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“If that were true, then you wouldn’t be standing in front of me. Free to roam a vampire city.” His words cut deeper than the betrayal in his gaze. “You were trained to do anything to kill vampires. That Kane vamp lets you get close. If you’re still with us, why haven’t you killed him?”
“Because he’s not the only Kane in this city,” I snapped. “I kill one, then his brothers will come after me.”
To my ears, my words sounded like the truth. Only my pattering heart gave way to my lie. But unlike the vampires here, Tim couldn’t hear that. I’d had a few chances to try to kill Zan. I could try to make another stake out of the wood from Zan’s dresser and use that. But I hadn’t yet. I could tell myself it was because Pax and Viggo would come after me. But then I’d be lying to myself. Because no matter how much I thought about it, I could never get myself to go through with it.
“I don’t know if I believe you,” Tim muttered, his glare softening a fraction. “But I have nothing to lose. I’m not making it out of this alive.”
“They aren’t going to kill you,” I told him. “They’re…going to entrance you.”
He scrubbed a hand down his face. “That’s even worse. I know things. Clover things, that the vampires can’t find out about.”
“I can’t get you out of here.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Can’t,” I retorted. “I’m always being watched. Zan will barely let me out of his sight.”
“And why is he keeping you alive?” he asked, curiosity sweeping over his face. “Why not kill you like they did with Garrett and the others?”
“They’re waiting,” I gritted out. “For my birthday. They have some sort of interest in Shadows. After they test me…I don’t know what will happen.”
He studied me in silence, the chain rattling as he backed up a couple of steps. “If you really still care about the Clovers, you’ll find a way out. A way to take down the Kanes.”
“I do still care,” I said thickly. “I never wanted any of this to happen.”
“There’s a bag hidden right outside the city,” he said in a low voice, his eyes darting to the door behind me. “Full of weapons. We put it there when we came to rescue you and Warner. There’s a beach on the opposite side of the city.”
“I know where that is,” I said, my heart skipping a beat.
He nodded. “There’s a pile of rocks near the cliff. Under one of those is the bag. Find it and use it against the Kanes. If you really want to help us, then I’m giving you a chance.”
Before I could respond, there was a soft knock on the door. Tim’s face morphed into hatred again, and he went rigid.
“I don’t know what I can do,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “But I still want the humans to win. Not the vampires.”
“I hope that’s true, Kali,” he murmured. “Because the war might have ended years ago, but the fight never did. And there can only be one who wins.”
Another knock had me moving toward the door. I muttered a goodbye to Tim, wondering if this would be the last time I talked to him before he was entranced. Unease twisted in my gut as I exited the room. I halted in my tracks, seeing Zan leaning against the wall to my left. Once I was past the doorway, he grabbed the knob, closing the door before sliding the deadbolt back in place.
“I’m guessing you won’t tell me what you two talked about,” he said, raising his eyes to meet mine.
“Like you weren’t listening.”
“The room is soundproof, Kali.”
“Well, you’ll know exactly what he said when you entrance him,” I bit out. I wondered if I could get to the bag of weapons before that happened. It could be my way out of here. “You didn’t hurt him.”
“No, I didn’t.”
I searched his face, trying to get a read on him. “Why?”
A small frown appeared on his lips, as if he was still trying to figure that out himself. “Because I know doing that would have hurt you.”
My mouth parted, the shock of his words making me react before I could rein it in. He let out a resigned sigh, his arm wrapping around my waist when I tried moving away from him.
“Other than my brothers, I never put anyone’s feelings ahead of what needs to be done,” he said gruffly. “For some reason, I care about what you feel. And how you feel about me. I don’t want to see you in pain.”
“Why? Because you want to sleep with me?” I snarked.
