Chapter 14 #3
Maia felt Corvindale’s involuntary shudder and she thought if there was ever a time for a lady to curse, this would be it.
In lieu of that, she realized whatever she did now would have to be careful and smart. The earl didn’t think she was capable of thinking for herself, obviously, but she hadn’t escaped from her chains and saved him by being a dunderhead.
Any further thoughts were interrupted by Lerina, as she made a sudden, furious sound that was almost like a shout. She was staring at Maia, her eyes narrowed.
“You,” she said, and at first Maia thought she’d suddenly and unaccountably recognized her.
But that was ridiculous—of course she’d recognized her—and that thought was dismissed as Lerina continued, now speaking to Corvindale in a voice that sounded both happy and taunting at the same time. “I see you’ve been busy, Dimitri.”
Her eyes turned back to focus on Maia, and they were evil.
Their very weight seemed to make the blood course in her veins, and the bites he’d left on her throb, as if responding to some siren’s call.
Maia gripped the wooden stick, trying to keep it hidden within the folds of her skirt, trying to keep her mind clear in the face of such animosity, and realized the vampire was attempting to enthrall her.
And if the shimmer in her vision was any indication, Lerina was succeeding.
As if realizing this, Corvindale moved abruptly, shifting so he blocked their connection and severed the thrall. Maia touched him briefly in gratitude and realized she mustn’t make eye contact with any of the Dracule. At least, the ones who meant her harm.
The third vampire with the rubies had moved some distance from the window while the second one had continued to edge farther from Lerina.
It was clear Lerina meant to distract her opponent while setting up her mode of attack.
Now, the three vampires were spread out at the edge of the room, leaving Maia and Corvindale in the middle.
The earl continued to scan back and forth between the three, and Maia felt him easing her backward as if trying to get to the wall where at least one side would be protected.
He made no bones about hiding his stake, and despite the presence of the rubies, his muscles bunched and his breathing seemed relatively steady.
“You left me no choice, Lerina,” he replied coolly.
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked, but her hands fluttered, belying her innocence. “Unless I’m mistaken, the last time you deigned to feed on a mortal, it was me. I hate to think I’d ruined you for a century, darling.”
Corvindale gave a disgusted snort. “As you wish. But, I confess, in a hundred years, I’ve met no one like you.”
The other woman seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in his voice, or perhaps she was just used to it.
“We could share, Dimitri, and then we wouldn’t have to go through all of this mess.
She is rather lovely. She’s light and I’m dark…
wouldn’t we make a pretty picture? Together?
We don’t have to send her on to Cezar. I’ll just tell him she…
didn’t make it and he can find another way to get to Chas Woodmore.
There are two more sisters, are there not?
” Lerina smiled and her fangs showed, long and wicked.
She looked over at the vampire with the necklace. He’d moved farther from the window.
“What do you suggest?” Corvindale replied, his stake arm relaxing. He sounded almost inviting.
Suddenly the vampire who’d been at the window raised his arm and slung the necklace through the air toward Lerina.
Corvindale reacted instantly, and, with a groan of exertion in a great moment of pain, raised his stake to intercept the jewels midair.
They caught on the wooden spike, and in a sharp movement, he whipped them to the ground.
Maia didn’t hesitate. She dropped to the floor and snatched them up, staggering a bit from the unexpected activity. Better the gems in her hands than their enemies’. But then, before anyone could react, she ran a few steps toward the window and winged the necklace toward the opening.
The vampire near it leaped but missed, and the lethal gems sparkled as they tumbled into the moonlit night.
Lerina gave a muffled shriek of anger just as the nearest vampire lunged for Maia.
She tried to spin away, still gripping her stake, but he was fast as a breath and he caught her by the arm.
His yank was hard enough she fairly flew through the air, slamming up against him.
She flailed out with her stake, stabbing as Iliana had taught her to do, but she was no match for the vampire and couldn’t get him in the right place.
He laughed and shifted, twisting her around roughly, grabbing up a handful of her hair and baring her neck. He spoke for the first time. “Did you say something about sharing, mistress?”
Maia swallowed and risked a glance at Corvindale, expecting to see him apprehensive—or at least furious—but he wasn’t even looking at her. He was watching Lerina, whose eyes had turned red and whose fangs were showing once again.
“Delicious thought,” Lerina said.
Maia’s heart was pounding and she couldn’t get a good angle with her stake, which had been immobilized by the vampire holding her, anyway. Then everything happened at once…but it was as if the world slowed, underwater, and the events unfolded like a bolt of cloth.
As Corvindale turned, he made a sharp movement.
Something spun madly through the air and slammed into the torso of Maia’s captor.
A stake. The vampire cried out and released her, tumbling to the floor—but by that time, Corvindale was there, slinging up Maia from around the waist. She lost her breath, and before she caught it again, he’d lunged toward the window.
He caught the edge with his hand and pivoted them through the opening.
She heard someone scream as they went out, weightless, into the night, nothing but air around them.