Annie Nicholas - Bait

His pain-filled cry shattered me. Tears spilled from my eyes. The move didn’t work like he wanted it to, now he suffered. I prayed for a miracle but would God help a vampire? If someone from the team came they’d only add to the body count and there were too many corpses in this room already. I lay my head on Colby’s chest too weak to help and needing any comfort I could get.

Rurik dropped his weapons in an attempt to grab and pull out the slick blade. His hands slipped with each try, cutting at his palms.

Dragos strolled around him, a crooked grin on his face. Vindication poured from him. He kicked at the back of my love’s knees so he fell forward onto them with a grunt.

Blood streamed from his wound down his abdomen. It reminded me of the bathhouse where I saw him naked for the first time and watched the water run down his torso in the same manner. Our eyes met and locked. Deep sorrow pooled in his ice blue irises. They asked to be forgiven and offered an apology. Neither of which I wanted.

“Looks like I’ve missed all the fun.” Tane leaned on the cracked door frame, arms crossed over his chest, still impeccably dressed in his white dress shirt and gray slacks. Pale Eric was in tow, subdued in jeans and t-shirt. “What’s going on, brother? I thought you wanted Rurik to watch the dawn, not hack him up to pieces.”

Tangled in conflicting emotions my heart soared with hope and plummeted with dread at the sight of Tane. What was my personal demon doing here? He’d given me the impression he wanted to sit on the fence and watch the outcome of this farce he created.

Dragos ’ grin widened into a smile. “An interesting gift you left me. She’s poisoned.” He gestured to his head. “It affects my mental abilities and slows my movements.”

“Really?” Tane stepped into the room and examined his friend who glared at him from his knees. “How ingenious of Rurik to come up with such a plan.”

Rurik struggled, his movements strong with new ambition to remove the object from his chest. The size made it awkward as it continued to slip through his grasp. It moved a slow inch and caused him to moan with a new wave of agony.

Both Nosferatu circled him like sharks, in slow deliberate steps as if wondering in shared silences what manner to end his existence.

He narrowed his eyes as he glared with defiance at one then the other.

When Dragos came around to face him he shoved the sword back in the inches Rurik fought to bring out. The motion made Rurik fall to his side. His face contorted in a quiet scream.

Tane watched but glanced at me with a small secretive smile. I sucked in a sharp breath of surprise. My demon was up to something but I couldn’t tell if it would benefit or harm me. Either way, I was tired of the mind games.

He strolled across the room and knelt by Colby who lay motionless between us. Tane touched the lump on his forehead. “He should be fine, maybe with a mild concussion.” He directed this soft comment to me then spoke to Dragos. “You should have restrained yourself and not drained her so. It will be difficult to trace the drug once she’s dead.”

“I tire of listening to you preach these beliefs of taking only what we need, Tane.” He kicked Rurik in the head. “This one’s had too much influence on you. Kill her and be done with it. We have a bigger rodent to play with.”

Tane rolled up his sleeve to expose his wrist.

“What are you doing?” His Master approached from behind and glanced over Tane’s shoulder. Dragos ’ eyes flared when he saw what Tane planned and pulled him away from me to fling him toward the broken door.

With an agile dignity Tane unfolded from the floor after being manhandled by his Master. He brushed the wrinkles from his pants. “I was going to heal her.”

“She’d be bound to you.”

Tane rounded on Dragos. “A dead human is of no use to us.”

The still body under me stirred to startle my weak fluttering heart. Colby lifted his head and assessed his surroundings. He pressed his fingers over my lips as I opened my mouth. They traced down my chin to touch the swollen bite mark on my neck. He frowned.

“So what?” Both Nosferatu argued and ignored us mere mortals but Rurik watched intently.

My pulse trembled at the concern on both of their faces. It made me want to cry. I felt awful but now I knew I looked it too. They knew I was dying.

“We can use her to control Rurik. I won’t need to stay in control of this city and can continue to travel with you.”

“I want him dead not controlled.”

With a warrior’s training Colby rolled to his knees and picked me up in his arms. He rose and pivoted but Eric blocked our way.

“She won’t make it to the hospital, Colby.” Rurik’s pain-filled voice croaked across the room. “I can hear her heart weaken with every beat. Bring her to me. I can help.”

For the first time since I’d started working for him, I saw Colby hesitate. I knew my situation was dire. He didn’t need to fight to hide his worry from me.

I touched his cheek then saw Eric over his shoulder. He held murder in his eyes. Something must have shown on my face since Colby twisted us to the side as Eric pointed a gun in our direction.

“Stop.” Tane continued to face-off with Dragos as he spoke his quiet command.

Eric stepped back as if struck by the word.

“Go secure the house.”

The plaything didn’t relinquish his aim at Colby.

“Don’t try my tolerance tonight, Eric.” Tane turned his stare on him.

He slipped the safety back on his weapon and ran from the room.

I’m not sure what Colby would have done if he didn’t have his arms full with me. From the tension radiating around him I’d say Eric just got away with his life still intact.

Tane sauntered around Rurik, his friend, and paused to kick him in the small of his back.

Dragos nodded his approval.

“Enough.” I couldn’t view anymore abuse to my lover. “If you’re going to kill us get it over with.”

“I don’t think we should.” Tane drew nearer and brushed a curl from my eyes. “You’ve all proven to be useful. I’m not a wasteful master.” He glanced at Dragos over his shoulder. “Or a lax one. Place her on the divan, Colby. Then you can tend to your men.”

“I’m not your lackey. Connie is a member of my team. I won’t leave her behind.”

“See what I mean.” Dragos chuckled. “They’re too much trouble.”

Tane rolled his eyes. “Then lay her down and watch as I help if that suits you better.”

“Connie.” Rurik kicked and struggled then reached for me.

In turn, Tane looked at each of us then gestured to the couch. “She’s getting worse. It won’t be long before she’s dead.”

“Let me do this, Tane. I beg of you.” Rurik sat up, he grimaced with the motion as the sword cut deeper.

As Colby sat on the divan he hugged me closer. “I don’t know what to do for you, Connie.” He whispered in my ear. Neither did I. The pressure on my chest grew. It became more difficult to draw breath. The edges of warmth blanketed me, starting from my toes it moved up my body. Exhaustion prevailed over my soul.

“She’s either bound to me or she passes to other side. Decide before it’s too late.”

Colby hugged me. “Connie?” The anxiety mixed into my name called me back to my situation.

“Tane, please don’t do this.” Rurik pleaded.

Tane ignored him. He rolled up one sleeve to expose his wrist and brought it to my lips. With a pointed fingernail he punctured his skin at the pulse site. “You’ll need to drink some of this, Rabbit, if you want to live.”

I pressed my lips together and shook my head.

“You’re being difficult again. Soon you’ll be beyond even my help. Drink.”