Saeed’s breath stalled in his chest. So many nights of confusion, of worry, of second-guessing his own mind and beliefs. In a single sentence Cerys had made everything so clear. He wanted to laugh at the irony of it all. Beyond that, it once again coaxed thoughts of violence against Rin to the surface of Saeed’s mind. Of course she hadn’t tethered him.
She had no soul with which to bind his.
How had the bastard managed it? Not even a mage could steal a soul, which meant he had to have found another enaid dwyn to do it for him. One of Cerys’s own had betrayed her and the injustice of it all made him want to find the fae responsible and dole out a swift and violent punishment.
He reached up and took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head to force her to look at him. “Tell me everything.”
Cerys’s eyes shone like starlight. For a moment, Saeed lost himself in the crystal-like depths. Her flame-red hair framed her delicate face in a wild tangle, and he wanted nothing more than to put his mouth to hers.
“We have somewhere to be.” Her jaw once again took on that stubborn set that let Saeed know any attempt to make her talk would fail. “You’re not beholden to Rin, but I am. When he gives me a task, he expects it to be carried out in a timely manner. If we’re late, or miss our opportunity, it’s not you that will pay the price for it.”
She’d been Rin’s property for thousands of years. Not even Saeed could fathom what that must’ve been like. He could be patient. He could help her complete whatever this task was that Rin had set out for her. Whatever Saeed could do to give her peace, to make her existence just a little easier, he’d gladly do. Anything for her.
“Let’s go then,” Saeed said. “But Cerys, don’t think I’ll let this matter simply go. We have much to discuss.”
Her brow furrowed. She didn’t agree to revisit the conversation, but neither did she deny him. It was a good sign. He brushed his fingertips along her jawline as he released his hold on her chin. Her gaze went liquid, her full lips parted as a quick breath slipped from between them. An electric sizzle arced in the space that separated them. Saeed’s fangs tingled in his gums, his gut curled into a tight ball, and his muscles tensed. No other female had ever had this sort of power over him, intense and absolute. Again, he reminded himself that he didn’t need the tether to prove Cerys was meant for him. He could only hope that in time she would come to realize what he already knew. In the meantime, he’d do his damnedest to convince her.
“Rin wants you to learn the ropes.” Cerys walked just a beat ahead of him, her shoulders thrown back, spine straight. “And with Rin, the learning curve doesn’t exist. We’ve been at it for a week. He’s going to expect you to know what’s what by now. If you can’t hack it…”
“He’ll cut me loose?” Saeed ventured.
Cerys turned her head to look at him. Her bright gaze carried with it the chill of winter. “Cut you loose? He’ll more likely cut out your heart.”
She wanted to scare him, but Saeed wasn’t afraid. “I’m not concerned. I can do what he needs me to do.”
“You say that so easily.” Sadness lent an edge to Cerys’s usually smooth voice.
“I might be newly turned,” Saeed replied. “But I’m far from young.”
Their surroundings transformed from retail to residential apartment buildings as they headed farther south. They cut through a back alley and hit Belmont Avenue, moving away from the more affluent parts of Capitol Hill toward downtown. Streetlights cast eerie shadows on the sidewalk and the other pedestrians avoided them. Saeed was certain the pair of them painted quite a menacing picture. At least he could be assured no one would bother Cerys.
Her voice broke through the silence once again. “How old are you?”
Saeed welcomed her curiosity. He wanted her to know everything about him, and likewise he was greedy to learn everything he could about her. “I was born in the year 1075.”
He let her chew on that tidbit of information. He wouldn’t offer up anything unless she asked for it first. He wanted her to engage with him, not simply listen to him talk. A wry smile curved her lips as she gave him a sidelong glance.
“I’m older than you,” she said with a grin.
He knew that. He’d seen glimpses of her life through the Collective that spanned thousands of years. He returned her smile. “How much older?”
She allowed a small laugh. “A lot older.”
“Are you suggesting then, that I give you the respect due my elders?”
Her eyes went wide with her feigned outrage. She reached out and gave him a playful shove. “I might be your elder, but you are definitely old enough to know you should never give any female shit about her age.”
He liked her this way. Her guard down, mind open. He enjoyed her easy expressions, the blinding brightness of her smile, and the soft lilt of her voice. Through the memories of other vampires, he’d seen her dressed in so many different garbs. Flowing togas, corseted gowns, soft satin … The modern attire she wore now seemed more fitting to her personality. The tight skinny jeans hugged every lush curve, over her thighs, her shapely calves, disappearing at her delicate ankles into short brown leather biker boots. A leather jacket of the same shade skimmed her narrow waist and covered the flowing white top that hung past the jacket and swayed with every step she took. A long necklace hung between her breasts, nearly reaching her stomach. And at her wrist she wore the same leather cuff she’d removed the day she offered her vein to him. He’d never once seen her with her hair pulled back. Throughout the years in every vision the Collective offered him, she wore it loose and wild around her shoulders. She might’ve hardened throughout the decades. The way she dressed might’ve changed. But her beautiful flame red hair remained the same. Saeed longed to touch it. To let his fingers fall through the silky strands. His hand twitched at his side and balled into a tight fist. He had to bide his time. Patience was his only option.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t shake the feeling he was somehow racing against the clock.
