Dying to Date (7 page)

At least, as long as Tarian didn’t wait till high noon and open the trunk to roast her alive.

He risked a lot to free me,
she reasoned.
I’m valuable to him alive.

But in the end it made no difference whether she could trust him or not. Dawn was fully upon her, and she lost her struggle to keep her eyes open.

As she slipped into her daylight sleep, she prayed Tarian would find some way to keep her safe from the merciless sun.

Chapter Eight

She opened her eyes to the water stained ceiling of a cheap motel. Turning her head, Melissa saw Tarian lying next to her, sound asleep. One arm was thrown over her waist, and she wasn’t sure whether it was to keep tabs on her or just an unconscious caress.

Moving slowly so as not to disturb him, she twisted her head to scan the room. It had been many years since she’d been in such a run-down motel. She wouldn’t be surprised if she’d seen it as the setting in a horror movie.

The yellow walls and wood paneling had a distinctive seventies vibe, as did the beaten down forest green carpet. A television with old rabbit-ear antennas perched atop the one set of drawers, but she could see its electrical cord had been chewed through by some small creature.

Tarian had wisely stripped the bed of the ugly floral bedspread which likely hadn’t seen the inside of a washing machine in months. The only light came from the single bare bulb set in the center of a slowly rotating beige fan. All in all, the room wasn’t worth whatever fee Tarian had paid for it. And that was absolutely perfect. No one would ever imagine an heiress to bed down in a place like this.

Turning back to her bed partner, she wondered what her next move should be. She might be able to use her super speed to run from the room before Tarian woke enough to trap her with his magic. Once on her own, however, was she better off or worse? She didn’t know this part of the country, but Tarian obviously did. If she could reach a phone and contact her father, backup would be sent her way, but it would still take time to reach her—time where she’d be vulnerable.

Of course, choosing a necromancer as a traveling companion came with its own host of pitfalls.

Better on my own,
she decided. At least if she failed, it would be due to her own choices, not because she was naïve enough to trust an enemy.

Melissa eyed the door, knowing she’d only have one chance. She’d have to be fast. Faster than she’d ever been before.

Behind her Tarian inhaled as his body started to wake, and she shot from the bed.

She was out of the room and flying down the corridor in seconds. Decreasing room numbers flashed passed her as she sprinted for the stairs. Her vampire speed allowed her to cross the distance in a fraction of the time it would take a human.

The stairwell was only a few feet in front of her when magic washed over her skin

No,
she thought as her legs stopped running.

She jerked to a halt, standing frozen in the motel hallway. Without her permission, her body turned, and she saw Tarian leaning against the doorjamb of their room. He hadn’t even bothered to chase after her. Not that he’d need to.

With his powers surrounding her, her feet moved forward of their own accord as she walked back to her betrayer. Unlike when Dominic had controlled her, Tarian’s magic wasn’t biting. It caressed her skin in a touch that was unwelcome but not wholly unpleasant. The fear she’d felt when Dominic had controlled her was absent under his command.

You’re a fool
, she told herself. He posed just as great a threat to her as his grandfather. The fact that he could use his magic on her without a qualm was proof of that.

Her legs stopped moving when it reached the door to their room.

“I’m going to release you,” Tarian said, arms crossed over his chest. “It’s your choice whether to walk into this room so we can have a civilized conversation or whether I have to chase you down again.”

The tingling in her limbs drained away, until she was once again in control.

“I’m going to enjoy watching my father eviscerate you,” she promised with a smile.

“Let’s just add this to the list of things I need to make up to you before we reach New York.” He gestured into the room, and she strode passed him with her head held high. The last thing she wanted him to know was how unnerved she was to be powerless in his presence.

Melissa heard the door close behind her but refused to turn. Instead, she went to the window and looked out at the dark parking lot. She wasn’t used to being the weaker partner in any sort of relationship. Vampires were stronger than most immortals, but all her usual advantages were wiped away with Tarian. She had nothing to fight with if things went south, and the knowledge made her want to do physical damage.

“This isn’t how I wanted to start our night,” he said from behind her.

