“I don’t give an owl’s boney turd what you think of me, Duck Dick, and neither does Stark. He’ll make you suffer if you lay one finger on me.” Or not. After all, we were in the midst of a breakup.
“I think you do not understand Montgomery Stark,” he said. “Or why you’re really here.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“Enough!” Stark came up behind us and stepped between me and Duck Dick. “I will deal with you later, Herman. Go back to your cottage.”
Herman?That was a goofy name for a biker vampire.
“No,” I said. “I want to know what he meant.”
“Leave!” Stark yelled at Herman, who scurriedoff down the path.
“What was he talking about?” I asked Stark. “And you’d better be honest, because I will not tolerate a man who lies, even if he is a powerful vampire I am—was—madly in love with.”
“Am or was?” Stark’s shoulders dropped.
Honestly, I was beginning to question my feelings. Maybe because he couldn’t seem to tell the truth. Not even about the little things. It was making me feel like a second-class citizen in his world, in his life. I didn’t like it.
“The one I choose is up to you.” I shook a finger at him. “I’ve been patient with this whole secret-island situation, the elusive turning process, and the marriage ritual you just sprang on me, but finding out that you lied to my face about killing that Herman guy has burned my fuse down to the nub, so donotlie to me. No more sugarcoating. What did Herman mean? And why’d you tell me he was dead?”
“Very well.” Stark huffed, knowing I had him cornered. “I lied about killing Herman because at the time you were already distraught, and discovering he was still alive would only augment your emotions. I felt it was my role to protect you. I still feel that way.”
Okay, but that didn’t give him the right to lie. “Why did he say I’m here for another reason?”
“Obviously, he is unhappy about his situation and wishes to undermine ourrelationship. A little payback. But I did not force him into serving me. He could have died like a real man.” Stark sighed with a grumble. “Honestly, I wish he would’ve. Herman cannot be trusted. Also, he is messy and does not clean up after himself. My other slaves will not stop complaining.”
“Dear lord, Stark. How many slaves do you have?”
He shrugged. “I lost count.”
My mouth fell open. “You need to let them go.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s just wrong to own another living being,” I argued.
“Humans own cats, dogs, tiny colorful fish—”
“That’s not the same, and you know it.” I shook my head.
“I cannot release Herman or any of the others. It would make me look weak, and that would put you in danger.” Stark lifted his chin in a snobby, proud kind of way. “A vampire who isn’t feared is as good as dead. So are those under his protection, including your own father.”
We’d gone full circle, back to the power conversation. “So, basically, you’re all trying to be a bunch of mob bosses. Great.”
“In a way, yes.” Stark nodded.
Ugh. I hated vampire fear-porn politics, but more than anything, I hated how Stark kept breaking my trust. This was no way to start a relationship that would last an eternity.
Still, despite my encroaching doubts, I loved him. I wanted him. I owed him one more chance. But if he failed this next test, we were done. I’d let Daddy guide me through the transformation.
“Take me home,” I said.
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve had enough. Take me home,” I repeated.
“Masie, I have gathered my closest allies here to get to know you. It is the first step of thePowoli Trac Erekcje.”
