Daemon stood, his hands fisted at his sides, his eyes darkening to midnight. “But you can do this from my home.”
“No. I need…” To make amends with Katie. To help her readjust to hunter life. “I need to do this, Daemon. For now.”
His jaw ticked. “You’ll need blood.”
Swallowing hard, she motioned to the kitchen. “I can get hospital blood like you do.”
His face remained hard and unyielding. She knew he would fight her on it, but she wasn’t backing down.
To her surprise and disappointment, he bowed his head, acquiescing. “So be it, Tezra. Your home is mine when you choose to return.”
“No,” Maison said, his own voice dark and committed.
Her mouth dropped in astonishment.
Daemon waved his hand to silence his friend without taking his severe gaze off Tezra.
Atreides objected next. “You can’t let them—”
Daemon silenced him with a glare.
Atreides glowered back but bowed his head.
Voltan straightened his tall stature. “I’ll escort the ladies to where they wish to go.”
“Bernard and Patrico can,” Tezra countered, wanting to completely cut her ties with the vampires if this was going to work. Tears pricked her eyes, and she was unable to look at Daemon.
“Bernard and Patrico will go with you, but Voltan will take you,” Daemon said, then vanished. Not a kiss, a hug or a word of goodbye.
Well, what did she expect? She’d cut him to the quick, but he had all the vampires of America to console him. The notion didn’t dissolve the block of ice wedged in her heart.
“Let’s go.” Tezra’s cheeks grew wet before she reached the front door.
Life without him would be pure hell, but life with him wouldn’t be much better, knowing how much she needed to help Katie readapt to her life.
Katie grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Thank you for doing this for me.”
Well, that cinched the notion Katie didn’t want to stay with the vampires.
Bernard escorted them to the SUV parked in the circular drive. “There’s always me. As I vaguely recall, you once said if I hadn’t taken you hostage and secured you at Atreides’s house, you would have married me.”
Tezra raised her brows. “I thought Daemon told Atreides to wipe your mind. And besides, I said, ‘If you hadn’t taken me hostage.’ After the deed was done it was a little late for backtracking.” Tezra glanced back at the house, her heart lost in a quagmire of stinging nettles. No one watched from the windows. It was as if Daemon had cut her loose, and she was already dead to him.
Couldn’t he understand how she needed to make amends to Katie? How much harm that needed to be undone? It was the best option, so why did her heart ache as if the bullet was still lodged in the center of it?
***
“Dammit, Daemon,” Atreides said to him later that night while Daemon poured himself another glass of wine. “Other ancients might go after her.”
“Why do you think I sent Voltan with them?” Daemon couldn’t shake loose the anger he felt that she would decide this and not be open to his suggestion to stay with him at the house. On the other hand, he knew she wouldn’t be able to stay away from him for long, and that gave him a sliver of sinister pleasure. She was bound to him, body and soul, and the sooner she learned this, the better for both of them. Yet, he still couldn’t censor the irritation running through his blood that she’d leave him. Daemon had every intention of watching her himself most of the time, not trusting that anyone could protect her like he would.
“She expected you to fight more to keep her.” Atreides collapsed on the sofa.
Maison poured himself a glass of wine. “I did too, though I knew when you silenced me you had a plan.”
“She needs her freedom. And to take care of Katie for the time being. Without my interference.” Daemon took a deep breath. “She would have fought me on this until I gave in. But she’ll come back to me.”
Atreides leaned back against the sofa. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that. What if she feels our people won’t accept her? That she’s better off with Katie for several years? Most of our people slighted her. Ralton even shoved her into Lichorus’s path, but I was trying to keep Mustaphus from reaching Tezra at the time.”
Daemon’s blood heated. “And?”
“Ralton is dead.”
Daemon paced, unable to control his feelings. “The same with four others who tried to stop me from interceding on her behalf. Some of Krustalus’s rebels. Bernard was on hand to deal with others. And Maison…” He bowed to his friend for his help with more. “What about Anatola? She helped to lure Tezra to Lichorus.”
