Christian put his hands in his pockets. “What I felt for you was infatuation. I don’t have a word that accurately describes what I feel for Raven—what I’d do for her.”
“Good for you, Chrissy. You finally found a woman who will reciprocate your misplaced affections.” She narrowed her black eyes. “I could have been your queen for real. Sparrow was an arrogant fool, but he was always a high achiever.”
“I never thought I’d see the day you would let yourself be ruled by a man.”
She took her teacup and dumped the rest out in the sink. “I planned to assassinate him once I gained enough loyalty from his followers. You know how easily people follow me; it wouldn’t have been hard to accomplish. I might have even had a place for you at my side. Imagine real power like that.” Lenore turned toward him, hands anchored on the sink behind her as she looked up. “I could have led armies.”
“Right to their grave,” he added. “Despite your high ambitions, you’re no general. Neither was Sparrow. If you had that much faith in your success, you wouldn’t have scurried into the tunnels like a rat.”
She touched the pearl necklace encircling the neck he wanted to strangle. “I wasn’t expecting Shifters. Besides that, Sparrow was proving to be a weak leader. I thought power would be enough, but he was making stupid choices.”
“Let’s not play games. Give me the necklace.”
“You would risk everything for a half-breed?”
He blinked in surprise.
“That’s right. I know your little secret. More importantly, she knows that I know. Cat’s out of the bag, as they say.” Lenore strode back to the island and attempted to reel in his gaze. “Now I know why you follow her around like a little puppy. She’s half-Vampire, and I bet her blood is awfully tasty, isn’t it? I remember your insatiable thirst for my own blood—how you were blinded by your desire to claim me. To conquer me. Do you ever wonder how much of the desire you feel for her is artificial? Just a side effect of your addiction?”
Christian clenched his jaw and pressed his palms on the edge of the countertop.
“It seems your little freak is more powerful than I gave her credit for, but she’s a weak Vampire. Immune to stunners and impalement wood, but as fragile as a human. Trulypathetic.”
Christian launched across the kitchen island, knocking the copper pots off the hanging rack. They clanged violently against the countertop and floor. Lenore struck the cabinet behind her and tossed him across the kitchen before she ever hit the ground.
He landed near the refrigerator and gave her a black look.
“You took the bait so easily.” She dusted off her pants as she stood up. “Love makes you weak. As long as you love her, I’ll always have you under my thumb.”
“Don’t be so certain of that.”
“Oh? And what were you here for again? Ah, yes. Her necklace.” She reached out to give him a hand. “No hard feelings?”
He got up on his own and put distance between them.
“That’s the difference between us,” she said. “Do you know why it’s so easy for me to stay in control? Because I feelnothingfor you.” Lenore opened the freezer and took out something wrapped in foil. When she tore it away, the ruby necklace revealed itself. “Nothing comes for free. For this I want a favor.”
As much as Christian wanted her dead, it would be a tremendous risk. Not only was Lenore a more powerful Vampire, but if he failed, he would also fail to save Raven. He’d known what coming here meant. Favor trading was the most valuable currency in the Breed world. But it was better that he owed Lenore a favor than Raven being in her debt once again.
Lenore held up the silver chain and admired the thirty-two carat Burmese ruby. “I bet the person who designed this never imagined how much it would be worth.” She let the chain swing on one finger. “This ruby will restore her life. All Breeds honor the code of favor trading, even you. What I’m asking for is nowhere near the value of a life, but it’s fair.”
Christian watched the ruby hypnotically swinging back and forth. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for Raven. She was attempting to save the lives of countless others, knowing that her own fate might be sealed. “What is it you ask, Lenore? Make it plain.”
She captured the heart-shaped stone in her palm and wrapped her fingers around it. “I want more than protection. If the higher authority finds out I was there, they’ll lock me up. There’s nothing anyone could do or say to change that. I want assurance that you won’t let that happen.”
“And how do you propose I do that?”
“Scrub Viktor’s memories of everything Raven told him about me. I don’t want him suspicious in the least. No one saw my face—I made sure of that. I had to play my cards right until the hourglass was up. The only Vampire who can identify me is dead. My reputation isn’t sullied, and I intend to keep it that way. I want everything to continue as before. If anyone else in your group knows about me, I want their memory erased. There’s no room for error.”
“And afterward, I’m supposed to sit idly by and watch you seduce Viktor into protecting you?”
“I no longer want Viktor. If you’re concerned about that, don’t be. You have my word I’ll stay away. He took too long, and I have no patience to waste my valuable time on an indecisive man.”
Christian stared at the floor, considering what this favor meant. It would betray Viktor to scrub his memories, but it was only one small conversation. This could potentially save Raven from an uncertain fate. Maybe Christian was all out of morals, but he didn’t have a problem with it. Viktor was better off without this witch. Seemed like a small favor to ask. “I can’t erase Raven’s memories. I made a vow, and I’m bound to it.”
“Fine. And one more thing,” Lenore added, opening her fingers to reveal the necklace. “Neither you nor Raven will come after me. I’m no fool. You have motive, and I’m certain you’ve already been plotting, so I want you to swear on this favor that I won’t need to look over my shoulder.”
“I can promise you I won’t come after you. But I can’t speak for Raven. I’m the one who owes you the favor, not her.”
