Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“If by toughen up, you mean turn into a cold, immoral arsehole, then you can fuck off.”
There was more than a slight bite to his words, and she tried not to flinch at his caustic tone. “Don’t pretend that you haven’t been using your powers before now. Manipulating human minds … how is that any better than stealing a car?”
“It’s not the same. It was harmless.”
“Messing with people’s minds is never harmless.”
“I didn’t do anything that put anyone in danger. And anyway, you’re one to talk. I know vampires have powers of compulsion.”
“Only very strong vampires, and only when there’s a blood connection.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She flicked a look at the pulse throbbing in his neck. Ignoring the answering dryness in her throat, Echo glared ahead at the road. “A blood connection is just a phrase we use when a vampire has taken blood from the same human several times. It creates a connection between them. Powerful vampires can sometimes use that connection to compel a person to do whatever they ask. A trait obviously gifted by the fae.”
Elijah seemed to consider this. “Have you ever …?”
“No,” she replied abruptly. “I’ve never taken from the same human twice. I rarely … I rarely drink straight from the source. My regular blood intake comes from blood bags. William buys them in bulk on the black market.”
“So, what you did with Lincoln …?”
“Not my usual method. But I was hungry, and he needed to die. Repulsed yet?”
“No. But I do want to know if his death bothered you.”
“Why? Why does that matter to you?”
Elijah exhaled heavily. “Honestly, Echo, I don’t know. I just know that it matters.”
A shiver cascaded down her spine. She could feel him staring intensely at her. She answered honestly. “It bothered me. Death always bothers me. But I’ve learned to compartmentalize it. And I’m only bothered that I have one more death on my hands. I feel little remorse for unburdening the world of more Blackwoods. They’re criminals. We tracked a plane crash in the Baltic Sea to them. A portion of their coven’s bodies were recovered from that plane. Their favorite tactic is to do what they did at your concert—draw the energy from a mass of people, enough to kill them, to power up. We believe Niamh Farren was on that plane. Our guess, they killed everyone on board for the power to take her down, just as they killed over a hundred people at your gig to take you down. So yes, I’m bothered, and no, I’m really not.”
After a moment’s silence, Elijah observed, “He made you cold … but it’s not who you are. Who you really are shines through. I saw it with my parents, I saw it with Milo on the plane, and I see it when you talk of Odette. You’re constantly fighting with who you really are.”
A flicker of hot annoyance flamed to life in her gut. “No, I’m not. I’m not fighting it. I wear armor, Elijah, because it protects me. And like I said, if you were smart, you’d don some armor of your own.”
“You don’t fucking know me,” he said tonelessly. “No, I don’t like stealing. But stealing from the innocent isn’t the same as taking down enemies who want to hurt the people I love. Believe me, Echo, I have no problem doing that. I think I’ve proven it. Being tough, having the ability to compartmentalize, doesn’t mean you forgo all values and principles, that there is no line in the sand. There has to be a line, Echo. There has to be a line that you don’t cross because if you do, you’re no longer just someone protecting your family … you’re a fucking criminal.”
“A survivor,” she snapped back, glaring. “A survivor, not a criminal.”
“Thief.”
“Oh my God!” She threw a hand in the air. “I said I will pay for the fucking car!”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“You are so infuriating.”
“And you are incredibly sexy when you’re angry.”
Echo experienced an unwelcome throb between her thighs in response. “Don’t flirt with me.”
She didn’t have to look at him to know he was grinning. “Why? You like it. I can sense it.”
Furious now, Echo scowled at him in warning. “Stay out of my emotions.”
The bastard just kept grinning. “Afraid I can’t. Your emotions are so much more honest than the words that come out of your mouth.”
She tightened her grip on the wheel. “You are the most contrary pain in the ass I’ve ever met. One minute, you’re Mr. Sulky Grumpy. Now … this … whatever this is.”
“I had rather a terrible sleep on the plane, and I was a little put out about this whole car theft, but … you have a strange effect on me. And I find that I much prefer flirting with you to being annoyed at you.”