for any excuse to punish you for leaving her.”
“Then why drag up some ancient law that is never enforced to do so? Why not take it out on me and leave the girl alone?”
Solomon laughed again. “Where’s the fun in that? She knows as well as I do that you don’t give a damn what happens to you anymore, but you’ve exposed a weakness—one she is going to exploit. The woman you saved seems to be the key. Jealousy can be a powerful motivation.”
Solomon had warned that he would give Bane as much time as he could to sort things out himself, but if the order came to act, he would move fast—and it would be best if Bane didn’t get in the way. Bane resisted the urge to remind Solomon that he would be no easy conquest and left the island as soon as the call had ended.
He hadn’t needed to track her far once he’d swum across to the mainland. The small community hospital seemed the logical place to take her. From there, he caught her scent, locating her room easily when he stalked the hospital grounds.
Bane had checked on Amber through the night. She’d fallen into the dreamless sleep of those who thought they were safe and the worst was over. Guilt at putting her in a far greater danger than she could ever imagine gnawed away at him. He’d acted in good conscience—he couldn’t just watch her die on the island.
But he’d done no more than sign her death warrant.
Maintaining his vigil until the first light of dawn sent him to find shelter in the shadows, Bane had leapt the clearing to land in a tall oak beside her window. He’d tolerate the sun later if he had to. His shroud would offer some protection and the burns would heal in time provided he didn’t stay exposed for too long. But he didn’t plan on staying anywhere long. His only chance of saving her, if such action became necessary, would mean thinking and acting fast.
David’s visit had unsettled her but the knowledge that she didn’t remember anything of her ordeal didn’t reassure Bane. Amber would still die if Katerina had her way.
His unease increased after David left. Bane whiled away the morning watching a crowd of journalists gather at the entrance to the hospital. After listening to the conversations going on in Amber’s room, he knew she would be leaving in a few hours and that David would be coming to collect her. He had to be the responsible for the swarm of media waiting for her. The fool had probably called them himself. Their chances of survival were deteriorating by the second. David’s time was running out and if Bane couldn’t stop it, Amber’s would be gone too.
As if activated by his train of thought, the phone in his pocket vibrated, alerting him to an incoming call. He didn’t need to answer it to know what he would hear.
Solomon spoke only once. “The order has been issued.”
Bane didn’t have time to mutter a thanks for the warning before the line went dead. Solomon had put himself at great personal risk. The Fratia de Sange expected total obedience and loyalty. Any infraction—including defying them—would be punished severely.
His chance to stop the situation from escalating had disappeared, thanks to David’s stupidity. Bane’s hands twitched anew with the now familiar urge to kill him. Venom flooded his mouth as his teeth descended and a low growl tore from his throat. The almost overwhelming desire to bleed David dry stopped Bane’s rage cold. He could never allow that side of him to surface again, no matter how satisfying this particular human’s death would be. Besides, the longer both targets stayed alive, the fewer hunters there would be to focus solely on Amber.
Sounds of an argument in her room drew his attention to the source of his troubles. She refused to leave through the main door despite David’s pleas. “Forget it. I can call Richard to pick me up,” she said.
“Okay, we’ll avoid the press this time. I guess it will heighten the interest some if you are hard to find.” David
“Then why drag up some ancient law that is never enforced to do so? Why not take it out on me and leave the girl alone?”
Solomon laughed again. “Where’s the fun in that? She knows as well as I do that you don’t give a damn what happens to you anymore, but you’ve exposed a weakness—one she is going to exploit. The woman you saved seems to be the key. Jealousy can be a powerful motivation.”
Solomon had warned that he would give Bane as much time as he could to sort things out himself, but if the order came to act, he would move fast—and it would be best if Bane didn’t get in the way. Bane resisted the urge to remind Solomon that he would be no easy conquest and left the island as soon as the call had ended.
He hadn’t needed to track her far once he’d swum across to the mainland. The small community hospital seemed the logical place to take her. From there, he caught her scent, locating her room easily when he stalked the hospital grounds.
Bane had checked on Amber through the night. She’d fallen into the dreamless sleep of those who thought they were safe and the worst was over. Guilt at putting her in a far greater danger than she could ever imagine gnawed away at him. He’d acted in good conscience—he couldn’t just watch her die on the island.
But he’d done no more than sign her death warrant.
Maintaining his vigil until the first light of dawn sent him to find shelter in the shadows, Bane had leapt the clearing to land in a tall oak beside her window. He’d tolerate the sun later if he had to. His shroud would offer some protection and the burns would heal in time provided he didn’t stay exposed for too long. But he didn’t plan on staying anywhere long. His only chance of saving her, if such action became necessary, would mean thinking and acting fast.
David’s visit had unsettled her but the knowledge that she didn’t remember anything of her ordeal didn’t reassure Bane. Amber would still die if Katerina had her way.
His unease increased after David left. Bane whiled away the morning watching a crowd of journalists gather at the entrance to the hospital. After listening to the conversations going on in Amber’s room, he knew she would be leaving in a few hours and that David would be coming to collect her. He had to be the responsible for the swarm of media waiting for her. The fool had probably called them himself. Their chances of survival were deteriorating by the second. David’s time was running out and if Bane couldn’t stop it, Amber’s would be gone too.
As if activated by his train of thought, the phone in his pocket vibrated, alerting him to an incoming call. He didn’t need to answer it to know what he would hear.
Solomon spoke only once. “The order has been issued.”
Bane didn’t have time to mutter a thanks for the warning before the line went dead. Solomon had put himself at great personal risk. The Fratia de Sange expected total obedience and loyalty. Any infraction—including defying them—would be punished severely.
His chance to stop the situation from escalating had disappeared, thanks to David’s stupidity. Bane’s hands twitched anew with the now familiar urge to kill him. Venom flooded his mouth as his teeth descended and a low growl tore from his throat. The almost overwhelming desire to bleed David dry stopped Bane’s rage cold. He could never allow that side of him to surface again, no matter how satisfying this particular human’s death would be. Besides, the longer both targets stayed alive, the fewer hunters there would be to focus solely on Amber.
Sounds of an argument in her room drew his attention to the source of his troubles. She refused to leave through the main door despite David’s pleas. “Forget it. I can call Richard to pick me up,” she said.
“Okay, we’ll avoid the press this time. I guess it will heighten the interest some if you are hard to find.” David
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