Page 23 of Blood Match
The woman’s expression shifts, horror dawning in those mesmerizing eyes. Recognition flashes across her face, followed swiftly by revulsion.
“You!” she exclaims, shock and disbelief laced into the words.
And suddenly, I recognize her too. The voice in my head. The presence that’s been haunting me. She’s real, she’s here, and she’s looking at me like I’m her worst nightmare come to life.
7
Chapter 7
Rowan
Istare at the tall figure in horror, his voice ringing in my ears. A voice I would know anywhere.
No! No, it’s not possible!
The vampire’s ice-blue eyes lock onto mine, and I feel a jolt of recognition. It’s him. The voice in my head. The one who’s been invading my thoughts.
A fucking vampire!
And he’s here, attacking us during Mia’s Starlight Vigil.
Rage bubbles up inside me, hot and fierce.
How dare he?
How dare he intrude on this sacred moment? My fingers tingle with the urge to lash out, to make him pay for this violation.
“You!” I choke out, pointing a shaking finger at him. He doesn’t respond, doesn’t say anything. I gather what little magical power I possess, desperately reaching for anything that might help. The air around me crackles with energy, and I feel a surge of…something. It’s not much, but it’s all I have.
“You bastard!” With a cry of fury, I thrust my hands forward, directing all my anger and grief toward the vampire. Blue sparks fly from my fingertips, arcing through the air towards him.
But he doesn’t move. He just…stands there, staring at me with an expression of utter shock on his face. My pathetic excuse for a spell hits him square in the chest, and he barely flinches.
I take in his appearance, my eyes raking over him. He’s tall and lean, dressed entirely in black. A fitted shirt hugs his broad shoulders beneath a snug black armored vest that tapers to a narrow waist. His face is all sharp angles and shadows, high cheekbones, and a strong jaw. Thick gold hair sweeps back from a broad forehead. And those alarming blue eyes seem to glow, fixed on me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
Damn it.
Why did the voice in my head have to belong to someone who looks like that?
And a fucking vampire!
My spell fizzles out, leaving nothing but a faint scorch mark on his vest. The vampire blinks, looking down at his chest and then back at me. A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.
“Was that supposed to hurt?” he drawls, his voice rich and deep. It’s the same voice I’ve been hearing in my mind, but now it’s tinged with amusement. “I’ve had bug bites that packed more of a punch.”
Fury explodes in my chest. How dare he mock me? How dare he stand there, looking so smug and unaffected, while my family grieves?
“Shut up!” I snarl, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “You don’t get to joke about this. You and your kind are monsters! You took her!”
The vampire’s smirk falters, confusion flickering across his face. “Took who? What are you talking about?”
I laugh, a harsh, bitter sound. “Don’t play dumb. You vampires did it. And now you’re here to what? Finish the job? Take the rest of us?”
He takes a step toward me, his brow furrowed. “Listen, I don’t know what you’re—”
“Stay back!” I shout, raising my hands again. More sparks dance between my fingers, but they’re weaker this time, barely visible. Useless. Just like always.
The vampire stops, holding up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m not here to hurt anyone. We came to stop—”