“Through a mutual acquaintance,” Paigeanswered.Please don’t ask who, she inwardly pleaded.
“I see. I’m sure the places you met them,and this acquaintance, have already been moved far from where youlast saw them.”
“Do you think they’ll search for me?” sheasked nervously.
“No, I’m sure they consider you dead, butthey would move any locations you did know about as a just in case.You’ve been written off in their world.”
Paige’s hand tightened around Ian’s arm.She’d never thought of it, but she realized now if she had returnedto them, they most likely wouldn’t have been there to receive her.She didn’t know how to feel about that. A part of her felt morehollow at the realization of how little she’d meant; the other partwas relieved they wouldn’t be coming after her, wouldn’t think tolook for her. The last thing she needed was someone else huntingher.
“So that brings us back to my three options.It may be their blood has worked its way out of her system and youcan change her memories,” Ronan continued. “But since you don’twant that, you’re down to two. Death or eternal life?”
Every eye in the room burned into her; shefound her gaze locked upon Ronan’s. Beside her, Ian’s body vibratedwith tension, he held his breath as they all waited for her answer.“That’s not much of a choice,” she murmured.
“It’s more than many others have had,” Ronanreplied.
Ian stared at her bent head, willing her tolook at him. She remained focused on the man across from them. Heknew what he so badly wanted her answer to be, but he wouldn’t takeher choice away from her. “It doesn’t have to be today, Paige,” hetold her. “When you’re ready.”
“Sooner rather than later is preferable,”Ronan replied. “I believe you don’t know much, I believe you won’treturn to them, but you know too many of our secrets now to beallowed to continue to walk about this world freely. I won’t beleaving here until the change is completed, or I’ll be taking yousomewhere until it’s done.” His gaze flickered to Ian. “Iknowhe won’t allow anyone, besides him, to touch you insuch a way, so he will have to come with us. Neither of you will begranted your freedom until the transformation is over.”
Paige’s fingers curled into Ian’s forearm.The thought of being locked away until she was changed made herfeel like some strange form of breeding stock. “No,” shewhispered.
“You have three days to make the choice, orI will make it for you,” Ronan said briskly.
Beside her, Ian bristled. “Back off,Ronan.”
Ronan’s eyes burned into his. “Do what hasto be done, and soon. I’m being far more lenient than I should onthis.”
Before any of them could respond, Ronanopened the door and left the room. He may be gone, but Paige hadthe impression he could be fifty miles away and still know exactlywhere they were. “Where did you meet him, Brian?” Ian demanded.
Brian ran a hand through his white blondhair. “It’s a big world outside of your little family, Purebred.There are plenty of us still out there fighting against the savagesamongst us. Some of us are more entrenched in it than others.”
“Who’s more entrenched, you or him?”
“Him more so than me, but even at my agethere are new things to learn. Stefan and I knew Ronan and hisgroup existed, but we had little to do with them. Their worldrequires more responsibility and rules than either one of us werewilling to deal with. Vampire society, especially amongst ones likethese purebreds, is a lot more intricate than what we areaccustomed to.”
Brian’s gaze landed on Ethan. “I told youbefore you were capable of more than you realized. Youallare. I may live on the outskirts of Ronan’s world, shit I live onthe outskirts ofallworlds and groups, but I’m aware ofthat.” His gaze swept around the room before landing on Ian. “He’snot playing around about this. Don’t make him force it. You can’tbeat him, and he’s not one to be messed with.”
Paige’s fingers dug into Ian’s arm; sheturned her cheek into his bicep. She’d known she would have to makea decision about her future soon, but she’d planned to have moretime to get accustomed to the idea of becoming a vampire. Not acouple of days, and not under the promise of being locked awayuntil she was ready to die. It made her want to go out there andpunch Ronan in the face, but she far preferred her head right whereit was.
“Now, what happened to my cabin?” Brianinquired.
“It has a new doorway in the living room,but it’s still standing,” Ian informed him through his grittedteeth.
“Good. What about the assholes who put thatdoorway in?”
“Buried.”
Brian cracked his knuckles and looked themover. “Too bad, I would have liked to help kill thosebastards.”
“You’re going to get staked one of thesedays,” David murmured.
“Maybe,” Brian replied with an absent shrug.“Why did they show up there?”
“My father sent them.”
Paige’s words were more of a breath againsthis arm, but Ian still heard them. The others exchanged startledglances before focusing on her again. Ian pressed a kiss againstthe top of her head before expanding on her words. “He sent scoutsto see what he would be dealing with, our brief encounter in thealley was far too short of a time for him to get a good idea, and Ibested him. I think he wanted to see what I would be capableof.”
“Why hasn’t he come looking for her here?”Aiden asked.
