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“She came willingly, you know,” said Cory with a smirk on his pale face.
He wore a smart navy suit and a white shirt open at the collar with no tie, and he’d slicked his hair back with wax. Looking like that, like some kind of low-down sleaze who masked it with money, he was worlds away from the guy she knew.
He moved fast, smooth, and was suddenly way too close for her liking.
“Who?” Tamaska’s stomach turned heavy, as if she’d eaten a meal of rocks. As she asked the question, she already knew who he meant.
“Tahla, of course.” Cory stepped closer to her. Automatically, she stepped back, bumping hard into the altar behind her.
“What did you do to her?” Tamaska’s hands bunched hard at her sides, and she struggled to keep herself in control.
She wanted nothing more than to launch herself at him, to hit and punch.
But she also didn’t want to touch him.
Something told her he’d be cool to the touch.
“I did nothing.” He inched closer.
His presence creeped her out. How could she have failed to notice his true self before? Or was this new? Christ, she had to get away from him.
“Amdis had planned for the ceremony to feature you, though. Tahla was the second choice.”
Could it be true? Tamaska stared at him. “What…what do you mean?”
He slid a little closer. “What do you think it means? You know, don’t you? It’s there, bright in your eyes. A beat like the delicious one in your neck.”
Her throat constricted, preventing any more words from forming.
Amdis.
Leader of the vampires.
Kodiak had mentioned him, and so had another vampire when Tamaska had pleaded with Tahla to leave the club.
Bile rose, sharp and bitter. She should have tried harder, dragged Tahla from this terrible place. Or… She swallowed. Or not have made her friend come. It was…it was her fault, wasn’t it, that Tahla was dead?
“I…don’t know what you mean.” She kept her gaze on him, trying to gauge the run to the door and how much strength she’d need to fight him off if he tried to stop her. “I’m here b-because I left something the other night. I need to go.”
“Go? Oh, no. You’re not going anywhere.” Cory laughed. “He’s got you now, and I’m going to benefit the most for being the one to bring you to Amdis.”
Cory reached out to grab her arm. Something snapped inside of her.
Tamaska kicked him hard in the shin, then crouched down as he swung at her with his fist. From her vantage, she punched up. “You’re not reaping anything, except maybe pain.”
He grabbed a fistful of her hair, but she wrenched free. Tamaska slipped to the side and turned to land a back kick squarely into his groin.
He gasped and doubled over. She darted past him, slipping in her haste.
“Oh no!” She’d gotten turned around, and the door wasn’t where she thought it was. Spinning, she turned as he grabbed at her. She hit out and then ran.
He was faster.
Somehow, he was faster, and he stood, blocking the exit.
Fuck it.No way was she admitting defeat.
At school she’d been a good sprinter, and with the gym and jogging, she could do this. She could make a run for it.