“In custody,” Maison said, his voice firm. “Your mate, whether you choose to call her that or not, rules beside you. Any who try to harm her in my jurisdiction will be punished accordingly.”
His mate. Daemon couldn’t deny Tezra was that for him and much more, a part of his soul that made him whole. “I want Tezra to decide Anatola’s fate.”
“As you wish, my prince.” Maison finished his wine. “I take it you want her watched at all times.”
“Always.”
“What about when she has a craving for a blood bond?” Atreides asked.
“You heard the lady. She will buy packaged blood.” Daemon allowed himself a small smile, the dark side of his nature appearing.
Knowingly, his brother and friend chuckled.
“You didn’t tell her bagged blood won’t quench some of the bloodlust or sexual craving she’ll have after a few days of drinking it, did you?” Atreides asked.
“I’m sure she would have thought it was a ploy to get her to stay with me,” Daemon said darkly.
“Three days, a week at the most,” Maison said.
Even three days would be the longest time of his life, Daemon thought, hoping like hell the stubborn woman would quickly come to her senses. If not, he’d come up with another plan.
Chapter Sixteen
A week after Tezra had left Daemon, Atreides downed the rest of his glass of wine and clunked the glass on Daemon’s bar while Maison, Voltan and Daemon looked on. “I don’t understand why you are waiting so damned long to make Tezra yours. If you don’t want her—”
Daemon raised his hand to silence his brother. “She will come around. Katie’s adjusting as well, making hunter friends, doing great in her training, but Tezra’s afraid to leave her alone.”
Maison shook his head. “She is as stubborn as you, my prince.”
“Do you want me to talk some sense into the huntress?” Voltan asked, his brows raised.
“She will come around,” Daemon repeated, annoyed his people didn’t trust in his judgment.
“It’s been a whole week,” Atreides reminded him as if he didn’t know, “and she hasn’t made any effort to contact you. Even Katie says Tezra has forbidden her to speak of you. The huntress won’t capitulate.”
Daemon turned to Voltan. “Are you ready to accompany me to the hunter’s home for troubled teens?”
Voltan’s dark expression took on a lighter, more humorous air. “Most assuredly, my lord.”
“Need my help?” Maison asked.
Daemon patted Voltan’s shoulder. “I’m certain we’ll get the results we want without too much of a fuss.”
“I’ll be near Tezra’s apartment, watching out for her and Katie, if anyone cares,” Atreides said, and vanished.
“He wants her for his own, Daemon, and if you don’t claim her, he wishes to,” Maison said.
“He knows he can’t have her. We’re to meet Bernard at the home. I’ll let you know how it goes later.”
Daemon and Voltan sifted to the white brick, sprawling one-story building that looked like a retirement home for senior citizens except bars covered all the windows. Manicured lawns and expertly-trimmed shrubs gave the illusion of a well-ordered and pleasant enough place. Had the running of the home been changed for the better over the years? Daemon hoped s
o for the sake of the teens currently incarcerated within.
Bernard greeted them at the front door, his look as dark as Daemon felt. As soon as Voltan, the hunter and Daemon entered the administration office, a snippy, officious woman snapped at them. “Visiting hours are from three to four. You’ll have to come back then.”
“I will see Mr. Worth now,” Daemon said, annoyed he’d been unable to reach the administrator over the phone in the past few days.
The woman’s green eyes narrowed, and she pursed her already colorless thin lips. “Do you have an appointment?”
“He doesn’t need an appointment,” Voltan growled.
“Daemon, prince of the American vampire clans is here about human rights violations. As the SCU-appointed hunter bodyguard for the victim who was incarcerated here, I represent both Tezra Campbell and the SCU in this matter. Now kindly tell Mr. Worth we are here to see him, or things could get rather nasty,” Bernard said.
