“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power,” I quoted Lao Tzu stoically with a tight jaw. Then, cocking my head to the side, I lifted my eyebrows and forced out a smile that told the vampire he hadn’t bested me.
Not by a long shot.
SIX
There was a momentary glimpse of surprise in Sinjin’s eyes before a smile of amusement overtook his lips. A second or so later, he withdrew from my wrist and licked the remnants of my blood from his mouth. With his eyes narrowed on me and his fangs extended, he appeared intimidating by anyone’s account. But, even worse, he was sexy.
God, Bryn, really? I berated myself. This asshole just fed on you, causing you a huge amount of pain, and you’re thinking he’s sexy? Really?!
I inwardly shook my head in disgust at myself. I must be losing my mind. Big time.
Even though I tried not to notice that Sinjin was an incredibly attractive man, the debate over whether or not he was sexy was moot. He was the epitome of sexy and there was no denying that. No matter how hard I tried. But, the fact that he was a complete and total bastard as well seemed to balance out his more estimable attributes.
We both watched a trickle of blood trailing from each of Sinjin’s fang marks on my wrist, as they coursed their way down my arm. I immediately focused on the two gaping holes and imagined them surrounded by a white, healing light. My wrist felt warm beneath my intent gaze, which meant it was working—I was healing myself. I watched as the holes in my flesh began knitting themselves back together. Another few seconds, and my wounds were just a thing of the past.
“Impressive,” Sinjin commented with a devil’s smile as he looked down at me from his imposing height. I wasn’t sure if it was just a trick of my eyes, but he appeared revived somehow. His cheeks seemed to have a certain healthy rosiness to them, which they hadn’t possessed before. If I hadn’t known better, I might have thought my blood was somehow invigorating him. But I knew enough of vampires to know that blood didn’t affect them in the same way that nutritious food did for humans. Blood was simply a means to an end for a vampire: pure sustenance and nothing more. And all types of blood had exactly the same effect for them—it wasn’t like one type was better than another.
Why then, did it seem like my blood was having some sort of reaction in Sinjin? Not only was there more color in his skin, which, even now, was continuing to build, but his eyes also seemed a brighter shade of light blue. Or maybe I was just imagining all of it …
“Are you all right, Bryn?” Jolie asked, facing me with a concerned look in her eyes.
“I’m fine,” I snapped in response, not appreciating anyone’s pity. I wasn’t used to seeing sympathy in other people’s eyes, and didn’t want anyone to start that crap now. I was strong and capable. There was no reason for anyone to feel sorry for me.
“Sinjin, how long will her blood last inside you for … tracking purposes?” Jolie continued. She was now facing the bastard of a vampire who was still looking at me like I was a Hershey’s kiss and he was on his period.
“Perhaps a fortnight,” Sinjin replied, his eyes still riveted on mine, narrowing on me with an expression of curiosity. Yes, Sinjin looked surprised. And I didn’t imagine surprise was something that happened to him very often. Meeting his gaze, I tried to read him, and breach that wall of defense again; but just as before, I was unsuccessful. However, I managed to pick up the tiniest afterthought from him. It was more like the whisper of a feeling. And that feeling, just as I’d discerned in his gaze, was surprise. As to why he was surprised, I had no clue.
“Two weeks?” Jolie repeated, breaking my concentration.
“Yes,” Sinjin answered, never pulling his attention from me. “At that time, necessity dictates my feeding from you again, my fierce, little pet.”
I didn’t say anything as I took a deep breath, despising the idea that Sinjin would feed on me again in the future, and most likely, every two weeks from here on out. It just heightened my need to escape my imprisonment. I still couldn’t understand why I hadn’t heard a peep from Luce. Even though I tried to reassure myself that whatever was or wasn’t happening was all part of his grand plan, it really didn’t lessen my worry or anxiety. Was it possible that I had inadvertently disappointed Luce in some way for which my punishment was abandonment? Had I been the only one left on the battlefield because he no longer considered me one of his people? The thoughts were too painful for me to bear, so I pushed them aside, focusing instead on my present predicament.
