Page 138 of Burn for Her
Although, by the burning fury in Dorian’s eyes, she knew he’d beat this guy anyway. If he didn’t combust first.
Panic built momentum in her. She yanked on her chains with no success.
“Teach me how to cheat death then, father.”
Lena’s suspicions were just confirmed. Father. The burn marks, the shack, Dorian’s reactions… the monster from Dorian’s past had come back to devour him.
This vampire was the one who tortured and abused him. The one who made Dorian think he was a monster too. That alone made Lena want to kill the bastard. But this wasn’t her fight. It was Dorian’s and she couldn’t do much anyway since she was hanging like a punching bag.
“Careful, son. You’re losing blood faster than you can make it.”
Stryx had hobbled around the side of the house and disappeared behind Lena. Dorian’s eyes were black coals and he hissed as he attacked and his father yelled, “Stay!”
Dorian froze in place.
Lena’s heart shattered when she realized Dorian was compelled. It was just like what Malachi did to Lena when they’d met.
Stryx gripped her hip. “I’m hungry, father,” he whined.
The vampire in charge broke his gaze from Dorian and focused on Stryx. Lena watched Dorian’s knee bend as he shifted his weight. His gaze snapped to hers. Quick as a flash, he looked up at the chains, then back to her again.
She… she wasn’t sure she understood what he was getting at, but a plan formed in her mind. Dorian’s boot dragged another inch. She licked her cracked lips and prepared herself.
“Have a taste,” Lena said with a sultry tone. “I don’t mind.”
Stryx groaned and it wasn’t a pleasant sound. It was strangled. Pained. Scared.
“Not yet,” growled the scarred vampire, reaching for a weapon. A cleaver. “I need to season your blood before I’ll allow him to feed.”
She dared not look at Dorian now, though. But boy did she want to, if only to draw courage from him.
Fear Eater.
Lena knew what needed to be done. Here’s hoping she could actually pull it off.
Chapter 45
Dorian had one shot. One chance to get this right. He played the part as well as his instincts allowed without losing himself to bloodthirst, desperation, and wrath. He pretended to be compelled by his father, to give that fucker a false sense of control.
He prayed Lena understood that. If she was scared, it didn’t show, and he needed her to keep it that way.
“Have a taste,” Lena said with a sultry tone. “I don’t mind.”
“Not yet. I need to season your blood before I’ll allow him to feed.”
So, the old man hadn’t changed his ways one bit. Good to know.
“I know how to spike her adrenaline.” Stryx needled. Then he pulled out his gun and aimed it at Dorian.
Buckling down, Dorian flashed just as the trigger was pulled. He reformed behind Stryx and disarmed him before he could fire again.
At that same moment, Lena lifted herself into a mid-suspension and clamped her legs around his father’s neck. The monster stumbled in surprise and dropped the cleaver. Jerking and thrashing to free himself, Lena doubled down and didn’t let go.
Dorian wrestled Stryx to the ground and grabbed the gun, firing it into Stryx, who flashed before the bullet found its mark.
Damnit!
Lena twisted and hollered as Dorian’s father tried to bite into her. Stryx reformed, hanging upside down on the ceiling, hissing. Dorian pulled the trigger and shot him in the chest. He fell to the ground and flashed out of sight again.