“While this is all touching,” Harrington said, “do be quiet. We’re negotiating.”
“Are we negotiating?” Reyna asked, whipping around to face him. Her heart was caught in her throat. “Or are you attempting to steal my freedom?”
“I will give you all the freedom you desire.”
“You and I have different definitions of freedom.”
“I weary of your prattle.” He looked up at the vampire holding Jodie. “Cut off her finger.”
“No,” Jodie shrieked. She tried to wrestle herself free, but there was no luck. She wasn’t stronger than a vampire. “Please, no!”
The vampire unsheathed a blade from her belt. She peeled open Jodie’s fist and held her index finger in her hand. The blade moved to Jodie’s finger. A trickle of blood ran down her hand. Jodie began to cry. Seeing her friend break down did her in. She couldn’t endure it. Even if Jodie could sustain the pain, Reyna could never watch her go through it.
“Wait, no, stop,” Reyna cried. She rushed a step toward Jodie. “Please don’t. Just let Jodie go and I’ll come willingly.” She brought her hand to her mouth and turned wide eyes on Harrington. “You don’t need her.”
“I had a feeling you would think that way.”
“Let her walk out of this building and then I’m yours.”
“Wonderful,” Harrington said as if she had agreed to a business deal rather than given up her soul. “Come to me first and then I’ll release her.”
Reyna’s eyes flickered between Jodie and Harrington. She nodded her head. What other option was there?
“You will be happy with me. Together we’re going to take over the world. You can stand at my side while I rule. Come to me, my little queen.” He gestured for her to approach him.
Reyna took a step forward and then another. Her steps were heavy and reluctant. She couldn’t make herself take another step. She couldn’t do it.
“This was one step on the path to total domination. Vampires are in the light, but soon we will own the world. And I will do anything to make it so. Subjugate the humans, infect vampires with a blood disease, kill everyone who stands in my way. Be on the winning side of history. Stand by me.”
Reyna glanced once more at Jodie. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”
“Reyna, no. Don’t do this!”
“Just get on with it,” Roland said dryly from behind Harrington. He crossed his arms in irritation.
“Come here, Reyna,” Harrington coaxed. “Take my hand. Nothing and no one can stop me now.”
Reyna chewed on her lip and then opened herself up to Beckham. She wanted to sense him, know him one more time. He would be furious with what she was about to do. She took another step forward and placed her hand into the devil’s grasp.
Harrington’s smile widened in triumph. “Check.”
“And mate,” Reyna replied.
Then she grasped for Beckham’s powers, pulling them all into her like lightning into a conduit. Speed, strength, hearing. All of them at once, making her as unstoppable as the person before her believed that he was.
Her hand grasped at her ponytail holder, yanking it loose. Braided up into her ponytail was a small hidden vial that Genevieve had placed in her hand before she’d left. The last of its kind.
“This is for Washington, you bastard,” Reyna said.
Then she jammed the needle into the carotid artery in his neck and released the plunger.
Golden Blood flooded his system.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Harrington collapsed forward onto the glass floor. His cane clattered next to him. “What did you do to me?”
Roland took a step forward, but she glared at him, and there must have been something in her face to stop him in his tracks.