“Are we all done now?” I asked my sister haughtily, throwing my hands on my hips as I glared at her.
“Yes,” she answered in a small voice. I could tell by her ashen countenance that watching Sinjin feeding on me had probably hurt her more than it had me. And, again, I’m sorry I had to put you through this, Bryn, she added in thought. I hope you believe me when I say I never wanted to hurt you.
Don’t be sorry, I replied, unable to stomach the sincere look of pity I detected in her eyes. Being sorry doesn’t do either of us any good. The situation is what it is.
Jolie just nodded but didn’t say anything more. Figuring her silence was my cue, I started for the door, the vampire at my heels. “So is he going to be my shadow all night or what?” I asked, looking back at Jolie while spearing Sinjin with a harsh glare.
Jolie nodded, but sighed, as if she realized this situation was a touchy one at best. “Sinjin, would you mind moving from the main house to the other guest room, the one next to Bryn’s?” she asked.
“He’s moving in with me?” I demanded, my tone of voice revealing my displeasure. I shook my head against the thought.
“He’s your guardian,” Jolie responded, her jaw tightly clenched. I sensed Rand’s jubilant feelings at hearing the vampire was moving out of Kinloch Kirk and in with me. Well, at least someone liked this plan, because I, for one, did not.
Sinjin nodded at my sister, but only after giving me a broad grin that said he’d won. I felt my hands fisting at my sides, but I held my tongue. “Your wish is my command, my queen,” he said.
Jolie smiled at him gratefully. “I will arrange to have your things delivered this evening. if that’s all right?”
“Yes,” he responded before he looked at me again with a patronizing expression on his face. “What shall we plan for our first evening together, my little villain? Perhaps a pajama party? A movie night? Shall I provide the popcorn?”
I frowned at him, doing my best to keep my temper in check. The situation was what it was, so it did no good for me to whine about it. No, I would take my punishment in stride and I wouldn’t encourage Sinjin. “I’d rather be locked up in my room and allotted my privacy this evening,” I answered stonily.
I reached for the handle of the door, but Sinjin’s hand on mine stopped me. His touch sent shivers down my arm, shivers which lodged in my stomach and made me feel strangely breathless. I had a feeling the shivers didn’t have a whole hell of a lot to do with his low body temperature either. Although I hated admitting it, there was something about Sinjin that just … did something to me. However, I refused to allow myself more time to ponder the subject to figure out just what that something was. Instead, I chalked my bizarre feelings toward the vampire up to my training as a warrior. Because the focus of my entire life was on defending my tribe, I hadn’t exactly had much experience with the opposite sex. Well, if I wanted to be perfectly honest, I hadn’t had any experience at all. Instead, I’d spent all of my time on much more important pursuits, such as mastering defensive strategies, combat training and the like. I’d always been instructed that dalliances with the opposite sex were not something I, as a warrior, should have been concerned with. And I’d followed this sound advice wholeheartedly.
I’d never so much as kissed a man.
“Allow me,” the vampire said with a debonair and practiced smile as he opened the door and I stepped outside into the evening darkness.
“Aren’t you going to magic me blind?” I called out t
o my sister, after it occurred to me that I could see everything. Not getting any answer, I turned all the way around and found Jolie still sitting next to Rand, but neither of them made any motion to move. Instead, they just gazed at each other, each of them smiling about something.
“Um, hello!” I interrupted, not in the mood to eavesdrop on them again. It was way too gross.
“No,” Jolie answered quickly while clearing her throat as if she were suddenly uncomfortable. Well, good thing, because seeing the two of them ogling each other made me way beyond uncomfortable. “I don’t have to hide anything from you. Things are different now.”
Jolie, is that the best idea? Rand asked her immediately.
Sinjin can track her anywhere, Jolie answered. I’m not worried.
