The Den of Shadows Quartet - Amelia Atwater-Rhodes [98]
Before she could react he grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward him sharply enough that she stumbled and needed to catch herself on the arm of a nearby couch.
“I thought you played by the rules,” she hissed, snatching her other wrist away when he reached for it.
“I do. I’m simply removing these,” Nikolas answered, carefully unwinding the bandage on the wrist he had a hold on.
“Let me go.”
He let go of her arms, but continued to undo the bandages until each of his marks was revealed.
The sudden movement had opened one of the cuts on her shoulder, and he bent his head down to the wound. She felt the soft sensation of his lips on her skin and tried to pull away, but Nikolas grabbed her right arm and held her still.
Pressing her left hand to his chest, with the tip of the spring-loaded knife only inches from his heart, she said, “I consider this a threat. Let me go, or I will kill you where you stand.”
“You’re right,” Nikolas said, lifting his head and releasing her. The taste of her blood, stronger and sweeter than any human’s, had caused his expression to darken with bloodlust. “It isn’t midnight yet, is it?”
CHAPTER 19
“DAMN, Sarah.”
She spun toward the familiar voice, and nearly swore when she recognized her sister. Kaleo, lounging against one of the walls, watched the confrontation with malicious pleasure — he must have let Adianna in.
“You really have gotten yourself into trouble this time, haven’t you, little sister?” Adianna asked, sizing up the situation.
“What are you doing here?” Sarah demanded, frustrated by her sister’s appearance. Adianna was going to get herself killed.
“Touchy today, aren’t we?” Adianna responded.
“How did you know where I was?”
“I wanted to know what was up with you. I asked this” — she gestured to Nikolas — “thing’s brother, Christopher, and he told me you were here.”
Sarah cringed inwardly. Adianna didn’t talk to vampires — if they had information she needed, she would force it from them. Sarah hoped Christopher was still alive.
Evidently, Nikolas had the same thought, because Sarah saw instant hatred on his face. He stepped forward a pace and Adianna drew her knife.
“Come any nearer, and you won’t be pleased with the results,” Adianna warned.
“Tell you what,” Nikolas said slowly, glancing from Adianna to Sarah and then back. The other vampires had disappeared, leaving Nikolas alone with the two hunters and a scattered handful of groggy humans; Sarah could tell he was stalling for time. “Only Sarah is in my plan for tonight. I’ll let you leave safely, if you will do so now.”
Adianna did not wait for him to continue but attacked instantly. No hesitation, no thought, just pure Vida skill.
Nikolas dodged, but Adianna turned quickly, cutting into his side. Sarah had just drawn her knife to join the fray when something struck her from behind, sending her stumbling. More astonished than frightened, she twisted and detached the human who had attacked her, knocking the girl out with a small burst of power.
A quick scan revealed two more humans on their feet and ready to fight if necessary, but Nikolas did not need the help. Sarah heard something in Adianna’s arm snap as the vampire slammed her back into the wall.
“Nikolas, let her go!” Sarah shouted.
“Why?” he asked, his hand over Adianna’s windpipe, ready to crush it.
“Adianna isn’t involved in this — she only came because she heard I was here. Let her go.”
“Christopher wouldn’t have told her where I was unless she hurt him,” Nikolas growled.
Sarah advanced, careful to keep the humans from her back, and Nikolas’s grip on Adianna’s throat tightened. “The hour has fallen, Sarah — I could kill her before you could get near enough to hurt me, and you know it.”
“Then how about I leave now, while you are busy with her?” Sarah bluffed. “It would ruin your plans for tonight, wouldn’t it?”
Nikolas hesitated. “I suppose it would dent them a bit.”
“Let her go, Nikolas.” Adianna was turning blue from Nikolas’s grip, and it took all of Sarah’s will not to attack.
“You are in no place