He lied, and it hurt. Why wouldn't he trust her? Did he fear Jasper's influence, or was there something more? 'Yeah. Like you being a vampire wasn't important?'
'No, not like that.' He slammed a cupboard door closed. 'Are you hungry?'
Her stomach rolled at the thought of food. Considering how little she'd eaten during the last few days, she should have been famished. She wasn't. 'As long as it's something easy.'
'I have soup simmering.'
She nodded and closed her eyes, suddenly confused. How much did her need to fight with Michael come from Jasper's games? Would she end up betraying Michael, no matter how hard she tried not to?
'The mere fact you ask yourself those questions suggests his plan hasn't entirely worked.'
He walked back into the room and placed a steaming tray on the bedside table. She ignored it and sat up. 'He had me for three nights, Michael. He might still have my mind. What happens if I do betray you?'
'We'll deal with it if and when it happens.' He sat on the bed beside her and placed an arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him, savoring the warmth of his body.
'We cannot undo what has been done. You must fight it, Nikki.'
'And if I can't?' She rested her cheek lightly against his shoulder and tried to ignore the gentle strength with which he held her. Lord, it felt so right in his arms…
'Then we're all in trouble.'
The grimness in his voice made her shiver. Just what would he do if she ever did betray him?
He sighed, a slightly bitter sound that pierced her heart. 'When will you realize I would never hurt you?'
'I'm sorry.' She bit her lip, regretting her thoughts the minute his arm left her shoulders. His touch fought the demons in her mind, easing the chill forming a tight knot of fear in the pit of her stomach.
He rose and retrieved the tray, placing it over her knees. 'Finish the whole bowl. You need to get some nourishment back into your system. Give me a call if you want anything else.'
'Why? Where are you going?' She hated the slight edge of panic in her voice, yet the thought of being alone filled her with fear.
'I'll be resting on the couch in the other room. It's been a long three days, I'm afraid.'
Had he eaten… ?
'I haven't.' His answer was grim. 'Do you think it was easy for me, knowing who had you? Imagining what he was doing?'
'I'm sorry.' She hesitated, not sure what to say, not sure how to take the touch of pain in his eyes. 'I just thought vampires had no choice but to sleep during the day.'
'Everyone must sleep, Nikki, even those of us not quite human. Vampires do so during the day because, for the most part, the sun is deadly to us.'
She remembered the sun touching Jasper's back, and the red welts it left there. 'And feeding?' she asked softly, not really sure if she wanted to know the answer.
'I do not dine on human blood, Nikki. Nor do I need to feed every day, as Jasper and Monica must.'
He hesitated, then added in a voice heavy with bitterness. 'After three hundred years of existence, you learn to do without many things.'
She blinked. Had she heard him right? He was three hundred years old?
'Yes.' He sighed, and ran a hand through his unkempt hair. 'Now eat, and rest. I'll be near if you need me.'
He left the room quickly. Frowning, she picked up the spoon, eating the soup without really tasting it.
When she'd finished, she shoved the tray back on the bedside table and settled back down to get some sleep.
Her dreams were filled with fear and madness, haunted by an evil that teased and mocked. She woke to darkness hours later, the silk shirt twisted about her body and damp with sweat. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she stared at the night-held room.
Something about the stillness told her she was alone, and her heart skipped several beats. But that wasn't what she feared. No, there was something else…
Like a siren's song, the call whispered through her mind, urging her into action.
Frightened, yet unable to resist the pull of the call, she threw aside the blankets and rose. Walking unsteadily across the room, she pushed the curtains to one side and stared out.
Darkness held the city in its grip. The clock tower down the street chimed four times, and the street below was silent, empty.
Then the shadows moved.
Jasper. Smiling confidently at her, sure of her response.
Something deep within responded, wanting to do as he asked. She closed her eyes, fighting it, fighting him.
His laughter sang through her soul, filling her with its corruption. Trembling, she crossed her arms and turned from the window. It didn't stop the treacherous whisper begging her to do whatever he wanted.
She took a deep breath, trying to gather her scattered wits. Michael, where are you? I need you.
And if he couldn't hear her silent plea for help? Well, she wasn't helpless, no matter what the demons in her mind might say.
She shivered, and battled for calm and the strength to resist as she turned back to the window. Where's
Images filled her—visions hot with lust and violence. Her pulse quickened, as if stirred, and she blanched, feeling sick. Lord, why was this happening? What had he done to her?
He wanted her to hunt the night with him, become a slave to darkness and death and uncontrollable blood lust. Revulsion turned her stomach. I will never walk with you.
Yet she could hear the uncertainty in her own assertion. Jasper was Tommy, only a hundred times stronger. If he gained control of her mind, she would never know her wish from his.
His laughter echoed through her mind. She clenched her fists, battling the urge to run as far as she could from the madman below. He was only toying with her, testing her nerve, her strength. And it took all the strength she had to remain still, to ignore his taunting whispers, and stare at him in silence.
Michael took the stairs two at a time, making no effort to keep quiet. Jasper had made little effort to conceal himself, and he would know that Nikki had called. Just as he knew the three zombies stationed around the hotel would move in on Nikki if he went after Jasper. He reached the third floor and ran down the corridor, only slowing when he approached his room. Even from this distance, he could feel her distress. Yet she resisted Jasper's call, and that was more than he had truly expected.
He unlocked the door and stepped inside. Psychic energy danced around him, though he doubted if she was truly aware of his presence. She was using everything she had to resist Jasper. He clenched his fingers and stopped, taking a deep, calming breath. Now was not the time to run downstairs and commit murder. Nikki needed him.
He walked to the bedroom. She stood near the window, still wearing his old black shirt. It hung to her thighs and did little to hide her slender but shapely figure. She had never looked more alluring. Or more frightened.
'Nikki?' he said softly, not wanting to scare her by suddenly appearing by her side.
She jumped anyway and turned. 'He's here.' Her voice was steady despite the panic he could see in her eyes. 'Across the road.'
He stopped beside her and slid his hand down her arm, entwining his fingers around hers. The rhythm of her heart was loud and erratic, and her hands were like ice. He drew the other curtain aside and looked out.
Jasper waved at them.