The woman’s eyes shifted from Bernard to Daemon and her ruddy face took on a gray sheen. “Mr. Worth is in an important meeting. Have a seat and I’ll be right back.”
She stomped out of the office and down the hall in three-inch heels, and Daemon shook his head. “Things could get rather nasty?” he asked Bernard.
Bernard’s spine stiffened. “I don’t need to extend fangs to show how angry I can get. If Tezra had ever told me what happened to her here, believe me, I would have straightened this place out years ago.”
Within a matter of minutes, two heavily armed security guards arrived, with no sign of Mr. Worth.
“We do not need an escort,” Daemon curtly responded to the show of force, “unless you’re here to protect us from your incarcerated teens.”
“We’re here to show you out, peaceably if we can, or not. Your choice,” one of the stony-faced men said.
Bernard took a step forward, but Daemon motioned to Voltan to stop him. “We came here in a civilized manner, but I can see the home and the way the staff manages it hasn’t changed. We’ll take this to those with more authority. No sense in dealing with peons.”
“But—” Bernard objected.
“Bring Bernard,” Daemon ordered Voltan. “We go to the SCU top brass this time.”
Several hours later after wrangling a meeting with an SCU board of inquiry, Daemon, Voltan and Bernard sat before a group of five hunters and five huntresses.
Every one of them appeared as though they were carved from marble, their looks harsh and unyielding, but Daemon sensed they did not feel as self-assured as they pretended.
“These are the human rights violations I had mentioned to you over the phone concerning the home. I believe you have the jurisdiction and ability to right these wrongs, and I will leave it up to you.” But only if they did what Daemon expected of them.
Voltan passed out copies of Tezra’s journal to the ten-member board.
While the men and women perused the papers, one of the women identified herself as Ingrid and said, “You are aware troubled teens often lie about matters such as these.”
“The evidence supports Tezra’s allegations. Every time she attempted to see her sister, she was returned to the home and put in the hole, as the home calls it. A woman named Elizabeth Peterson let the rogue vampire Krustalus into the hole and this vampire fed on Tezra several times, claiming her for his own. Tezra writes about the vampire, but didn’t know his name at the time. How can you condone the actions of the home’s staff?”
“We will conduct a thorough investigation of these allegations,” Ingrid said, “but I just wanted to make you aware that juveniles placed there are not the most trusted of our hunter corps.”
“You say this, though Tezra’s only crime was suspecting that a vampire murdered her parents and trying to prove her allegations. For this ‘crime’ she was placed in an abusive home when she could have lived with her aunt’s friend who pleaded with you to allow her to take her in.”
Ingrid’s face remained hard. Most of the board members stopped reading the papers and focused their attention on Daemon.
Though he attempted to keep a professional and diplomatic posture, he was certain the reaction of the members meant his tactful persona was slipping.
A couple of the men shifted slightly so they could access their sheathed swords. Bernard glowered at them as if to intimidate them to just try something. Voltan pressed his giant hands against the table, readying himself to leap from his chair.
Daemon’s voice grew dark and deadly. “Report to me when you have your findings. You may try to dismiss Tezra as an unstable, troubled teen and not worthy of your concern, but she is now quite the heroine in every SCU circle across the States. I have never been one to rely on the media for support, but try my patience in this matter, and the abuses she suffered will become national knowledge.” He gave Ingrid an elusive smile and bowed his head. “Have a nice day.”
Voltan seized Bernard’s arm, and the three of them transported to Daemon’s house. Bernard paced across the floor, scowling while he slammed his fist into the palm of his hand. “Ingrid and her staff better do what’s right.”
Voltan leaned against the fireplace mantel. “They would not defy Prince Daemon in this matter. That Ingrid woman will see to it that the home is thoroughly cleansed. I’d bet my best sword on it.”
Atreides channeled a message to Daemon. “Carissus, leader of South Carolina, has just arrived, trying to obtain an audience with Tezra. He thinks maybe you might consider giving her to him if Tezra is agreeable. Katie won’t let him in the apartment, but she wants to speak to you again about Tezra.”
