Part 38 (1/2)

”I think that, with time, whatever is meant to pa.s.s will pa.s.s,” Domin said, very tired. He rolled his neck, cracking it. He turned to the door. ”Release the witch, heal her, and have Leandro take her from this place. There is nothing more we can do for her.

There is no reason to keep her longer.”

”And what of our other prisoner?” Broderick asked warily. ”What of Marcello?”

Both eyes turned to the cell where he was kept, right next to Tatiana. The vampire had been brave, storming into the den days after Tatiana's arrival to try and save her. He'd courageously taken on most of the lycan guard to get to her. It was a fool's mission, but suddenly Domin understood that Marcello might not have been able to do anything else. Perhaps his reasons were not out of injured pride as Domin and the others first suspected. Perhaps the vampire felt more for his witch than he let on. However, vampires were tricky creatures and hard to read. They learned deceit quickly after turning.

”Give Leandro a head start with the girl,” Domin said. ”Don't tell him we have his brother, just that he must take the witch far away from him. My connection with her grows and it is not wise to leave us so close together for too much longer. We feed too readily off each other's emotions and she doesn't have the control yet to fight it. After Leandro's been gone for a few days, send Marcello out after them. I care not to interfere with their personal war. Besides, if she has a need of me, I will hear her call and, in time, she'll hear mine. The rest, Broderick, is up to the Mistress of Fate.”

Broderick unchained her from the wall and walked her by her elbow though the stone pa.s.sageways as if nothing had happened--as if they had not kept her prisoner for she-didn't-know-how long, as if they hadn't kidnapped her. He reached into his s.h.i.+rt and pulled out a bundle of cooked meat and bread. Handing it to her, he said, ”Take this and eat it when you can.

It is normal that you wouldn't be hungry for several days. Domin's blood is very strong. It is possible for you to live weeks on it.

But, if you eat food, you will feel more like yourself.”

”I don't even remember what myself feels like,” she chuckled bitterly. Tatiana took it and clutched it to her chest. She didn't feel like eating. A rock was fitted in her stomach. All she wanted was to lie down and sleep for an eternity. Instead, she followed the lycan through the caves. She was silent until they reached the opening, leading up onto the earth.

Broderick stopped, his vivid eyes looking her over. ”You are free to go. I have done for you all I can.”

Tatiana stared at him, sensing he wanted to say more. She was too tired to ask, so she merely waited.

”Say the word and I will give you my protection,” Broderick stated. His eyes dipped over her thin, pale frame. There was only a mild attraction in his gaze when he looked at her--an animalistic l.u.s.t that had nothing to do with tender feelings.

”I don't understand why you brought me here for this,” Tatiana muttered. ”I don't know why you would've tried to balance my powers instead of just killing me. It would've been more humane of you to kill me and be done with it. Right now, I'd much prefer death to living.”

A small smile lit his immortal face. He bowed to her, a short, dutiful movement of his head. ”As do we all, Miss Sinclair, as do we all.”

Tatiana wondered at his tone. Broderick pointed up toward the opening.

”Leandro awaits you,” he said. ”Where you go from here is up to him.”

Tatiana watched Broderick turn on his heels, disappearing into the cave. She had a small vision of him in sunlight standing before a dark haired woman and thought that perhaps this wouldn't be the last time they met. A dark, humorless chuckle escaped her chapped lips.

Holding the food bundle with her teeth, she weakly climbed up and out of the den. She stood, letting the night breeze hit her skin. It pushed her body to delicately swaying. Just the air made her feel better as she reached out with her senses. Feeling a presence behind her, she turned. Leandro sat on a rock, studying her with his unmoving face. For a moment, his brooding expression reminded her of Marcello.

”You are not taking me back to him, are you?” she asked.

”No.” Leandro stood and swiftly glided past her, beginning the long journey down. ”I will never give you back to my brother.”

”Why?”

Leandro stopped. Turning his head to her, his body soon followed. In an instant, he was before her. His face leaned close to hers, not touching. Tatiana gasped. His fangs showed between his parted lips as he spoke.

”That,bella donna , is between Marcello and I. It has nothing to do with you really, but an old debt I seek to repay.”

”Debt or revenge?” she asked.

Leandro smiled at her observance. ”It is all one and the same.”

His eyes flashed, turning black with an emotion so dark and raw it made her nauseous. She began to pant, feeling the demon Leandro hid so well from the world behind his normally careless smile. The vast emptiness of his soul screamed at her, gripping her with his hatred.