Gabriel's Mate by Tina Folsom Read Free Book Online

prove it to you,” Gabriel claimed.
    “Oh, yeah? What, you’re gonna put on some fake fangs?”
    He shook his head and took another step closer, too close for her liking.
    Maya hurled the candlestick at him and was astonished by her own forceful move. In a move that was faster than her eye could follow, Gabriel caught it and placed it onto the chair next to him. Startled, Maya looked at him. Okay, so he was fast. That didn’t have to mean anything. It only meant she didn’t have a chance at defeating him.
    “Please don’t do that,” he asked in a calm voice. “I’m not the enemy.”
    Maya gave a mirthless laugh.
    “Maybe you should give her a demonstration,” Thomas suggested.
    “No. I don’t want to frighten her anymore than she already is,” Gabriel replied.
    “No, no, please, do give me a demonstration,” Maya mocked. “I’ve got to see what you vampires do.”
    When none of the three so-called vampires moved or did anything to prove that they were really vampires, she knew she’d called their bluff.
    Now she was convinced this was all a big setup. Her colleagues from the hospital had probably all chipped in and hired a few actors to play a prank on her. Hadn’t they said only weeks ago that she was working too hard and needed to relax?
    “Thought so. Now, tell me how I get out of here. Or do you expect to be tipped?”
    “Tipped?” Gabriel gave her a dubious look.
    “For your performance. Frankly, at first I thought you guys were Mafia. You should have stuck with that angle. Bodyguards, taking care of things—those were good lines. It would have been more believable. But vampires. Really? Honestly, nothing against your acting skills, but that’s a tough role to pull off.”
    All three looked at her like she was some lunatic on leave from the asylum. She felt almost guilty for having spoiled their fun.
    “Truly, you were good. But the vampire thing is just too much of a stretch. Sorry. Hey, what time is it? I hope you guys didn’t make me late for my next shift.”
    Maya looked around trying to find her shoes.
    “It’s denial,” she heard Yvette say.
    “Clearly,” Thomas agreed.
    “I don’t know how to explain this to you without frightening you, but I swear, I’m trying,” Gabriel said.
    Maya’s breath hitched when she caught a movement next to him.
    Yvette had grabbed the candlestick from the chair. “Catch!” Faster than her eye could process, Yvette flung it at her.
    “No!” Gabriel yelled, but a moment later, Maya found herself seizing the candlestick effortlessly. She stared at the item in her hand and couldn’t explain how she’d caught it when she’d barely seen it coming toward her.
    She’d never even been a ballplayer—her hand-eye coordination sucked way too badly for that. And now she’d caught a candlestick flying at her at the speed of a car? How had that happened?  And how had the woman thrown it at the speed of a car, for that matter?
    Gabriel turned to the woman. “You could have hurt her!” His voice was harsh, scolding.
    “Her reflexes are much sharper than those of a human.” Yvette merely shrugged, then looked straight at Maya. “All your senses are enhanced. And you’re stronger too. I knew you’d catch it—it’s a reflex.”
    “Next time, you clear things like that with me. Do we understand each other?” Gabriel hissed at Yvette, who crossed her arms over her chest and ignored the reprimand.
    Maya shook her head. “It’s all a trick.” She had no idea how she’d done it, but there was no way she could have caught the candlestick by herself. Something was wrong with her. She could feel it. With effort, she pushed back her rising doubts. She wouldn’t let herself be tricked by them.
    She set the candlestick onto the small antique sideboard. The fragile wooden piece splintered under the force with which she’d dropped the item. Startled, she stared at it. Had she misjudged her own strength?
    “Do you believe us now?” Gabriel