Page 111 of Forsaking All Others

“Asumpta,” I smile, “when next we meet you will be measured for your coffin.”

“I miss you,” she whispers, ignoring what I’ve said, “deliberately. But next time I might not.”

I grit my teeth. She’s referring to shooting me, obviously, but I’m not going to give her the satisfaction.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ve been a bad boy,” she laughs, “very bad if this is the one.”

“What one? If you phoned to make a point, make it, Asumpta. Soon enough you’ll feel the point of my blade through your corrupt heart.”

“None of them, all of them. In the end there will be no other.”

I open my mouth to reply, but she’s hung up.

Shoving my phone into my pocket, I run my hands through my hair in frustration before collecting myself and returning to claim Catriona.

“You don’t look happy,” she murmurs as I join her, taking her hand and leading her further away from the cameras.

“I owe you an apology,” I say quietly, turning to pull her to a stop. “It wasn’t your people who shot me, as you said.”

She nods as I go on.

“And I should have trusted your word.”

“Thank you. Who shot you?”

I shake my head and turn to keep walking, still holding her hand.

“A woman.”

“Because…?”

“Because she was once a friend who turned on the house she served. I was forced to hunt her down, torture her, and drag her to a trial.”

“Torture? I thought you said you didn’t harm women.”

“Cat,” I shake my head, “just because I choose not to dine on human women doesn’t mean I don’t kill them if I have to. Not all humans are good, just as not all vampires are good. As it happens, Asumpta is a vampire.”

“Huh,” she nods.

I can see she’s thinking through what I’ve said and deciding on which question to ask first.

“So, you captured her, tortured her…”

“Yes,” I sigh, “and she was ultimately imprisoned. Unfortunately, she escaped.”

“And now she’s pissed?”

“You could say that.”

“How close were you?”

“I’ve known her for centuries.”

“Friends with benefits?”

“No,” I snort, “contrary to popular belief, I don’t sleep with every woman who crosses my path, Cat.”