By the look on Rand’s face, I could tell that he still was. But it wasn’t my affair and if the truth be told, I was too tired to think any more about it. There was definitely something to be said for how tired one became after being drained by a parasite. I could only hope I’d sleep better tonight than I had in the past few nights. Glancing up at Sinjin, I held my arm out in front of me, indicating that he should lead the way back to the guesthouse. “I have no idea where I’m going,” I explained.
“Of course,” he replied, reaching for my hand and starting forward. His touch wasn’t quite as cold as it usually was.
“Is that really necessary?” I asked, referring to my hand, which he clutched in his much larger one. “I am capable of following you without you having to cling onto me, you know?”
“Yes, of course, you are,” Sinjin answered as he continued forward, still holding my hand and not offering me any other explanations. We walked along the cobbled footpath, which was exceptionally well lit by the moonlight above us. I could hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocks below and was suddenly overcome with the thought of how peaceful the sound of the restless sea was. Before I knew it, we’d reached the guesthouse, the place where I’d been living since Jolie first brought me here.
“After you, madam,” Sinjin said as he opened the front door and I walked in. Immediately, the two werewolf guards stood at attention, looking first at me and then at Sinjin, their expressions obviously confused.
“At ease, my furry comrades,” Sinjin announced to them with a polished smile.
They both grumbled to each other about “bastard vampires.” I could only concur …
“I am here to inform you that you have both been relieved of your commands,” Sinjin continued.
“Relieved of our commands?” the taller guard repeated in a thick, East Coast accent. He was maybe five foot ten, but broad and stout. Although balding on top, he had a thick beard on his face.
“Is the queen unhappy wif us?” the other one asked. He was taller and somewhat narrower than his counterpart, but also broad enough in his own right. While he sported a thick head of hair, he also had a thick neck. And based on the myriad conversations I’d overheard between the two of them, I considered them both “thick” in general.
Sinjin shook his head. “No, no, dear sir, nothing as complicated as that. The queen merely recognizes the advantage of delegating the care of her dear sister to one of supreme strength and speed, not to mention a rapier wit.”
Both of the guards stared at him blankly while I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “You forgot to add your exaggerated sense of self-importance, your narcissism and the fact that you live in a surreality which is completely architected by yourself.”
Sinjin looked back at me and smirked broadly, as if he enjoyed nothing more than engaging in such repartee. “Yes, you are correct, Bête Noire, some of my attributes do occasionally slip my mind.”
“I dunno what’s goin’ on here,” the shorter of the guards interrupted, glaring at us both in turn. “You sayin’ the queen is relievin’ us of our posts?”
Sinjin faced the overweight and balding man as he nodded impatiently. “Yes, my dear sir, your ability to comprehend is quite surprising.” Then he faced the other guard. “Yes, you both are being relieved of your positions as guards to the queen’s ward; which means you are free to scurry off into the forest to hunt small woodland creatures, chase your tails, bite at fleas or do whatever else it is that strikes your fancies.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped from my mouth, but I silenced myself just as quickly, feeling completely irritated for losing my cool. Laughter could and would only encourage the vampire, and that wasn’t a good idea. Not when I wanted nothing more than to get rid of him.
“Whatever, Sinclair,” the larger of the two weres replied as he started for the door with his friend right behind him. “You think you’re soooo much better than everybody else, but someday, you’re gonna git yourself a rude awakenin.”
“Perhaps; perhaps not,” Sinjin responded, apparently unperturbed by the man. Before they both walked out, Sinjin added, “Au revoir, my much esteemed colleagues, au revoir.” The weres continued grumbling, presumably about Sinjin, but when the vampire closed the door, their voices were lost to the wind.
“Your ‘much esteemed colleagues’?” I asked. “Really?” I raised my eyebrows as I faced Sinjin and shook my head. “I’m surprised no one’s attempted to stake you in your bed yet.”
“Perhaps, it is just a matter of time.”
I cocked my head to the side and nodded. “We should only be so lucky.”
Sinjin chuckled and faced me with a smile in his eyes, which soon vanished from his lips. “Perhaps I was too hard on the dear pups?” he asked.
