Page 64 of Bound by Vengeance
“We all could die at any point in time. Idon’t regret my choice.”
“And what if you’d been captured, taken toJoseph, and turned into a Savage? You would have put your family atrisk.”
Vicky held his gaze, refusing to be cowed byhis words. Those things could have happened, but there were manytimes her family had also put themselves in jeopardy. Sometimesshit happened, and while she hadn’t gotten the satisfaction out ofkilling Duke she’d hoped for, it was necessary. And no matter whattheir futures held, she’d never regret her time with Nathan.
“And I could have been born a boy, or Icould have gotten hit by a car today, and I might go tomorrow.Could have beens are pointless because they don’t occur,” shereplied.
When Ronan’s eyes narrowed at her, shegulped. She didn’t think he’d tear her head off, but he could.
Sometimes, you idiot, just play nice!
Nathan nudged her back with his shoulder ashe stepped more protectively in front of her. Vicky didn’t know ifhe was aware of the gesture, but the others were as all their gazesshot back and forth between them. Kadence rested her hand onRonan’s arm. He glanced at her before visibly relaxing.
“I will not allow you to put any of us indanger,” Ronan said to Vicky.
“She’s put no one in danger,” Nathan said.“And she has every right to make her own choices.”
“Oh, shit,” Kadence whispered.
Still unused to hearing her swear, Nathanopened his mouth to say something about it before shutting it. Hehad no say over her anymore.
“Great, everyone is making choices,” Luciensaid impatiently. “Why arewehere and why does Vicky’s facelook like she went five rounds with Tyson?”
“That’s whatI’dlike to know,” Ashersaid.
“It will be easier to explain if I show you.Follow me,” Nathan instructed. Turning, he almost reached forVicky’s hand, but she’d clasped them behind her back and edgedfurther away from him.
Vicky went to the back of the group asNathan led the way toward the prison. She ignored Kadence’srepeated curious stares by focusing on the ground. She felt like alab specimen, cut and pinned open to reveal her insides forinspection.
A piece of candy was suddenly shoved underher nose. “Lollipop?”
Lifting her head, she blinked at Declan. Shehadn’t realized he’d fallen back to walk beside her until he spoke.“Oh, ah… no, thank you.”
His silver eyes studied her before heshrugged and slid the candy into his pocket. “They’re not bad, onceyou get used to them. Humans might be onto something with theircandies.”
“I do enjoy cookies,” she admitted.“Chocolate chip is the best.”
“I’ve never had one. Maybe I’ll give it ashot.”
“You should.” The inanity of theconversation wasn’t lost on her, but she sensed he was trying toshow her support in some strange way. “What made you first try alollipop?”
“There was this commercial with some cartoonowl asking how many licks it would take to get to the center ofone, but he always bit it first. Then he would say that the worldwill never know the answer.”
“I remember that,” she said. “And you wantedto know the answer?”
When he tilted his head to smile at her, astrand of his dark auburn hair fell into his right eye. In the dimstarlight, that hair appeared black. “Yes.”
“And have you discovered the answer?”
“Not yet. I tend to get sidetracked andeither lose count, bite the thing, or grow sick of it and throw itout. I don’t mind the shell, not a fan of the center.”
Vicky couldn’t stop herself from laughing.“You’re a very strange vampire.”
“So I’ve been told.”
Sensing eyes on her, she lifted her head tofind Nathan staring at her as he walked. Then, his gaze shifted toDeclan. Her breath caught when a wave of fury rippled out from himbefore he turned away.
“Your arm was wounded too,” Declanstated.
