Rebel Obsession by Donya Lynne Page A

from our dealers,” Bishop said quietly, standing aside so Apostle could watch. “We make junkies out of them. This one…” Bishop gestured toward the vampire inside the cell, “…is a mongrel. He’s almost ready for phase two of his… training.”
    Apostle had no idea what phase two was, or what Bishop meant by training, but he was sure he would find out soon enough. In the meantime, he watched as the mongrel was injected and fell into the characteristic convulsions associated with cobalt use. In a matter of seconds, the vampire had fallen to the floor, twitching uncontrollably, a smile on his face and sweat pouring out his body.
    Whatever Bishop had planned for these vampires and mixed-bloods, it was big. That much was obvious.
     

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    Io was in and out of the bathroom in record time. Took him all of five minutes to shower, brush his teeth, and put on flannel pants and a T-shirt.
    The idea of being away from Miriam, even if he was only in the next room, urged him to rush.
    Had he heard her right a few minutes ago? Had she really said no male had ever touched her the way he had? And if so, what exactly did that mean? Was Miriam a virgin? On one hand, he couldn’t believe a female that exquisite had never taken a lover, but on the other, she had a point about her father. Most people, male and female alike, cowered at mention of King Bain. Her being a virgin made sense considering everything he already knew.
    Maybe he was crazy for being so candid with Miriam. Maybe he would find himself at the receiving end of a knife to the heart for his cavalier behavior where she was concerned. But one day with her was worth it.
    Io couldn’t explain what drove him. He only knew that he had to know Miriam better. He had to take this one opportunity to simply exist in her presence, if only for a day.
    No female had ever drawn his attention like she did. Usually, he took what he wanted from those willing to give it then he never looked back. Oh, sure, he occasionally double-dipped and took the same women again as his whim dictated, but what he felt for Miriam was different. She was different. Miriam was at once strong-willed as well as innocent. Something in her eyes and body language told him that much. This made her infinitely more interesting than some girl he’d picked up at a bar with her legs already half open and her hand massaging his crotch.
    Io opened the door to the bedroom and shut off the bathroom light, holding his hair dryer in his hand.
    Miriam was sitting on the edge of the bed, running the comb through her hair.
    “You ready?” he said.
    She glanced down at the hair dryer and smiled. “You’re seriously going to dry my hair?”
    Hadn’t he made that point perfectly clear only a few minutes earlier? “That was the plan.” He plugged the hair dryer in then stood beside her.
    “You really have a death wish, don’t you?” She looked up at him through her lashes, her cheeks flushed. “If my father could see me now, he’d blow a circuit.”
    “And that thrills you, doesn’t it?” Io took the comb from her hands and sat down beside her.
    “What do you mean?” Miriam’s sapphire blue eyes pierced him as she glanced over her shoulder.
    He chuckled. “Something tells me you don’t like following orders.”
    “I follow orders just fine.” Her chin jutted out with coquettish flair.
    “Whose? His or your own?” Io lifted one eyebrow as if challenging her.
    Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t reply, her demeanor suddenly growing cold.
    Ah, so there it was. Her trigger.
    “Is that why you use?” Io said, speaking in measured syllables, his voice quiet as he ran the comb through the ends of her hair to loosen the tangles she had already started working on. “Or does your father typically allow cobalt use in the royal home?” He was wrecking the mood, but he needed to get her talking about her addiction, or at least thinking about it. He didn’t have much time with her, and if he was