Ian stepped forward and placed his hand onhis brother’s chest. He shook his head as he nudged Ethan back astep. “Back off,” he warned.
“It’s fine, Ethan,” Emma said, her handencircling his arm.
Ethan’s eyes became their normal green coloragain as he stared at the woman. “I know you’ve had a rough time.You have every reason to be distrustful and frightened, but if youhurt her, or anyone else in this house, I’ll tie you to that beduntil it’s time for you to be returned.”
The woman’s mouth had dropped at Ethan’sabrupt arrival, her mouth closed as he spoke. “Animals,” shemurmured.
“If I was an animal I would have torn yourthroat out and not thought twice about it,” Ethan replied.
Some of the color drained from her face, butshe thrust her shoulders back. “Not everything is what it seems,and sometimes what you think you know is wrong,” Ian saidquietly.
She glanced at him, but her mouth remainedclamped shut. “I’m Emma.” Ethan tried to push Emma’s hand downagain, but she elbowed him in the stomach. “And Ethan here is agiant, mushy teddy bear wrapped in an overprotective shell.”
Mandy laughed, it took all Ian had to keephis smirk suppressed as his brother scowled. The woman stared atthe hand Emma kept out. “I was once human too. Once frightened andoverwhelmed by these guys, and their family, but believe me I’vemet the vampires that kill, you wouldn’t still be here if anyone inthis cabin were one of them.”
The woman swallowed and hesitatingly tookhold of Emma’s tiny hand. Ethan bristled, but didn’t move tointervene. Ian kept his body protectively in between the woman andhis brother just in case. He didn’t want to fight with his brother;he understood Ethan’s drive to keep Emma safe, but he would protecther if Ethan made a move to harm her.
“Paige Dryer,” the woman replied. Ianspeculated if it was her real name, but he didn’t get theimpression she was lying about it.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Paige,” Emmasaid and released her hand. “Youaresafe here, for howevermuch time you need to be.”
Jill materialized in the doorway. “Iseverything ok?” she inquired.
“Fine,” Emma assured her. “I bet Paige ishungry though.”
“I’m not,” Paige replied, but Ian heard therumble of her stomach. Emma must have too, as she turned away andsaid, “Jill makes the best grilled cheeses.”
“I do,” Jill confirmed with a smile. “andI’ll be happy to make one or two for you.”
Emma hooked her arm through Jill’s as theywalked down the hall together. “I’ll bring you some coffee too,”Mandy offered. She patted Paige’s arm before following her friendsfrom the room.
“I’ll be fine in here,” Ian told hisbrother.
Ethan hesitated before finally leaving theroom. Ian settled into the chair as Paige’s eyes returned tohim.
CHAPTER 5
Paige stared at the vampire sitting across from her.The casual air surrounding him set her teeth on edge. How could hebe so relaxed when she felt like she was sitting on a bed of nails?She longed to punch him in his too handsome face, to throw him offin some small way, but he’d only heal back into the sexy man hewas, and he’d probably just laugh at her. A small smile, more of asmirk, curved the corner of his full mouth. Eyes the color of thesky danced with merriment, as he seemed to guess at her thoughts.She may only be a human, but she was still deadly, something shewould prove to this man if given the chance.
She had no idea what was going on here withthis bizarre as hell vampire family, but she did know they were allmonsters no matter what any of them said. She’d heard other malevoices too, drifting from the main part of whatever house she wasin, and assumed there were more than the three men she’d met sofar. Maybe this was some kind of sick, twisted game they all playedwith their prey before torturing them, and finally putting them outof their misery. Maybe they lured their prey into a false sense ofsecurity and then laughed as they drained them dry. They may killher, but they wouldn’t fool her into thinking they were decent;she’d make sure of that.
Thick muscles rippled as the man across fromher leaned forward again. The three men she’d seen were all large,but he was the biggest of them all. She guessed him to be aroundsix-four and easily two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle,if not more. He alsoknewhe was good looking. He ran a handthrough his hair and gave her a smile she had to admit wasendearing. And then she hated herself for thinking it. She’d seenthat charming smile work its magic on multiple women over the pastfew days. Refusing to be swayed by it, she icily stared back athim, but the smile didn’t leave his face.
Ian tilted his head to the side to watchher. Her eyes had shifted back to the door; her brow furrowed asshe listened to the voices from down the hall. Trying to figure outhow many of them are here, he deduced when her mouth pursed. Hereyes shot back to him when he shifted; her upper lip curledslightly before becoming a flat line again. She was the firstfemale he’d come across who truly disliked him, also the first whofascinated him in such a strange way.
He enjoyed the subtle nuances flutteringacross her features. She tried so hard to be brave, to remain asimpassive as possible, but the beads of sweat on her upper lip, andthe increased beat of her heart belied her stony exterior. He hadto give her credit, she believed she was surrounded by monsters whowould kill her, yet she didn’t back down.
“I’ve seen you around the past few nights,”she muttered.
He folded his hands together and rested hiselbows on his knees. “I don’t recall seeing you, beforetonight.”
Paige snorted, “That’s not surprising withthe revolving door of women you maintain.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her statement butthe smile didn’t leave his face. “You’ve been watching me closelythen.”
“No,” she said far more briskly than she’dintended to.
“Do you go to the college?”
