Felix stood facing off with a dozen armed men. Their two security guards had their own guns aimed at the group, but were hopelessly outgunned and in a terrible position. Between them was a lithe, golden-skinned man with neatly styled black hair and a model’s face. His features were almost too refined, his nose too straight and his mouth too full. He looked like he belonged on the cover of a magazine, not aiming a rifle at Felix’s head like it was just another chore.
When they locked eyes, Dahlia instantly recognized something of Alastair in him.
“Dahlia,” Tomas greeted. “It’s great to finally meet you. Please get in the car.”
“She’s not going anywhere.” Felix moved to step in front of her. A series of high whines filled the air as all the Bowan men released the safety on their bolt guns.
“Felix, stop!” Cursing the rough terrain more than her footwear, Dahlia hurried onto the road. Dodging his swipe at her arm, she stepped between the men. A cold sweat broke out over her body as she held her hands out — one to him and one to Tomas.
“Everyone juststop.No one is going to die tonight. For Grim’s sake, put the gunsdown.”
Tomas looked genuinely regretful when he said, “Can’t do that, cousin. I’ve got orders. And he’s kept you from your family long enough.”
Trying not to sound as pissed off as she was, she demanded, “What are your orders?”
“To kill him if he won’t let you go.”
Dahlia turned her head to look at Felix. He stood rigidly behind her, his face pale and his eyes bright with the kind of fury she knew could tear Tomas apart. But he was only one man, and even if the full force of the Amauris came down on them, a blood bath was inevitable.
The universe moved in predictable patterns and so too did vampires. All the signs were there. If she didn’t stop this, someone she loved would die.
I’m not prey anymore,she thought, sucking in a deep breath of the muggy summer air.I’m one of the predators, and I’ll be damned before I let someone take what’s mine.
Meeting his eye, she murmured, “Don’t be mad, okay? I love you.”
The skin pulled tight over Felix’s skull as her intent registered. “Donot?—”
Turning back to Tomas, she took a step toward him. “I’ll go with you.”
Tomas’s dark eyes flicked over her shoulder, no doubt taking in the rage painting Felix’s expression. “Will he shoot?”
“Not if I’m with you,” she answered, passing him stiffly. “He loves me too much to risk it.”
—Missed call Friday 2:08 AM
—Missed call Friday 2:15 AM
—Missed call Friday 2:20 AM
—Missed call Friday 2:22 AM
—Missed call Friday 2:35 AM
TWENTY-SEVEN
The Bowans livedin a grand four story house in the heart of the oldest neighborhood of United Washington. Built of gray stone with a copper roof that had long since oxidized to a rich blue-green, it was exactly as classy and sophisticated as Dahlia expected it to be.
Nerves tightened her stomach as she stared out the SUV’s window at the ornate stonework surrounding the dark blue front door. She wasn’t worried about the meeting. After everything, Dahlia was confident she could hold her own with Alastair and Tomas. What she couldn’t stand was the thought of Felix losing his mind back home.
He wouldn’t risk her safety, but he would do just about anything to get her back. That meant that she had a very limited window in which to resolve this mess before he did something reckless.
Just barely resisting the urge to slap the hand Tomas held out to her after opening her door, she thrust her shoulders back to stride toward the elegant front steps. A massive gold lion’s head knocker glared at her from the center of the door.
Her whole body ached from the crash and she was pretty sure the protective base of one heel had come off at some point, butshe ignored it all. It wasn’t like this was the first time she went to work with a broken heel.
Tomas used his long legs to overtake her. Giving her a slight smile, he opened the front door and ushered her inside a gleaming white foyer. A grand, domed ceiling soared above a sweeping black marble staircase, and towering pieces of modern art hung on the white walls. On either side of the base of the staircase were two black tables absolutely overflowing with massive flower arrangements.
Dahlias,she realized with a start. The obviously handmade crystal vases were bursting with her namesake. The sight made an involuntary twinge of warmth take root in her chest.