“I can’t tell you how devastated I am to have ruined your plans.”

“Let’s have a seat and discuss our situation calmly.”

“Or, and I’m just tossing ideas around here, I could continue to curse the day you walked into my life and do everything in my power to escape you.” She turned, ready to stare him down. “Decisions, decisions.”

“You could,” he agreed, as he perched on the edge of the bed. “But you’ll fail.”

Her fangs burst from her gums as she hissed at him. “If at first you don’t succeed—”

“You don’t want to try again.”

Silence stretched as she regarded the man she’d been so happy to see walk into her office just a few nights ago. Now everything was different. Her world was splintering and she had no idea who to trust.

“Is this were we get to the portion of the evening where you rain threats down on me?” she murmured.

His eyes were blank as he looked at her. No hint of her boyish would-be lover remained in the necromancer before her.

“That’s not how I want this to play out,” he replied.

“But a bastard’s gotta do what a bastard’s gotta do, am I right?”

He stood, and every instinct in her flared to life, even though he looked harmless enough.

“I don’t want to use my power on you. Never did. I regret that circumstances made it necessary to do so today.”

“Please,” she replied. “Necromancers love nothing more than to use vampires like puppets.”

“I’ve told you before, you have no concept of my race.”

A smile twisted her lips but she doubted her expression was pleasant. “Your grandfather gave me a crash course.”

“We’re nothing alike.”

“I’m sure.”

“I gave you a rield.”

The words cut off the snarky comment she’d been about to voice. Instead she kept her peace and waited for him to continue.

“Dominic took it from you, so I know you understand what it means.”

She swallowed before inclining her head. “I don’t know why you gave it to me, though.”

“I wanted to protect you,” he replied, walking toward her. “Even from myself.”

“Out of character.”

He shook his head. “Had we worked out, I never wanted you to doubt, even for a moment, that all your decisions had been your own.”

Her heart twisted in her chest.

“I’ve told you before, but I’ll say it again.” He stopped before her. “You’ll always be safe with me.”

Her breath caught. Sincerity infused the simple vow. It was far too tempting to believe him, to step into his arms and let the world fall away. Even knowing what he was, she didn’t want to be his enemy.

Tarian reached for her before his hand paused and eventually dropped. “What I am doesn’t define who I am,” he said.

“Make me another bracelet, and I’ll consider believing you,” she offered. “Prove you won’t control me and then maybe…” She let the words trail off, not knowing what she could promise.

Tarian shook his head. “I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Making a rield requires time and resources, neither of which we have available. It also requires a deep store of power. I won’t be able to make another one for years.”

She blinked. Though Dominic had been shocked to see the bracelet on her, she hadn’t thought it was an item of such priceless value.

“What if you’d met your mate in the next few years, and I was still wearing the only rield you could create?” she whispered.

Tarian looked away, refusing to answer the question.

Confusion swept through her mind. Had she been a fleeting tryst, he wouldn’t have wasted the gift on her. Which meant he’d either intended to get it back or…

Or he’d been serious about thinking of her as a potential mate.

She shook her head to try and find some clarity.

“Answer me this, then. If you had a rield in your possession right now, would you give it to me?”

Tarian exhaled slowly before turning back to her. The sincerity and regret that had filled his face were gone, replaced with an enigmatic mask.

“No,” he said. “When we first met, I was trying to be noble. Now I’m trying to stop a war.”

“And you’ll do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.”

“Yes.”

“Monster.”

His hands shot out to grip her arms at the soft charge.

“I’m trying to save more than just necromancer lives.”

“So you say.”

She lifted her chin and met his gaze, even though her instincts urged her to yield. Tarian held all the cards. She should be trying to appease him instead of pushing him to react. No matter what her circumstances, however, she didn’t have it in her to back down. Not even before a necromancer who watched her with barely concealed anger burning in his eyes.

He pushed her back against the wall as he crowded into her space.

“You’re trying my patience.”

“If I had a nickel.”

His hands tightened on her arms. “You will accompany me to New York, even if I have to enspell you across the whole damn country.”

