Page 11 of Fangs with Benefits

"That isyouropinion, not mine." He frowns. "Fortunately, as clan leader, mine is the only one that matters. You seem more riled-up about this matter than anyone else. Why is that?"

He's fishing for information. Perhaps if I was more patient, I would play the game, but I'm at my wit's end.

"I'm not going to let any harm come to Blair," I growl at him.

"Ah, andthereit is. The reason you were at that first meeting with Blair." Arman seems to gain some sort of satisfaction out of my confession of concern. "So, tell me, why did you choose this particular witch to protect, instead of the entire coven? Do you have feelings for her?"

His eyes bore into mine, but I don't have an answer for him. I'm not even sure how to answer that question for myself yet. Idohave feelings for Blair, but I am not sure why orwhatthose feelings are.

I stare back at him until Arman shakes his head with theatrical disappointment.

"You are of no use to me now," he says . "I can't have unreliable vampires in my midst. Your feelings have been compromised and that makes you a liability. It's a shame—I had such high hopes for you."

Arman walks toward the door and locks me inside like I'm his prisoner. I pull against the doorknob and throw my weight against the wooden door, but it won't budge, and the lock holds fast. I'm trapped inside my own den.

I imagine that Arman is waiting for the rest of the clan to recover from the effects of the Blair's spell. Since I got here, I haven't seen or heard any other vampires moving around. As soon as the rest of them unfreeze, I know Arman will hunt Blair down. And once he's taken care of her, he'll finish off the rest of the coven.

I'm so angry about the turn his leadership has taken. I thought things would be different this time around, but Arman has made it clear he's no different than any of our other corrupt clan leaders. They're all greedy, cruel, and self-serving. It almost makes me jealous of the werewolves and the way that their alpha considers his pack family. And the Fae, who hold celebrations and whose hierarchy protects their people. Vampires would slit each other's throats if it benefitted them.

"Arman!" I shout through the closed door. I can still hear his heavy breathing from the hallway. "I know you're there. Think about what you're doing. You are going to make the witches martyrs. Every supernatural faction leader will go against you. They'll think that you are no better than the last clan leader, Mickael."

There is silence for a long moment, and I wonder if he's still there, or if he finally walked away without answering. But then there is an audible exhale followed by a muffled chuckle. He sounds amused.

"I'm sure you expected me to take offense at that dig, so I'm sorry to disappoint you. I take what you said as a compliment. I couldn't care less what you or any of the faction leaders think of me. I have a vision—one that will ensure a peaceful, united supernatural city. And in time, everyone will agree with it."

"Open this door," I demand, slamming my palm against the hard surface. "You can't keep me in here forever."

"That may be true. But I'm going to keep you in there for the moment, while I sort out the witches. They make the other factions fight for crumbs at their feet."

"That isn't true," I hiss at him. "The witches are peacekeepers. They ensure that no single faction gains more power than the another."

"And who is to stopthemfrom having too much power?" Arman asks dryly.

I try to think of an answer but can't. The truth is that there isn't another faction that could step in to stop the witches. But the witches don't have the same greedy ambitions as some of the other factions. There's no need to monitor them because they aren't a threat. But trying to explain that to Arman is pointless. He refuses to listen to anyone but himself.

Before I can think of a rebuttal, his footsteps echo down the hall, and I'm left alone in the room, trying find a way out. There are no windows and only the one door. And since I can't get it to budge, I'm trapped like a caged animal. But Ineedto get out of here and get back to Blair before the vampires appear on the coven's doorstep.

I pace the room anxiously, listening for any noise outside the room that I can use to my advantage. Finally, I hear some of the other vampires clan moving about.

"Hey!" I shout. I bang against the inside of the door. "Hey! Does anyone hear me out there? Someone open the door! Let me out of here!"

I hear some movement, then whispering, and finally the sound of the lock unlatching. I step back to let the door open fully and am met with the faces of two of Arman's right-hand men. They definitely aren't my favorite people here, but at least I've managed to get someone's attention and get the door opened.

"Thanks," I say as I try to push past them. But they block me with two sets of broad shoulders that are wider and bulkier than my own. They're glaring at me with vengeance in their eyes.

Perfect. These two are nothing more than mindless goons, an extension of Arman's reach and muscle.

"Where do you think you're running off to?" one of them asks.

"You have no reason to keep me here," I say. These men are my equals in the clan, not above me. Only the clan leader is superior to the clan members. These two have no authority over me.

But when I try to push past them again, they block me.

"I think we have a lot of reason to keep you here. We don't want you running back to that littlewitch bitchof yours."

The hair on the back of my neck bristles at his choice of words. If any of these vampires get their hands on Blair, they will treat her like nothing more than a slab of meat. All the more reason for me to get the hell out of here so I can reach her first.

But these guys aren't outside my door by accident. They were sent in here to teach me a lesson.