“Then what’s the problem?”
I crossed my arms. “The problem, as I said before, is the fact he’s decided I’d make the perfect mother for his children.”
Quinn seemed to contemplate this for a few seconds, then said softly, “There’s nothing wrong with wanting children with the woman you love.”
“No, there’s not,” I agreed sourly. “Only we’re not soul mates and he doesn’t love me. He just wants to implant me with his kid.”
Quinn glanced at me. “You don’t want this?”
“No. I told you, we’re not soul mates. I enjoy the sex, but that’s it. And I’m certainly not about to risk my life having a kid with someone I don’t love.”
“Why would you be risking your life?”
I sighed. “Because of what I am. I can’t conceive naturally, and my specialist doesn’t know if I’ll ever be able to carry to term. He’s even suggested that pregnancy could actually kill me.”
His surprise rippled around me. “Why?”
“Because recent results suggest my system might consider the fetus a foreign body and attack it. And, in the process, perhaps kill me.” I shrugged. “He is of the opinion that if I want children, it could only happen with the help of drugs and under strict medical supervision. Even then, there is no guarantee.”
“Not something you’d risk for someone you didn’t love.”
“Exactly.”
He paused for a beat, sweeping onto the Tullamarine Freeway, then asked, “Do you want children?”
“Yes. If I ever meet the right wolf.”
“You’re young yet. Plenty of time.”
I’d heard the same thing from Rhoan many times, and I didn’t believe it now any more than I did then. What wolf wanted a women who might never be able to give him children? The ideal of family, of passing one’s genes on to the next generation, was as ingrained into the werewolf culture as the moon dances and sexual freedom. We could no more help the desire to breed when we found our soul mates than we could the urge to celebrate the rising moon. It was part of what we were
Which is the other reason why Rhoan and I had been allowed to survive. Half-breeds or not, we were at least another generation in a pack that had fewer and fewer pups every year. Our genes were pack genes, even if watered down
Quinn swept the Porsche into the middle lane and pressed the accelerator. The car shot forward to something resembling light speed
“There is a speed limit on this freeway,” I said dryly
“It’s after midnight. Can’t think of a better time or place to test this baby out.” He glanced at me, the blue lenses in his eyes gleaming brightly under the freeway lights. “So basically, the problem is the fact he won’t accept no for an answer. Why don’t you just use telepathy to force him to accept it?”
I frowned at him. “I can’t.”
“Because he’s blocked?”
“Because I’ve known him for two years. I can’t force my will on him like that.”
“As I said, why not? Sounds to me he’s trying to force
Well, yeah, but that was Talon. His wants had always come above everyone else’s. But using words and strength was far different than using psychic talents. Besides, if I did do that, I’d be no better than he was. “Telepathy is a defense. I refuse to use it for anything more.”
“Yet you used it at Moneisha just fine.”
“That’s different.”
“It’s not, you know.”
“Rescuing my brother is defense of pack, nothing more.”
“If you say so.” He glanced in the rearview mirror, then said, “That wolf doesn’t seem the type to accept his wishes being denied.”
“He’ll get over it.” Yet I remembered the look in his eyes, remembered his vow that he always got what he wanted, and wondered
I shifted in the seat and studied Quinn for a moment. “So what about you?”
He didn’t return my look. “What about me?”
“How long did it take for you to get over Eryn?”
His smile was both wry and bitter. “I think current evidence suggests I’m not.”
It certainly did. “So how long were you with her?”
“Nine months.”
“When did you discover what she was doing?”
His expression was grim. “Not nearly fast enough.” He hesitated, then added, “Four months ago.”
Only four months. No wonder he was still hurting. No wonder he was still so angry. “And how long has Eryn been assigned to the whorehouse?”
“Two months.” He shrugged. “It took time to buy her company.”
“And are you intending to leave her there?”
“Yes.”
“The punishment doesn’t fit the crime, you know.”
His sudden grin was savage. “She created her bed. Let her lie in it for eternity. I don’t care.”
The harshness of his words was a sharp reminder that this was a vampire I sat beside. A rare vampire, granted, in that he apparently still had the capability to feel, but a vampire all the same. And he could obviously be as cold and as cruel as any of his race
“If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have reacted so harshly,” I noted
He didn’t say anything, but we both knew I was right. He looked in the rearview mirror again, and a prickle of unease ran down my spine
“What’s wrong?” I twisted around, saw the distant flash of red-and-blue lights. “Cops or emergency services?”
“Cops, I think.”
I grinned. “So much for the theory that this was a perfect night to test this beastie’s speed.”
“True. But unlike you, I’m not above using my psychic skills to get me out of trouble.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You obviously haven’t read the papers lately.” Not that I actually had, either. Jack had told me the news over lunch one day
He glanced at me as he slowed. “What do you mean?”
“All police and emergency services have been issued with psychic deadeners as part of their everyday kits.”
He swore softly. I just kept on grinning. Behind us, the blue-and-red lights drew closer, revealing the candy colors of the police car. Quinn pulled over to the side of the freeway and two cops climbed out. One moved toward Quinn’s side, the other to mine
We both lowered our windows, and Quinn said, voice ultrapolite, “Is there a problem, Off—”
His words were cut off by an odd popping sound. He jerked wildly, then became still, and though my concern surged, I had no chance to see what was going on
Not with the barrel of a gun appearing two centimeters from the end of my nose
Chapter 10
“
What happened to the right to remain silent and all that crap? That they didn’t even bother to say the words meant they were after us specifically