Looked like her dashing would-be mate had no qualms about forcing her to behave like a doll whenever she proved a little less malleable than he wished. Good to know. Not the least bit devastating at all.

“Then I guess I’ll learn exactly what kind of man you are.”

All emotion, even the anger, was wiped clean from his face. Ice slithered down her spine as she looked into the blank blue eyes regarding her. Despite her bravado, she did not want this man in her head.

“I’m backed into a corner,” he said. “And I’ll do anything to avert this coming disaster.”

“Why do you need me?” she demanded. “Just let me go, Tarian.”

He gave a sharp shake of his head.

“Your father will rip apart my people when he discovers Dominic was behind your abduction.”

“True.”

“That means we have one chance of stopping this before it gets out of hand. Necromancers took you, so necromancers need to return you. You’ve got to end up in New York with me as a sign of good faith so we can convince Redgrave not all of us are evil.”

“First you’ve got to convince me.”

“I’m always up for a challenge.”

Options flew through her mind. Strike out on her own, try to contact Lucian, stay with Tarian. She had no idea which choice would help her most.

“Melissa,” Tarian said, a thread of warmth creeping back into his voice. “Your chances of survival are slim on your own.” His grip tightened on her as he added, “And mine are non-existent without you.”

“I should care what happens to you?”

He didn’t flinch, she’d give him that. “I have a sister to protect,” he said. “Not to mention a whole race your people could annihilate. You can hate me, Melissa, but I’m not leaving you until New York.”

“And if I decided not to ally myself with my enemy, you’ll make the choice for me.”

Tarian shook his head. “Don’t ask me to choose between you and my entire race.”

Because she’d lose. Whatever they had in New York, obviously it hadn’t meant to him what it had to her.

“Fine. Whatever you say. It’s not like I have a choice in the matter.”

He didn’t move. “Give me your word you won’t try and escape me. Do it, and I’ll swear not to use my powers on you.”

She inhaled out of habit at the unexpected offer. His powers were his trump card. Never before had she encountered an enemy willing to give up his advantage so easily.

“Why?” she demanded. What sort of trick was he pulling?

“Because despite what you believe, I never wanted to use them on you in the first place. It’s a promise I’ll be happy to make.”

“No power. Not ever. I don’t care what situation we get into, I stay with you, and you keep your creepy magic off me.”

“That’s the deal.”

She chewed her lip as she mulled over her options. There was no denying it was the best deal she could hope to wring from him. Not to mention, given the circumstances, it might not be a bad idea to stick together. Though a phone call would have her father’s men to her in hours, Tarian was right. There would be no hiding such a public rescue, and the vampires would consider this an attack on their race. They’d lose any chance at avoiding conflict, and the resulting uprising would put vampire lives in jeopardy. Her immediate safety was not worth igniting a war. Taking a road trip with a necromancer, however, didn’t exactly sound like her kind of vacation.

“If you break your word, I will never trust you again,” she cautioned. “I don’t care what sort of partnership we build. You use your magic on me, and we are through.”

“You don’t trust me now.”

“You know what I mean.”

He inclined his head. “I will keep my promise.”

Melissa exhaled slowly before she made her decision. “Deal. I’ll stay with you. But if you betray me, I’ll use all of my father’s considerable resources to hunt you down and make you regret it.”

“Duly noted.”

Pushing him back, she jerked away from his grip and paced the length of the room. “How long will it take to drive back to the city?”

“Forty hours, give or take,” he replied. “You didn’t do too well in the trunk, though, so I’d suggest only traveling at night.”

“Four nights or so,” she said, factoring in the average hours of darkness. She could stand his company for that long, especially if she’d either be unconscious or behind the wheel most of that time.

“Fine,” she said. “Then we should get on the road as soon as possible.”

“Ready when you are.”

Melissa smoothed a hand down her dress, noting the scorch marks where the sun had burned her skin. Several red welts still showed on her calves, but most of her daylight injuries were well on their way to healing.

“I’ve got to stop somewhere to change,” she said. “I know the heroines in adventure movies might run from exploding buildings in tight dresses and stiletto heels, but in reality we do better with jeans and running shoes.”