“She only has to ask.” But Daemon sure wished she could influence Tezra to return to him without his interference. “Voltan will bring Katie here.”
Within the hour, Daemon met with Katie in the greatroom while Bernard excused himself and Voltan checked on the guard detail.
“How is Tezra?” Daemon asked his usual question, and he knew he’d get the same response from Katie.
“You know how she is. She’s going mad. Make her come back to you. She’s impossible to live with! But she still thinks I need her help. I’m fine, but she refuses to believe me. She thinks if she returns to you, I’ll fall apart or something. Tell her I’ll be all right. Take her back, Make her return to you.”
“I vowed to leave her be until she comes to her senses. I don’t want to force my decision on her.”
Katie growled. “Force her, already. She can’t live without you, and I can’t bear to live with her the way she is. Besides, your place is a hundred times nicer and safer, and potential vampire suitors would quit harassing us.”
“She can’t hold out more than a few days. Though quite frankly, I didn’t think she’d make it three.” He took a deep breath. “Give it a few more days. If she doesn’t see the light, I’ll take matters into my own hands.”
“You’ll have to, Daemon. I don’t think there’s anyone any more stubborn than she is. As to another matter, Atreides told me you were straightening out the home because of the way they treated Tezra, which affected me horribly too. I have to thank you. Oh, and another thing. This morning while I was in hunter swordsmanship class, I overheard a huntress whisper to another that my dad had been in trouble with the SCU. Could you check into it?”
At once, Daemon feared what he might uncover. In no way did he want to learn that the girls’ father had been a rogue. He bowed his head. “I will let you know what I find.” And he prayed his findings would not devastate the sisters once he learned the truth.
***
Two days later, Tezra walked out of the shower in her new apartment and heard the doorbell ringing. Yanking a towel around her, she cursed all the way to the front door, her mood foul, on edge, but no matter how much she tried to improve it, she couldn’t find a way.
Looking through the peephole, she saw Katie standing on the porch. Tezra jerked the door open, spun around and headed back through her living room.
“What are you doing home ag
ain? Aren’t you supposed to be in school? And where’s your apartment key? Lose it again?”
Katie didn’t answer her questions, instead started in with a lecture. “For solving the policemen’s murders, you’re a hero to the police force, Tezra. Not only that, but the SCU has named you their guest of honor at the ball next week.”
Tezra studied her, then nodded. She should be happy. She glanced at the stacks of letters from SCU investigators all over the States, piled high on their coffee table, congratulating her for a job well done.
The Chief of Police had stepped down and been arrested for his complicity in his sister’s murder. The District Attorney’s office had charged Jane Cramer’s husband with a murder-for-hire scheme.
Katie seemed to be doing well, but Tezra couldn’t shake loose the worry that she’d leave and her sister would return to her shell.
For twelve whole days, she’d been drinking hospital blood when she felt she needed it, but something was the matter with her. Every time she got close to humans, her attention shifted to their damned pulse. The distraction was making it difficult to concentrate on her investigative work. Not only that, but she couldn’t stop thinking about the way Daemon made love to her, his tongue tangling with hers, his fingers stroking her nub, the way he sucked hard on her nipples. She barely had enough sleep, just like when she’d tried to chase down Krustalus, and her mood suffered for it.
“Daemon asked when you were going to decide about Anatola’s disposition.”
Tezra stared at the floor for a minute, then lifted her head. “She wanted me to die, but she stated she’d support Daemon’s rule. How many more vampires feel the same way, but he hasn’t imprisoned them for their views?”
“Yes, but she led you to Lichorus to be murdered. The others didn’t.”
Tezra shrugged, figuring she didn’t have anything to gain by making the woman hate her more, nor could she afford alienating others who were the woman’s friends. “She did me a big favor by letting me know where Lichorus was. Tell Daemon to release her, as long as she still intends to support his rule.”