“Condescending and arrogant.” She murmured.
I shrugged. “Older and wiser.”
“Still an egomaniac.”
“Anyway, each tattoo had variations. Spells are individual and learned over time. Just like a witch’s grimoire the incantations are slightly different.”
“So a rising sun.” Jane explored beyond my tattoo and traced her fingers over my skin.
“You’re teasing little one.”
“I’m sure you could compel me to stop if you really wanted me too.”
“Yeah, as much as I’d like that, it’s not what I do.”
“Never?”
It was a good thing I wasn’t looking at Jane when she asked me never. How did I lie to her? Again? Her life would have been so much different had she died and not lived that night. Tonight would have never been on the table and my brother, my lying scheming brother would have never brought her back to me.
“Bash?”
I turned to look at her. I listened to the fragile beat of her heart, the way her eyes went soft and dilated with arousal, or fear. Heck, she should be fearful of me.
Smiling I reached for her hands and held them in my own, and then I lied.
“No. Never.”
Her brow furrowed and she pulled away slightly. “Odd.” She murmured.
“What’s odd?” I felt the thumping inside my dead empty chest. She made me feel so many things I’d been denied of feeling for so long. Hate. Love. And now the very fear of losing her because I knew she knew. How could she not know?
“Nothing. I’m tired. Lay with me?” She laid back on the bedding and padded the space next to her.
“Of course, lamb.” We rooted in the bedding until we were comfortable. Her head on my chest and my hands weaving in and out of her hair until she stilled in slumber leaving me to contemplate how I could kill my brother for doing this.
15
The first cut is the deepest.
JANE
He lied to me.
Bash was lying and I didn’t know why. How could he look me in the eye and say he’d never compelled me? His hands moved through my hair and I focused on breathing slowly to mimic sleep. I had to get out of here, but I didn’t know how to trick a vampire as old and as strong as Bash.
“I know you’re still awake my love. I know you don’t believe me. I’ll tell you what happened the night we met, but not tonight. Please just give me one last night where I don’t have to hold the truth like a burning coal in my hand.”
He cupped my cheek pulling me in closer. His eyes tracked mine as I fell deeper under his spell. “My beautiful, frail human. Do you understand that you’d be trading the opportunity for a handful of years of happiness for a cold eternal existence? No warmth, no love and all for an itching hunger that never abates.”
Nodding, I said, “I know.” I did know, and still I wanted it with his lies.
“I’d given this decision so much thought and I wonder how you haven’t gotten up and left me stark raving mad from all of this.” He waved his hand in the air.
“I guess because you calm the ache in my heart.” I rubbed that terrible spot that plagued me. “I know you were lying to me earlier and I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt if you tell me, just tell me whatever it is.”
Bash swallowed and placed his fingertips over my temples.
“I didn’t want to lie, but it seemed so much easier.”
“The truth is hard, but it’s worth it don’t you think?” I cupped his hands to the sides of my head and closed my eyes letting him do whatever it was he needed to do. I felt warmth and then pain, so much pain as if my life had drained away or bled out if the memories I saw were real. I’d reached the part of my terrible dreams where he slid the knife out of my chest and pain made sense. I didn’t have time to process the rest because the bedroom door burst open and Dorian prowled inside a little crazed, and pacing back and forth. A dagger in his hand dripping with black liquid was aimed my heart.
“Dorian, what are you doing here?”
“I can’t watch you do this a third time.” He said wildly brandishing the dagger. Bash looked at me and then at the door that led toward the bathroom suite. He wanted me to run inside and lock myself away. I couldn’t do it. I’d just gotten him and if Dorian was crazy enough to kill him, I would die with him.
“Brother, what have I said about playing with your food?” Dorian cocked his head stepping closer.
“You took my wife and then Aileen. I won’t let you take Jane.” Bash held his arms wide to protect me. I wrapped the sheet around my body and crawled up to my knees in bed.
“You mean the bitch who turned us and then the witch who branded us?”
“You benefited greatly from the daylight marking.” Bash tried to talk sense into him but it wasn’t working.
“Ah, and there’s the picky eater now. How does your fair lamb taste?”
“Do not speak her name.” Bash slammed him into wall using his speed to attack him quickly. The wall dented and a painting crashed to the floor. I would have cared it was an original Monet if not for the weapons being brandished.
“Careful, such anger will leave you with an upset stomach.” Dorian continued his taunts and push Bash backward. The force knocked him to the bed and I fell from knees to all fours.
“Is this what it’s supposed to be? A fight to the death? You’re no match for me. Younger. Weaker. Less.” Bash snarled.
Dorian entertained the thought for a moment before coming back at Bash.
“Why don’t you tell her the truth, dear brother?”
“What is he talking about, Bash? What haven’t you told me?” I implored for either of them
