Page 90 of Eternally Bound
“What do you think of that, Logan?” Nathan inquired.
“He set her free as part of his manipulation to gain her trust,” Logan replied.
Kadence almost stomped her foot in frustration, but she managed to stop herself from doing so. Acting like a child would get her nowhere right now.
“True,” Nathan said as he rubbed at his jaw. “And judging by the color of my sister’s eyes and the speed with which she moved over here, I’m going to say she’s not the same as when she left the stronghold. We know a vampire can control a human’s mind, perhaps—”
“You know hunters are immune to a vampire’s powers of persuasion,” she interrupted brusquely.
“True,” he said. “But he’s no normal vampire, we can all sense that, and you are not a normal hunter anymore.”
Ronan didn’t speak as he waited for Nathan to figure things out for himself. It wouldn’t do any good to rush him or argue with him. Nathan was young, but the fact he was taking time with his decision and listening to the views of the others revealed a maturity beyond his years.
“But then, we’ve never been normal hunters. Our family line has always been stronger,” Nathan continued.
Nathan’s gaze traveled to the other vampires. “What makes a vampire turn into a Savage?”
“Death and blood is a temptation many vampires live with every day, and some give into it,” Ronan replied. “Those who kill become stronger, especially if they kill our kind or a hunter, though they enjoy slaughtering humans too. A vampire doesn’t become completely Savage until the innocent deaths of the humans warp their souls.”
“So at any time one of you could also become Savage?”
“Yes.” There was no reason to deny it or to lie. If they were to work together, they would have to be honest with each other. If Nathan discovered the truth later, it would sever any relationship they may have built between them.
“Many of us fight it,” Declan said. “And that’s just it, wefightit.”
“That’s fine. I’m more concerned about thinking we can trust you and having one of you turn on us,” Nathan said.
“We could say the same to you,” Ronan said and glanced pointedly at Logan. “We’re not asking for your secrets.”
“I know more about them than they know about us,” Kadence said as she silently pleaded with Nathan to believe her.
Nathan stared at her before looking to Ronan. “What will happen to my sister if you turn Savage?”
Ronan slid his arm around her waist. “Because of your sister, I will not become a Savage, not unless something happens to her.”
“I don’t understand.”
“That’s something I’d like to keep between us for now at least,” Ronan replied before focusing on Logan. “But know I will defend her life above my own and I will kill anyone who threatens her, no matter who they are.”
Logan’s nostrils flared and hatred burned from his eyes, but he kept his mouth shut.
“I see,” Nathan said. “And what of them?” he asked with a wave at the other Defenders.
“I’ve known all of them for centuries. They battle their demons, but they’re as determined to destroy Joseph and the Savages as I am.”
Nathan folded his arms over his chest as he speared Kadence with his stare. “Are you a vampire?”
Kadence had hoped not to have to deal with this yet, but she’d given herself away with her eyes. “Yes,” she replied.
Logan sucked in a breath. Before anyone could respond, he spun on his heel and stalked away. Kadence took a step after him, but Ronan held her back as Nathan put out a hand to halt her.
“Let him go,” Nathan said. “This is something he may never come to terms with, and you have to accept that.”
A lump lodged in her throat as Logan vanished into the woods. “I never meant to hurt him.”
“I know, but you did, and we’re the ones who put you in that position. You shouldn’t have taken off the way you did, you could have gotten killed, but we…Iwas wrong for expecting you to accept a life I wouldn’t have accepted for myself. I know that now, but that doesn’t change what has happened.”
“Nathan—” She stepped toward him and froze when he kept his hand up between them.
