you about Ryssa. What became of her?”
David looked surprised by the question. He furrowed his brow. “We never saw her again. She was only there that one night, relieving another nurse who had fallen ill with some kind of twenty-four hour thing.”
Vlane nodded, as if that was the answer he had expected. “I look forward to hearing from you, Mr. Corrigan.”
Chapter 8 – Angels and Demons and Vampires, Oh My
J ax stood unnaturally still for long moments after David Corrigan left, his eyes surreptitiously seeking out Ana Masterson. The resemblance was uncanny.
“Why did you not tell me of Ryssa’s special powers?” Vlane asked him bluntly. His voice was even, controlled, but his eyes flashed. When Jax petitioned for her release from Karthik at the same time as his own, he hadn’t mentioned any special gifts. Vlane believed, as he was meant to, that the girl was just a preferred source of food.
His new master’s displeasure pulsed in subtle waves of unseen energy. Vlane was at the top of the Extraordinary food chain; being uninformed obviously did not sit well with him. Jax regretted that, but there was little he could do.
Jax forced his eyes away from Ana and met those of his new master. “I cannot speak of it.”
Vlane’s eyes narrowed. “Cannot or will not?”
The clenched jaw and fists made his answer redundant. “ Cannot. ”
* * *
“A binding?” Vlane murmured, his umbrage morphing into curiosity. Jax’s entire body tensed, confirming his suspicions.
“What is a binding?” Ana asked. Fairly new to this world of Extraordinaries, she had much to learn. Vlane’s eyes softened as they always did when he looked to his bride.
“It is similar to an oath or a vow, but it does not have to be given willingly. It is especially powerful when invoked with magickal blood, such as that of an immortal.” He looked back to Jax and narrowed his eyes. If the young vamp had been using the female as an exclusive food source, that kind of bond would extend far beyond simple loyalty and trust.
Ana nodded as she picked up her husband’s thoughts. “Jax is protecting her. But David Corrigan could speak freely, because he has no such bond.”
Vlane smiled in approval. “David Corrigan is a human. His whole existence is based in the mortal plane. He does not fully understand the knowledge she has revealed to him.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? For both of them?”
“Given his reticence, I doubt he has openly spoken of her with others. He was clearly uncomfortable.” Vlane gave a half smile. “And who would believe him? Mortals would scoff, and he is not the type to cavort with Extraordinaries.”
Having lived most of her life among mortals and being unaware of preternatural beings herself until recently, that was something he knew Ana would readily understand. “David Corrigan is a wealthy, well-respected businessman in the local community. If he started talking about angels and seers, that could change quickly.”
“Unfortunately,” Vlane continued with a frown, “David Corrigan can no longer include himself among the uninformed. He struggles with even the limited knowledge he now carries.”
“He only knows of Ryssa.”
“We cannot be sure
Similar Books
