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I took a step toward the next group, but a gust of cold hit me. Was Stark trying to tell me something?
I stopped and turned toward one of the leather-clad vampires next to Gerald. He had greasy brown hair and a thick, shabby beard.
Another gust hit me. It was Stark trying to help. At least, I hoped so.
I’m about to find out.“Your face looks familiar,” I lied.
“Don’t know you, lady.” He laughed and looked away.
I scoffed. “I ain’t no lady.” It was the truth. I was a hardworking Southern girl trying to save her sister. And, apparently, I was willing to kill to do it. “Did you wrong me in my past life?”
“You tell me,” he growled and looked away again.
“Him.” I pointed and looked at Lord Bleyer II, who nodded. Two huge vampires appeared out of nowhere and dragged the man away. “So I’m right?”
Lord Bleyer II nodded again. A man of few words. “Continue.”
“Okay. Let’s see here…” I wove around the room, waiting for another cold knock on my head. It happened three more times. Three more vampires were dragged off.
I still needed one more.
I strolled through the room again, trying to ignore how some of the vampires were dressed—Vikings, frilly gowns, poofy sleeves. They came in every shape, height, color, and flavor of lip snarl. It was almost impossible not to get distracted. After almost an hour, no one raised a red flag, and I got nothing from Stark.
Lazlo finally came down off the platform. “My love, you must choose soon. The sun will rise within the hour, and everyone must have time to reach a safe sleeping place.”
“How many more minutes do I have?” I asked.
Lord Bleyer II glanced at his wristwatch. “Five. We must save time for the executions.”
Great. I suddenly felt a push of cold air again. I glanced at Stark, whose expression hadn’t changed. When I looked back at Lazlo, I felt the cold again.
That’s it.Stark was trying to give me the answer, but I had to trust him again. Did I?
My mind played back the first night we met. Ronnie had his hands around my neck, and I was fighting for my life. Stark stopped him, cleaned up the mess, including sucking nacho-fied blood from my shirt, and made sure I wouldn’t have to deal with the fallout by erasing the evidence. Afterwards, he tried to apologize for not saving Deedee by gifting me her killer, whose life I ended. Then he cooked for me. It was the worst food I’d ever tasted, but he’d taken the time to show something of his past self. He saved my daddy and uncle, too, which meant a lot.
Each act had been an offering made by a dark creature who probably didn’t know how to show his loyalty any other way.Kind of like a cat that leaves a dead mouse on the porch. Only, Montgomery Stark was a beautiful man. Beautiful as he was dangerous.
Lazlo, on the other hand, had kidnapped me and Maybell. He forced me to marry him and wanted to break me until I gave him my complete submission.
The answer was clear.
I looked at Lazlo. “I know this won’t be in Anna’s book, but it’s only because you made that impossible.” I drew a breath. “You. You wronged me in my past life. You murdered me. You’re my fifth choice.”
“What?” Lazlo stepped back. “This is a lie, wife. My brother has been feeding you lies again!” He turned to address the room. “Everyone knows it is Montgomery who killed her.”
“No. It wasyou. I remember it like it was yesterday.” Strange how this lie came so easily. It almost felt like I was channeling the real Anna.
“Then how did I do it?” he growled.
He was calling my bluff. My mind raced. What reason could I say that would make sense no matter what had gone down?
“You used my love of your brother against me. Just like you’re usin’ my sister Maybell now.” I spit in his face. “Just like you used her to make me marry you and keep me from fightin’ you off on our weddin’ night.”
The crowd of vampires muttered in shock.
“Is this your final choice, Masie?” the lord asked.
I had no idea if I’d chosen correctly according to Anna’s list, but I knew Lazlo had wronged me inthislife. “Yes.”
