In the Dark by Jen Colly Read Free Book Online Page A

anywhere.
    â€œDo you have any idea how lucky you are? Guardians have full permission to kill on sight any human running from the city!” Soren roared.
    The volume of his scolding kicked her courage into gear. “Stop shouting at me.”
    â€œI can’t. I’m yelling at you. And it feels a lot better than thinking about what could have happened.”
    Without another word, he took her arm and towed her back to the city. She gauged the distance between the city and where he’d caught her. She hadn’t gotten far, and her hopes of freedom died under his tight grasp.
    As he pulled her through the entrance, fear tightened her gut, and she stumbled. Steffen stood off to the side, utterly still and watching them in silence, sword drawn and ready. He appeared more than willing to use his sword on her.
    Soren took her back the way they’d come. They rushed through the red corridor, but this time he stopped and opened a door, ushering her inside. He closed the door, paced in front of it a few times, then stared at her.
    â€œWhere are we?” she asked.
    â€œMy home.”
    Awkward. She stood in the middle of an angry vampire’s living room waiting for him to yell at her.
    â€œOur world is peaceful,” he finally said, his voice deep, sounding as if he restrained himself from shouting at her. “Our world is simple. And yet somehow you manage to do one of the few things guaranteed to get you killed.”
    â€œI could have made it to the woods.” She shrugged.
    â€œOn the very unlikely chance my Guardians had not seen you, what would you have done? Run to Paris?”
    â€œNo. Just to the car,” she said with a smug smile. “You left the keys in the ignition.”
    â€œI hate that damn car,” he growled at the ceiling before turning on her. “Had you escaped, you would have been reported missing and hunted down. It’s not something I would have the power to stop. Too many lives are at stake. You will live here, or you will die. You are mine, Faith. And when you are with me, when you are here in Balinese, you are safe.”
    Anger swelled, burning. Arms stiff by her sides, fists clenched, she marched to him, stood toe to toe. “I don’t belong to you. You might be forcing me to live here like a prisoner, but I am not yours.” She took great pride in her level voice.
    â€œThis is no game, Faith. You belong to me so that you may live,” he said as he studied her face. “I want you to live.”
    Biting her bottom lip, she looked away. His reasons had been valid, but they made it difficult to get over her anger. “I wouldn’t tell anyone,” she said quietly.
    He took several deep breaths before looking straight at her. “It wouldn’t matter. I can’t risk the lives of thousands. No vampire will. If you escape, you’ll be killed. Swear you’ll never run from me again.”
    â€œI won’t, but I had to try. Wouldn’t you?” She wrapped her arms around herself.
    He turned away from her and rubbed his jaw. “I can’t give you an answer. I have no notion what I would do if I were in your position. I never will.”
    â€œSo where do I live?”
    â€œHere. My home is yours,” he said as he walked to the bedroom. Soren stopped as he reached the threshold, his gaze lingering on her as she stood in the middle of his home. “I’ll be gone for an hour or so. I have a meeting.”
    He disappeared into the bedroom. She didn’t follow him, not wanting to invade his personal space. A laughable concept, she supposed, since she now lived smack in the middle of it.
    She heard water run, but not the shower. Then hangers shifted. He stepped into the living room, and she was pleasantly surprised. He’d exchanged the black T-shirt for a dark blue collared shirt. If not for the harsh scowl on his face, she might have teased him on how nicely he’d cleaned up.
    He glanced