Lance nodded.He wasn’t dumb enough to talk.
“I did.What do you want?”Nix was grim, all smiles and hope gone.They had his sister.
“You.”
Lance shook his head and mouthed trap.
Nix pressed his lips together.“You have my sister; you don’t need me.”
“I need the matching set.You’ve corrupted one of mine.So if you come in, I’ll make it quick for her.If you take your time, I’ll make your sister beg for death.”
Nix grimaced.
Lance shook his head.His aunt had all but said he’d betrayed the family.
“Where do you want me to be?”
“Albany.”She gave an address which Lance looked up immediately.“By this time tomorrow.Bring Lance and I’ll make it quick for you too.”She hung up leaving the unspoken promise of pain in the air.
Nix picked up the phone and put it in his pocket.He held Lance’s gaze.“You aren’t going to Albany.”
“It’s a trap,” Lance said slowly, as if Nix had lost his mind.
Nix sighed.“Zinnia hasn’t checked in for over a week.It’s not a trap.”
“You’re trusting my aunt?She’s not going to make it easy even if you turn up twelve hours early with me gift-wrapped.”His aunt had asked Nix to haul him in like a traitor.He wanted to be sick, but he was a traitor.
“I want to see my sister.”
“So you can both die?”
“Blooded vampires don’t die of old age.We get taken out.Why do you think I never wanted this?I don’t want this for you.Don’t become me…live the life you want.”His eyes became glassy.“Do that and think of me sometimes when you’re sipping your cheap beer and letting some other guy do all the work.”
“That’s not true.I don’t…”
Nix’s lips turned up in a lop-sided smile.“I was kidding.You’re a good hunter and a good fuck.Don’t let anyone tell you any different.I’d take your car, but it’s probably flagged, so drop me at the main road, and I’ll hitch.”
“I’ll drive you.It’s only four hours.”
“I will knock you out, tie you up, and leave you here if I have to.”There was no smile.Nix was serious.“Do not come to Albany.They’ll be waiting to grab you.”
“You can’t rescue her on your own.You need me.”
Nix glanced at the sky and blew out a breath.“I do need you.”He stepped in and kissed him, hard and desperate.“And I’m doing this because I love you.”
Lance never saw the hit.Only the stars as they spun and he was lowered to the grass.
ChapterTwenty-Nine
When Lance wokeit was still dark.He sat up, his head pounding and his body aching like he’d been run over.He remembered the fight and admitting he was in love.The rest came back in a swoop that made his stomach turn.He scrambled up.
The clearing was empty.
No phones, no weapons, no clothes.
No sign that Nix had even been there.
“You fucker.”He stalked back to the car park, but of course the car was gone too.He snarled, and something in the bush scurried away.
