“No,” Stefan answered. “I’ve come acrossthem before, I’ve killed one of them before.” Paige inhaled sharplyas her gaze shot nervously toward Stefan. Ian suspected Stefan wastrying to bait her into losing her composure and possibly revealingwhy he couldn’t change her memories. “They’re different than sheis.”
“How?” Mandy asked.
“For one thing, they’re stronger. A vampirenever would have gotten one of them so easily. They’re abnormallyfast, one of the things that has led to many of the rumors aboutthem, but her reflexes are one hundred percent human. She isworking with them though.”
“She’s human, she’s all but confirmed it,even if she didn’t mean to,” Ian said.
Stefan leaned closer to her. Paigeinstinctively shrank away from the breath she felt rippling overher skin. “I’m not entirely sure what is going on here, but I willtell you we’ll do what we must to survive, and to make sure ourloved ones stay safe.”
The color faded from Paige’s face. Ian knewwhat Stefan was trying to do, knew it had to be done, but a rippleof annoyance slid over his skin at his intimidation tactics.Without meaning to, he stepped closer to the bed. Stefan was akiller, but he wasn’t a cruel man. However, he’d been telling thetruth, Stefan would do what he must to keep everyone in this housesafe. Just as Ethan would.
Ian’s gaze traveled to his brother, Ethanalready didn’t like or trust Paige. Ethan had killed before, and nomatter how much he struggled to keep it hidden from all of them,Ian knew a darkness resided within his brother. Emma had helped toease it, but Ethan wouldn’t hesitate to kill Paige, and walk out ofhere with barely a twinge of conscience.
Normally Ian would agree, his family hadalways been the most important part of his life, but somethingabout this woman made him determined to keep her safe. He didn’thave any idea how to go about doing that if they couldn’t changeher memories. She may not know where they were now, or where theylived normally, but she had far more information than any humanshould have about them. Especially any human who harbored as muchdislike for their kind as she did.
Her refusal to look at him began to try hisalready fraying patience. Stepping closer to her, he took hold ofher chin and turned her head toward him. “Why can’t we change yourmemories?”
Paige folded her arms over her chest. Theanger and resentment notched up a level within the room, she couldalmost see them debating over what they were going to do with her.Part of her training had been how to stand up to vampires and thethings they could do to her. She’d withstood torture, been putthrough the wringer by Nabel and her father, and she was stillhere. Her fingernails had grown back, her bruises and broken boneshad healed; even her shattered heart had a partial scab on it. Shecould take whatever these creatures threw at her.
“I’m not saying anything,” she replied.
“Son of a bitch,” Ethan growled. “Emma, takeJill and Mandy into the other room.”
“She’s a human Ethan; she’s not a majorthreat,” Emma protested.
“I’m not taking any chances, not withyou.”
Emma shook her head. “No, we’re stayinghere.”
Ethan looked like he was tempted to throwher over his shoulder and carry her from the room. Emma folded herarms over her chest and gave him a look that suggested she wouldconsider castration if he tried it. Ethan shook his head andstepped further in front of her. Ian’s attention was drawn back toPaige as she rose to her knees on the bed and tilted her chindefiantly.
“So now you plan to kill me?” she inquired.Ian found her unexpectedly fiery for someone facing four vampireswith nothing more than her humanity to protect her.
“No one is going to kill anyone,” Mandyassured her.
“Not yet,” Stefan grumbled.
“Stefan!” Jill hissed.
The hostility surged within the room, itpulsated against his skin, pricking his appetite and arousing hismurderous impulses. He stepped protectively closer to the bed.Stefan and Ethan were two of the strongest vampires he knew, but hewouldn’t let them touch her. There was a shuffling within the hallas Mike and David stepped forward. “I think we all just need torelax and take some time to think about this,” David said in acalming voice.
“David’s right,” Mike said.
Turning to face them, Ian nodded toward thedoor. “Leave. Let me talk to her.”
Ethan glanced at him before focusing onPaige again. His eyes had taken on that strange hue they’d becomewhen he and Emma had first gotten together. They weren’t quiteemerald, but they weren’t a fiery red color either. Paige’s gazelocked on Ethan’s as that color danced through his eyes. If she sawEthan Hulk out, she may lose her mind. Thankfully, Ethan kept thatside of himself suppressed right now.
“Ethan go,” he grated through his teeth.
Emma wrapped her hand around Ethan’s arm,drawing him further away from the bed. Mike and David stepped backto let them leave the room. Ian followed them to the door and heldonto the edge of it with his hand. “Stefan.” His brother-in-lawturned to face him. “How much experience do you have with thesehunters?”
“Not much, and none of it pleasant.”
“I know my parents and the Stooges don’thave any. Do you know someone who does?”
A muscle twitched in Stefan’s cheek. “Ido.”
Ian realized immediately who Stefan knew.“Brian?”
