AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I step out from behind Nick so that I can see the vampire, but I keep well out of his reach. He watches me a moment, as if debating whether to share his suggestion or not. He gives Nick a wary look, which makes me wonder how much I’m going to hate his idea. Decision finally made, he pulls his shoulders back, lifts his chin, and confidently says, “I could compel you not to use your power.”
“Hell no,” Nick says while I back up a step and say, “You’re not coming near me.”
Henry gives me that condescending sigh that he’s so good at, as if I’m acting like a petulant child. “Nora, you have to do something. This is a very easy solution.”
He may be right. It’s really not a bad idea. But I’ll never admit that to him. I scoff. “It also lets you into my head again and leaves me powerless against you. It’s not happening.”
Henry’s jaw tightens, and he takes a moment to check his temper before he speaks again. “You may have no choice, Nora. Do you want to become a danger to those around you? Would you risk hurting your men? I will not take your memories from you. I won’t compel you to do anything else. I’ll simply make you stop using your siren’s song. You can trust me.”
I laugh. It’s a bitter sound. “Henry, I willnevertrust you.”
He finally glares at me. I don’t really care.
Finished with this conversation, I turn to leave again, meeting Nick’s gaze as I do. “Let’s go.”
He doesn’t question me. “Go home, Henry,” I say as I reach the passenger door of Nick’s truck. He’s still standing in the beams of the headlights, watching me walk away from him. “I can deal with my own problems.” And because I can’t help it, I add, “I have plenty of men whom I actually love and trust to help me. I don’t need you.”
I don’t wait for any kind of response from him. He’s probably too mad to give me one anyway. He hates being reminded that I have lovers and friends when I won’t give him the time of day. Maybe constantly throwing my relationships in his face is petty, but it always makes me feel better.
Nick and I drive through the wards and pull up to the bridge. Nick puts the car in park and quietly says, “You know…his suggestion isn’t a bad one.”
I sit back in my seat, deflating a little as the tension that comes with seeing Henry leaves me. “I know.” I scrub my hands over my face. I’m tired already, even though I woke up so late. I need a good night’s rest, not a night of unconsciousness from a violent imprint. “I wasn’t about to admit that to Henry, though. Not when I have my own vampire who could do it for me. Parker can just as easily compel me, and then Henry doesn’t have to know that I’ve made myself vulnerable to him.”
Nick grips the steering wheel and gives me a curious glance. “So do you think you’ll do it?”
I shrug. “I’m willing to try it to see if it works.”
“Itwillmake you very vulnerable, though.”
That is a major downside, but I shake my head. “I don’t have any other options. I’m slipping out of control.”
“So far, you’ve only hurt people who’ve been a threat to you.”
I give Nick a flat look. “Sabin was not a threat to me. My siren went after him because she’s vengeful, and I’d already opened myself up to her power—which I didn’t do on purpose. And the worst part is, I was killing him and I didn’t even care. It’s like my siren has a mind of her own, but she’s still me at the same time.”
Nick nods as if this makes perfect sense. “It’s the same with my dragon. I believe it’s the same for all shifters.”
Again, I wonder if I’m a shifter like Giselle. All signs point to me having an alternate form.
“Well, I don’t like it. My siren is dark. She feeds off power and likes to hurt people. I didn’t need to go after Sabin tonight. But I wanted to. It wasn’t until you snapped me out of it that my morals came back to me. And then I was horrified. I’m disgusted with myself, Nick.”
He sighs. “I get it. And maybe you should have Parker compel you. But you should at least discuss it with your clan before you make a choice that impacts your ability to defend yourself.”
“Keep in mind that I have half a dozen of the city’s most powerful underworlders watching my back.”
Nick frowns, but he can’t argue with that. I reach across the cab of the truck and place my hand on top of his. “And, just so you know, you’re as much a part of this clan as any of us. Maybe you don’t live under the same roof, but you’re family. My siren has claimed you.”
Nick finally cracks a smile, and he winks at me. “My dragon’s claimed you, too, partner.”
I grin. “Good.”
I give him one last pat and open my door. “Good night, Nick. Get some sleep, and we’ll talk to Oliver in the evening.”
As I close the door, Nick yells, “It’s stillGorgeous, Nora!”
I chuckle all the way down the stairs and as I hang up Charlie’s coat. All is dark and quiet in the den. I’m tired, but I’m not really ready to sleep yet. I poke my head in to peek on Oliver. My heart warms at the sight of Oliver and Enzo conked out on the bed, and Charlie asleep in the chair beside them, as if both Enzo and Charlie refused to leave Oliver’s side.
I decide Enzo can stay where he is, but Charlie looks very uncomfortable, so I wake him and send him to bed. “Charlie,” I whisper, giving his shoulder a gentle shake.
