The Order Boxed Set by Nina Croft

not working.”
    Piers moved to stand over them. “What do you mean ‘not working’?”
    “I’m not marked?”
    Christian shook his head. He turned to Piers. “I can’t get in. Her mind is shutting me out cold. I’ve never felt this sort of block before.”
    “Shall I try?”
    Christian’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “No,” he growled.
    “What’s happening?” Tara asked.
    “We spoke of compulsion, a vampire’s ability to force a human to do something. I want to see if it works on you.”
    “What are you going to make me do, act like a chicken or something?”
    He smiled though he didn’t appear happy. “Nothing like that.” He thought for a moment. “I’m going to make you stay seated in that chair. I want you to try and get up and walk across the room.”
    “When?”
    “Now would be good,” Piers said.
    Tara got up and crossed the room. “Is that it?”
    A look passed between the two men. Christian frowned but Piers turned toward her. After a moment, he shook his head. “Nothing.”
    “I told you to stay out of her mind,” Christian snarled.
    Piers held up his hands defensively. “Hey, I didn’t get in.”
    “What’s going on?” Tara asked.
    “You seem to be able to keep us out of your mind. Which presumably also means we can’t erase your memories.”
    “Is that going to be a problem?” she asked.
    Piers looked at her, and his eyes were cold. “Is it going to be a problem, Christian?” The question was asked in a soft voice, but Christian tensed.
    “Don’t lay a finger on her,” he said. “Not one finger.”
    “Actually, fingers didn’t come into what I had in mind.” Piers shrugged. “What do you suggest?”
    “It may have something to do with the talisman. Maybe the magic keeps us out.”
    “Then she must take it off.”
    “Not here and not until we know more about it. Look Piers, I’ll vouch for her. Keep her close, she won’t betray us.”
    Piers regarded them silently for a moment, then nodded. “But you are responsible, and you mark her as soon as you can. Now, let’s get Ella in here see if she can tell us something about this talisman.”
    The door opened and a woman walked in. Tara had been predisposed to disliking Ella but she needn’t have bothered. A wave of revulsion washed over her as the woman stepped inside. Tara couldn’t rid her mind of the idea she was in the presence of something evil. Dressed in black leather trousers and a black shirt that clung to her full breasts and flat stomach, Ella was a female version of the vampires, but she wasn’t a vampire. She ignored Tara, her attention on the two men. Strolling up to Christian, she stroked her scarlet tipped fingers over his chest.
    “You wanted me?” she purred.
    It set Tara’s teeth on edge. She took a step closer to Christian, only just resisting the urge to place a possessive hand on his arm. He glanced at her and back at Ella.
    “Hardly,” he drawled.
    Ella’s face hardened. Her eyes narrowed on Christian, then flicked to Tara and something dark shifted across her expression.
    “We want you to look at something,” Piers said.
    “What?” She sounded sulky now.
    “Tara?” Piers gestured to her to come forward, and Tara took a reluctant step away from Christian. Ella ran her eyes over her.
    “A human? What’s she doing here?”
    “She belongs to Christian.”
    Tara didn’t like the word, but at that moment, belonging to Christian sounded like a very good idea, so she didn’t argue.
    “She’s not marked.”
    “No, she’s not. Now can we get on with this?”
    Ella shrugged. “What do you want?”
    “Show her the talisman, Tara.” Christian spoke softly beside her.
    Tara pulled the locket from beneath her shirt and held it out. As Ella moved closer, Tara had to fight the urge to step back. She did not want the other woman to touch her.
    Ella reached out but her hand dropped back before she touched it. “Can you open it?” she asked.
    Tara flicked open the catch. Ella stared