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“She’s mine,” Zan growled, inching closer. “You know she never would get close enough to hurt you?—”
“Calm down, son,” Amaros chided harshly. “I’m not going to kill her. Not when she’s wearing your necklace. I will say, I am surprised. I always guessed one of my sons would bring home a woman who would try to murder me. But I always thought it would be Pax.”
None of his sons made a sound as he chuckled at his own words. Pain shot through my wrist when he squeezed it hard. I gritted my teeth, loosening my hold on the stake. But he didn’t grab the stake. Instead, he slid his hand down, covering my fingers with his own. He released my hair, keeping my hand trapped over the stake.
“You are…curious,” he told me, the humor fading from his face.
“Why?” I snarled, my voice trembling slightly. “Because I tried to kill you?”
“Many have tried before you.” He cocked his head, his eyes locked on mine. “That doesn’t make you special. But do you know what does?”
“No,” I answered, only because his pressure on my hand tightened as if waiting for me to speak.
He leaned closer until his face was only inches from mine. “I have a few certain abilities. Ones that hawthorn doesn’t affect. Would you like to know about one of them?”
That was a loaded question. He was only telling me this because it benefited him. Or to scare me.
“If I concentrate, I can sense people’s emotions,” he revealed in a low voice. “I can get into a mind enough to read what they’re feeling. Happiness, comfort, trust. Although, when I’m reading someone, it’s usually fear or panic. I can easily tell when I’m being lied to. Who is loyal to me. A very helpful tool when things like hawthorn dampen entrancement.”
My pulse thrashed as I listened to him. Was he the only vampire who could do something like that? Just like with Zan walking in the sun, Amaros had just dropped another bomb of truth. Something humans didn’t know.
“But you…” He trailed off, inspecting me. “I can’t get into your head.”
My eyes widened in shock, his words only confusing me more. My gaze darted to the side, catching sight of Zan. His arms were down at his sides, his hands clenched tight. But right now, he was staring at his father, looking as surprised as I felt.
“I’ve met a few over the years like you,” Amaros continued, pulling my gaze back to him. “But between this and the scent of your blood, you are very curious. I’m glad Zan found you. Someone like you should be kept close.”
“Why?” I asked in a quiet whisper.
“Because my abilities don’t work on you like other humans. You’re better off with us.” He stilled for a moment, as if suddenly thinking of something. “Are you a Clover?”
Again, I locked up. Did it matter if he knew? I was trapped here anyway, and from the way he was talking, there was no chance I was leaving now.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He glanced at Zan. “Did you know?”
Zan’s gaze cut to me as he answered. “I found out recently.”
Another lie.
“Careful with her,” Amaros warned as if I wasn’t in the room. “This won’t be the last time she tries to kill us. But I can see why you chose her. Her strength. Beauty. She’s cunning. You chose well. She’s perfect.”
“Perfect for what?” I blurted out, my voice a notch higher.
“Nothing—”
Amaros cut Zan off with a sharp look. “She doesn’t know?”
“No,” Zan bit out, his expression revealing nothing. “She’s already a wild card. It’s best to wait.”
My legs threatened to give out, but Amaros’s tight hold on my wrist kept me in place. A new wave of emotion slammed into me, but for an entirely different reason. My fear of Amaros faded as a shattering pain rushed through me. Hitting me straight in my heart. Zan had been lying for me this entire conversation.
But he’d been lying to me for who knew how long.
Amaros scoffed. “You can handle her, even if she does know.”
Viggo rubbed the back of his neck while Pax’s stare went to the floor when I looked at him. Zan didn’t move a muscle, standing unnaturally still as he focused on his father.
“That necklace is made for one person,” Amaros told me, a cruel edge to his tone. “One woman of my son’s choosing. A woman I approve of. Lucky for you, I do approve. Even though your antics are going to make my son’s life harder for a while. Have you tried staking him before?” He shook his head. “Never mind. I’m sure you have. Especially if you were a Clover.”