“You don’t look a day over twenty.” Saeed’s lips twitched as he fought a smile.
Cerys laughed. Gods, how he loved the sound of it. Like warm rain on a summer day. “You’re damn right I don’t.”
Something else had weighed on Saeed ever since his second conversation with Rin: the mage’s indication that Cerys was far more delicate than anyone thought. As though she were an expendable resource he worried might soon run out. Fingers of fear reached into Saeed’s chest to squeeze his heart. Was that why he couldn’t shake the feeling that time wasn’t on his side?
“Rin seems to think you need protection.” He made sure to keep his tone conversational.
Cerys snorted. “I don’t know if you noticed Saeed, but most of the supernatural community avoid me like the plague. No one wants to come within a foot of an enaid dwyn. They all worry that if I so much as touch them, they’ll lose their souls. The last thing I need is protection.”
“It can’t be that simple, can it?”
Cerys cocked a brow. “I’ve touched you.” A corner of her full lips hitched. “Did you lose your soul?”
“Ah, but you see, I have no soul to offer you. Therefore, I’m immune to your charms.”
Cerys looked at him as though she already knew he didn’t have his soul, though she didn’t confirm it. Whether or not she already realized it didn’t matter, though. Everything he told her, every bit of information provided, was a tiny building block toward gaining her understanding and trust. He wanted to ease her into the notion that she was his mate and give her what she needed to come to the conclusion he’d reached months ago.
“It’s been so long since we’ve kept the company of vampires.” The words came so quietly Saeed strained to hear them.
Saeed sensed her words weren’t meant for him. Cerys’s use of the word we, as though she and Rin were somehow a set, caused his chest to burn.
“How many vampires are there?” Cerys hooked a left on Olive Way and Saeed followed. “Everyone speculates, but rumors are never accurate.”
And for that, Mikhail could be grateful. The vampire king had no desire to let their numbers be known. He’d rather the supernatural community continued to speculate. Saeed wouldn’t lie to Cerys. She was his mate and he knew he could trust her.
“Five, including Mikhail, in his coven. Three, including myself, in what was my coven. I believe there are two more but I know very little of them. Who knows how many more there are now. Mikhail moves slowly, though. He is a male who respects order.”
“Ten vampires from one in a little over a year.” Cerys paused outside of a rundown building. She looked up to the second story window and Saeed sensed they’d reached their destination. “Doesn’t seem very slow to me.”
She had a point. Time moved at a different pace for supernatural creatures. A year passed in the blink of an eye. It was a wonder the supernatural community as a whole wasn’t more wary of Mikhail and suspicious of what his plans were.
Cerys turned to face him. “All right Saeed, time to bare your fangs. You ready?”
He flashed a wide smile. “I’m always ready.”
* * *
Saeed painted quite the intimidating picture. His seductive smile showcased the dual points of his fangs and Cerys shivered at the memory of them breaking the skin at her wrist. If it were possible, his raw sensuality made him appear even more dangerous. More powerful. She doubted he’d complete tonight’s task with nothing more than his sex appeal as a weapon, however. Of course, had it been her that Rin needed to keep in line, it sure as hell would’ve gotten the job done.
“I don’t suppose you’re going to tell me what’s expected of me once we get inside?”
The deep rumble of his voice made it damn near impossible to concentrate. She wondered if he did it on purpose. Used that dark charm to throw her off kilter. Somehow, she doubted Saeed would be quite so sadistic. That was more Rin’s speed.
“Several months ago, Rin did a favor for a rogue werewolf who’d deserted his pack to avoid their justice. Don’t ask me what he did,” she said before Saeed could ask. “Because I have no idea. All I know is Rin gave him a charm that would make him impossible to track. In return, the werewolf owed Rin a favor. When Rin tried to collect, the werewolf refused. We’re here to remind him of the importance of keeping a vow.”
“Why remind him at all?” Saeed asked. “If he reneged on the deal, why doesn’t Rin simply reverse the charm? Or turn him over to his pack?”
Cerys shook her head. If only it were that easy. “That’s not how Rin operates. There’s no reneging. When you enter into an agreement with Rin, you see it through to the end. Period. If you refuse, he gives a gentle reminder as to why it’s important to hold up your end of the bargain. If you refuse again…” Cerys’s voice trailed off. She didn’t want to finish the sentence. Didn’t want say out loud exactly why she was so valuable to Rin.
Saeed finished the sentence for her. “He sends his soul thief to exact a steeper payment.”
