The vampire followed him as he collapsed to the ground, doing whatever it was vampires did to control their victims until Ash wasn't capable of fighting back any longer. Cassidy twisted him around and met his gaze. He lay there gasping, half supported by the vampire, partially propped up with one arm. It had been so long since he'd felt even a kind touch, let alone this level of pleasure, it was painful in its own way.
"What did you do to me?"
Cassidy licked his lips, his eyes glinting in the low light. "You're going to leave us alone unless you get more specifically worded orders."
He wasn't sure if the vampire was using mind control on him or not, and he didn't care. He nodded agreement.
"And you're not going to tell any of the Andersons how badly those orders were worded, right?"
"No."
"If I can find a way, I'll free you. No promises, though."
He could tell that the vampire meant it, but he didn't know why. He had no real reason to care about Ash one way or the other.
Cassidy leaned back. Ash, desperate to be touched again, and not in anger, grabbed the vampire's shirt and jerked him forward.
Cassidy hadn't been prepared for that and fell forward. If Ash had changed his mind, he would have gotten Cassidy just then. Murder was the last thing on his mind as he pressed his lips to the vampire's.
Cassidy didn't pull away, though he didn't exactly kiss him back. He tasted his blood on the vampire's mouth and bit down on Cassidy's lip. That got the vampire to return his kiss. Ash groaned as the vampire slid his hand up the demon's arm.
"Wait, we're kissing the enemy now?" one of the werewolves said.
Cassidy pulled back, eyes wide, looking startled.
Ash continued to stare at him, waiting to see what he would do.
"Submission tactic," Cassidy muttered, getting quickly to his feet. He picked up his knife and pushed it in a back sheath under his shirt.
He returned his attention to the fallen demon. "We have an understanding then?"
Ash nodded. "As much as I'm able. You can't trust me." He shrugged, "I'll do what I can, and tonight, I must continue to search for a vampire and his dogs. Know any?"
Cassidy smiled, though the demon could still see murder in the vampire's eyes. It just wasn't directed at him.
"No."
"Then I'll keep looking." He watched as Cassidy joined one of his wolves, Ed, and they headed toward the Andersons' house.
"Are you sure it's safe to leave him alive?" Ed asked as they walked away.
"Yeah, it'll be fine for now."
"Damn, Roy, I didn't think you were into guys."
It was the first time Ash had ever heard one of the wolves refer to Cassidy by his first name. The vampire ran his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture.
"Not sure that was actually what it looked like." Cassidy sounded embarrassed.
"I don't know, looked like you were making out with Ash instead of trying to kill him."
Cassidy actually laughed, though whatever he replied was lost to distance.
Only the hope that Cassidy would fulfil his promise to free him kept the demon from racing after the two and begging them to kill him. The emptiness he always felt was amplified a hundred times after a brief taste of connection. He licked blood from his lips and stood. He needed to get away from here in case the Andersons realized he was evading his orders, sloppy as they were. As he headed deeper into the pine forest, he hoped Cassidy wouldn't take too long to figure out a way to free him. That was one thing he knew about the vampire–half vampire–he kept his promises.
Chapter 25
Sofia
I stared at Alex. He stared back at me. We didn't say anything for a good hour, both barely moving. Finally, Alex pulled out his phone and frowned. "What is taking him so long?"
He got up and stalked out of the room. I didn't move for another few minutes, but Alex didn't come back. Tense, all my senses alert for sounds he might be returning, I twisted my hand until I was again holding the knife.
The blade whispered across my arm, and I winced, pretty sure I had just nicked myself. Fuck, it was sharp. Magic surged, and I panicked, hoping no one could sense it.
I managed to twist the blade enough that it sawed against the inside of the ropes binding me to the chair. The angle of my wrist hurt, but the ropes parted easily, and soon, I had an arm free.
Tears sprang to my eyes. I didn't have time to freak out any more than I already was. I quickly sawed at the rest of the ropes holding me to the chair and sprang to my feet. The door opened just as I reached for the handle. Alex's surprised expression registered only long enough for me to lunge forward with the knife. I felt almost no resistance at all as it slid into Alex's stomach. His eyes widened, and he folded over the knife, crying out.
"Shit!" I jerked the knife back and ran. I was in a hallway and headed toward a T-junction. I didn't know where to go, but I had to keep moving. The hair tingled on the back of my neck, and I flattened myself to the floor just as green tinted magic streamed over my head. It slammed into
