“Money?” Anton asked. He was dazed, slowly sitting up while holding on to the wall behind him.
“The vampire who helped Dmitri walked through shadows.” Seamus pointed at Anton. “That is the only bastard in North America who can do it.”
“Not the only one, technically,” Takashi said dryly. He was standing on the other side of the ruined door, remaining in the hallway. “I can think of a half dozen others. A charming five-hundred-year-old vampire in Mexico City can cross a hundred miles in minutes.”
Seamus hissed at him.
Zack watched Seamus for any hint he might move toward Takashi. “He has a point. Others are capable.”
“Othersdidn’t release Dmitri from his cell.”
“It was a bargain, my love,” Anton said. “Roger had come for Zack and Takashi, but I wanted to see what he would choose. He chose Dmitri. And my love, remember, he has manipulated shadows before.”
“So you want me to believe thatRoger,of all the pathetic fledglings in the world, has somehow gained this power?” Seamus snapped.
Takashi straightened, all of his concern going too quickly to an expressionless mask.
“What was that?” Seamus took one step toward him.
Zack darted to stand in front of Takashi.
With a growl, Seamus demanded around Zack to Takashi, “What did you think of?”
“Halloween,” Takashi murmured. “For a split second, I could have sworn Roger wasn’t on the balcony with you. But I took it for a flicker of movement. Something minute that I couldn’t see from across the room.”
“I thought that I had blinked,” Seamus muttered. He was stunned, the desire for violent vengeance fading to a dull blaze rather than an inferno. “He slipped my grasp through calling on darkness.”
So Roger could have been the one helping Dmitri. Zack bit his bottom lip as soon as the thought came to mind.
Seamus nodded once, though he seemed lost in distraction. “Dmitri and Roger. Three hundred years, and now they choose to defy me. Whynow?”
“Maybe they finally got tired of your abusive bullshit,” Zack replied hotly.
“Do not test me, boy.” Seamus pointed his finger at Zack. “I can end you as easily as I brought you into your new life.”
“So much for never throwing me away,” Zack said.
Seamus took an angry step toward Zack.
Zack shifted his weight, subtly sliding into a better stance and narrowing the area Seamus could attack.
“My love,” Anton called. Though he was only across the room, he seemed to be miles away from the tension growing between Zack and Seamus. A sweet brush of calming desiretook over the page in Zack’s mind. Judging from how Seamus startled, he felt it, too. Gingerly, Anton moved toward them, his eyes glowing brighter from the use of his power. “I know they took our money, but so what if they ruined a few short-term plans?”
With a groan, Seamus closed his eyes and rolled his shoulders. Zack could feel the way the desire was coating Seamus’s anger, like a blanket over a flame. Was that how Anton had survived? He’d become a master at taming Seamus’s desires for violence?
While Anton was focusing on manipulating Seamus’s emotions, Zack had an easier time reading his connection to his sire. Seamus was resisting. But through their bond, Zack soaked the soothing desire Anton emanated and then redoubled it back toward Seamus.
Seamus opened his eyes and glared at Zack, but he had only a flicker of heat. The burning inferno was snuffed out. “Clever, but if the two of you don’t stop, I will introduce your hearts to silver blades.”
The glow in Anton’s gaze dimmed to his normal red irises. He folded his emotions out of Zack’s easy view, effectively closing the book of his mind. But Zack glanced one last fear in huge letters.Will he kill me?
That might become useful information, but Zack couldn’t linger on any thought or scheme. If he did, Seamus could hear him.There has to be some way to block him. Zack winced.
“Yes, I heard that,” Seamus replied. “I spend most of my time blocking you, Zackery. I would appreciate it if you put in a little effort on your side.”
“You’re that closely bonded?” Anton asked.
“Yes.” Seamus picked up a chair that had been overturned during his rampage. Apparently, it had taken too much damage because one of the legs fell off as he attempted to return it toits place. He sighed with disappointment. “I had high hopes for what Zackery and I might accomplish, but all of that will burn.”