She should have known he’d force her past her comfort zone to address what she didn’t want to talk about. Somehow, Saeed seemed to know her better than she knew herself. As though they’d been acquainted for much longer than a couple of weeks. She didn’t like it. Didn’t like to think she could be bared in that way—left so vulnerable—to anyone. It was bad enough that Rin had power over her. She didn’t want Saeed to hold any sway over her as well.
“He does.” Cerys looked away. “And once Rin has your soul, you’re his slave until such a time as he sees fit to cut you loose.”
Storm clouds gathered in Saeed’s dark gaze and silver flashed in his irises like lightning. His lip pulled back into a snarl and a low growl gathered in his chest. “And how many of these slaves has Rin released from his service?”
Their eyes met and Saeed held her gaze. “None,” she answered on a breath.
Silver completely swallowed the brown of Saeed’s eyes. His anger caused Cerys’s stomach to rocket up into her throat and she did her best to swallow it down and put her own encroaching fear on the backburner. Strange, the absence of her soul had allowed her some measure of apathy over the many centuries she’d been without it. But the more time she spent with Saeed, the more she realized he evoked something in her so akin to an emotional response that it left her shaken. It shouldn’t be possible, and yet he’d managed it with ease.
“Then I think we should do our best to convince the werewolf that it’s in his best interest to repay Rin as soon as possible.”
“That’s what you’re here for,” Cerys agreed.
“Why is that exactly?” She’d hoped he wouldn’t pry too deep, but Cerys should have known a male like Saeed would never blindly do what he was told without asking a few questions. “It seems to me that Rin would prefer to collect as many slaves as possible.”
“If he could manage it, he would,” Cerys said darkly. Rin’s hunger for power was insatiable. If he could, he’d own the entire world.
“Why can’t he?” Saeed’s voice thickened with suspicion. “He has you.”
Nope. It was impossible to pull anything over on the vampire. He didn’t miss a beat. “Because even I have my limits,” Cerys said. “The more I take, the more of myself I sacrifice. Rin is very selective of whose souls I take for this very reason. It’s not like there are many enaid dwyn in the world.”
“It hurts you?” Saeed’s voice broke on the words as if it caused him pain.
“It’s killing me,” Cerys said with a rueful laugh. “But what does it matter? I’ve been dead for a long time.”
Tired of the conversation, of her own damned tragic life, of trying to keep it together while Saeed’s gaze devoured her, Cerys took off toward the building’s stoop.
“Cerys!”
She started at the command in Saeed’s tone. She turned abruptly to face him and was taken aback by the sheer rage and determination that shone in every detail of his handsome face. “I’m going to free you of this prison.” The words were spoken with the sanctity of a vow. “I promise.”
Her heart pounded with so much force that it sent the sound of her rushing blood to her ears. Cerys turned and headed up the stairs, too afraid to acknowledge Saeed’s words. She couldn’t allow herself even the slightest glimmer of hope. It was too dangerous, the possibility of disappointment too great. Most of all, though, she couldn’t allow herself to feel anything for Saeed. Whether he liked him or not, if Rin found out, he’d kill Saeed. And he’d make Cerys watch as he ran a stake through his heart. Detachment was her only option. That or death. And it would only take a few more souls to get the job done.
“What’s the werewolf’s name?” Saeed asked from behind her.
“Nick,” Cerys replied. “Why?” It’s not like Saeed needed it. This wasn’t a pleasant social visit. Rin had sent them to lean on the werewolf, plain and simple.
“What time does Rin expect you back?”
What was up with the weird questions? It was moments like this that reminded Cerys that Saeed’s mind wasn’t exactly on solid footing. She pulled a lock pick from her pocket and jimmied open the door to Nick’s building. She paused inside the open doorway. “Tonight? Last call.” She hated that Rin deemed it necessary to give her a curfew. If she wasn’t back to the club by closing, there’d be hell to pay.
“Good. That gives me five uninterrupted hours with you.”
Huh? The vampire was definitely off his rocker. Especially if he considered shaking down a rogue werewolf as uninterrupted time with her. Cerys shook her head as she crossed the foyer and hit the stairs for the second story. “Not sure how you’re expecting tonight to go down Saeed, but we’ll be occupied over the next few hours spending some quality time with a stubborn werewolf.”
Saeed let out a soft chuckle from behind her. “I don’t plan to be here for more than about five minutes.”
“Well, that’s optimistic.” Werewolves were notoriously stubborn. Aggressive. Prone to fights. They were her least favorite assignments because someone always ended up getting hurt before Cerys got her point across. “I was here last week and it took me three hours just to track him down after he bailed out the window.”
“No one’s bailing.” Saeed’s confidence was both impressive and a little misguided. “Five minutes. Guaranteed.”
A guarantee, huh? Cerys couldn’t wait to see how this went down.