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“Are you threatening me?” Maxton chuckled, wearing an old threadbare suit with a ratty ascot. His clothing had to be as old as she was.
“You already know you cannot best me, so why not listen?” Damien proposed.
“My land. My rules. And they do not include indulging in chitchat with my victims.”
Damien shook his head with disappointment. “Very well, Maxton. But know that I am here to offer you a new life. Earlier today, you sat peacefully in Brutus’s hut. You reminisced about your exploits and kills. You were free for a few short hours from your rules, and I am betting you enjoyed it. I could offer you that every day. I will ensure you have no need for your rules. I willnotallow you to kill. You have nothing to fear.”
Oh turds.Did Damien just imply that Maxton was afraid of leaving his lair? Wrong strategy. All he had to do was ask Maxton to come to LA! She’d already made sure he’d say yes.
Maxton growled. “I can count on one hand all the things I fear. Running out of people to kill, running out of people to torture, and running out of…” He paused. “Actually, that is it. Just the two.”
“Maxton, I was once consumed by bloodlust. It ruled every minute of my day like a sick drug. But I was able to break free. Granted, my new vices became fine suits, fine cars, and food that is not particularly healthy, but I found peace, and if you allow me to help, you can find it, too.”
“What makes you believe I wish to find peace, tailor? Perhaps I like my life of—”
“Of living like a caveman when I can clearly see you are a gentleman? The thing I am wondering is why you have condemned yourself to living in a damp, hot, muddy cave. I do not believe for one moment it’s because you are bored of life. Youdidsomething. Something that haunts you. This isn’t your lair; it’s your prison.”
Maxton narrowed his green eyes.
Willa drew a breath, watching this all go down.
“What do you know about anything?” Maxton roared.
“I know that vampires don’t live in jungles unless they are hiding from something or they really, really, really hate themselves. So which is it? Are you a coward or a glutton for punishment?”
“Grrr…”
“Disagree?” Damien threw back. “Then prove me wrong. Come with me to face the world. Face the goddess demanding to see you.”
Ugh! Say “LA,” Damien. Say “Come to LA!”Willa thought.
“How about you face your death, tailor?” Maxton charged.
Oh no!Willa was about to run out and block Maxton, but then Damien did something she hadn’t expected.
“Take him down, beast. Kill the vampire,” Damien said.
“No! Don’t do that…” As Willa screamed, she watched Damien transform. Him, but not him. Harder, back straighter, fists tighter, and not a modicum of fear to be found in those turquoise eyes.
The beast charged, meeting Maxton head-on with a blow to the head. Maxton flew back, knocked unconscious.
The beast lost no time jumping over him, ready to smash in Maxton’s skull with a rock.
“Wait!” Willa rushed toward the beast, revealing herself. “Don’t kill him. I can get him to do whatever you want. Just don’t do that.”
The beast’s eyes turned to a deep red, zeroing in on her. His gaze felt like a paralyzing harpoon to the heart, making it impossible to run. She’d never been so terrified in all her life. Not even when she discovered that her husband had poisoned her. Even then she had not feared death. But this?
“Hello, witch.” He smiled.
“Just…let him go,” she yammered. “I’ll make it worth your while. I can get, uh, Damien to give up control more often or…I don’t know, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
“Are you now?” He stood and marched toward her, hovering over her like a dark cloud of rage. “I want you.” He tugged on the strap of her camo overalls.
“Me?” She stepped back.
“Against that tree. I haven’t had a good fuck in a long while, and the tailor, well, he likes it too soft. No fun.”
Sex? He wanted sex?Pfft. What an oaf!Here she was thinking he’d ask for an organ to nibble on or for her to run off and round up a bunch of Amazonian women to slaughter.This is too easy. She’d already had sex with his vessel a number of times. Yes, Damien had been at the helm, but the beast was always there, too. Right behind Damien’s eyes, watching hungrily.