“Perhaps you’re just too impressed with yourself?” I snapped before starting toward my bedroom. I’d had enough of Sinjin for one evening. Or possibly ten.
“Perhaps,” he responded as he followed me down the hall, his footfalls making no sound at all. He paused at the threshold of my bedroom. “Am I to understand then, that you prefer to be locked in your bedchamber all evening?” he inquired and I could tell he was disappointed at the idea.
“Yes,” I answered immediately, enjoying his displeasure with the arrangement. It was a small victory, but at the rate I was going, I would cherish any victory I could get.
“Very well,” he replied as he unlocked my door and pushed it open for me. “I shall attempt to keep myself otherwise occupied.”
“Good luck,” I responded with little interest. Stepping inside my room, I turned around and reached for the doorknob, intending to close the door behind me, but Sinjin stuck his foot between the door and the jamb.
“I do wish you had allowed me to glamour you earlier, my little heathen,” he announced.
“Why’s that?” I answered, immediately regretting the question as soon as I asked it. Encouraging him would only prolong this Ping-Pong of a conversation that I wanted nothing more to do with.
Sinjin shrugged as if the answer were an obvious one. “I should have liked to see your eyes glazing over with passion, and hear the breath catching in your throat as one orgasm after another seized your lovely body,” he finished. He made a point to take me in from head to toe, while his gaze lingered on my breasts, as usual. I realized his response was meant to jostle me, or take me by surprise and make me uncomfortable. I was finally beginning to understand how Sinjin worked.
But instead of becoming shocked, I simply frowned at him. “That’s the best you can do?” I asked, shaking my head. Then I yawned again. “You’re losing your touch, Sinclair.” He didn’t answer so I continued, while yawning widely again. “And on that note, I’ll say good night.”
For the first time in our acquaintance, the vampire was speechless.
###
A few hours later, I lay on my back in my bed, staring up at the ceiling, and wishing I didn’t suffer from insomnia. My sleeplessness wasn’t helped by the constant sounds that came from the rest of the guesthouse, courtesy of Sinjin. First it was the television, which was so loud, I could have mistaken my vampire roommate for an eighty-year-old deaf woman. Next were his incessant footsteps on the hardwood
floors. And on this subject, I knew he was being loud deliberately because he was usually as light as a cat on his feet.
Groaning, I pushed myself out of bed and plodded to the chair nearest the bed where I’d draped the pile of clothing Sinjin purchased for me. I grabbed a pair of black workout pants, a sports bra and a hoodie sweatshirt. Because I didn’t possess any pajamas, I’d slept naked, which made getting dressed again a little bit faster. I pulled my yoga pants up my legs and threw the sports bra over my head. I had to wrestle my breasts into it because they were a bit too large for the bra, but I managed. Then I pulled the sweatshirt over my head and started for the bedroom door. Even though I figured it would be for naught, I tried the doorknob anyway. I couldn’t deny my surprise when I found it unlocked. Hmm, so apparently Sinjin wasn’t exactly careful when it came to ensuring his prisoner was … imprisoned. Opening the door, I stepped into the hallway. “Okay, I give up! You win!” I called out.
“What have I won, little tempest?” Sinjin inquired from where he was sitting on the couch in the living room. I heard the pop of the television being turned off. Moments later, he stood before me, wearing a big grin.
“I can’t sleep,” I complained with a frown. “Which I’m sure has been your intention since I went to bed.”
Sinjin shrugged. “While I pity all your sheep that, unfortunately, remain uncounted, I must admit that I find it difficult to keep myself amused.”
I shook my head and sighed. “A vampire with ADD, this is classic.”
Sinjin didn’t respond, but instead took stock of me in his customary fashion. He started at my head, pausing for a long moment on my bust before glancing down to my legs and coming back up again. “I must compliment you again on how well you fill out the attire I procured for you,” he said at last.
“Thanks, I guess,” I grunted.
Sinjin chuckled. “Perhaps it should be I who is thanking you,” he remarked as a libidinous smile curved his mouth and he looked me up and down again. “And the rear side of you?”