Reluctance by Cindy C Bennett Read Free Book Online

belong with someone like me, even if I were human and available to you."
    "I do belong with you, Dahlia. And you belong with me, not with Ja—" His eyes came to hers, full of accusation and betrayal. "That's why you're with Jace. You're planning to have him for your mate."
    Dahlia spun away from the hurt in his eyes. How could she deny the truth?
    "Why him, Dahlia?" he demanded.
    "Because Jace is just like them," she said quietly. "Because he has the grace, power, looks they all find appealing. He will bring me the acceptance I've never been able to find on my own."
    "Do you know what he is, Dahlia?"
    "I know," she murmured.
    "I don't think you do," he said harshly. "I was his best friend once. You know about Tabby. But that isn't why I'm no longer his friend." He paused. "There was another girl . . . ."
    Dahlia tensed. That's what this was about? Stealing one another's girls?
    "It's not what you think," he said, as if reading her mind. "I didn't know her. She didn't go to our school. He met her at a party."
    He took a shuddering breath. Dahlia glanced at him, then quickly away when she saw the torment on his face. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear this.
    "He gave her drugs, claimed it was consensual . . . ."
    Dahlia gasped as horror threaded its way down her spine. She clasped her arms around her middle.
    "There was supposed to be a trial," Cam said. "But suddenly she dropped the charges. I have no proof, but, knowing Jace as I do, I suspect he had something to do with that, something that wasn't gentle persuasion. It was just her and her mother, no father, no brothers, no other family—no one who could help them stand up to him and the community that held him on a pedestal because he knew how to throw a football."
    Another pause.
    "She was thirteen."
    Dahlia shivered and shook her head. It didn't matter. Once he was changed, she could control him. She could force herself to look at him and not remember.
    "It doesn't matter," she whispered.
    Cam grabbed her arm and forced her around to face him, a move he would never be able to accomplish had Dahlia not allowed it. But that was something she wouldn't tell him, not now, not ever. After tonight, he would no longer remember her.
    "Really, Dahlia?" he asked incredulously. "You would give up your own happiness just to gain acceptance from your people? From your family? Shouldn't they love you anyway? Isn't that what families are all about?"
    "Not my family," she answered. "Vampires are corrupt. We have rules and regulations because, without them, we would be murderous beings with absolutely nothing to stop us. There is nothing that can stop us, Cam, save another vampire.
    Crosses and garlic are myths. How can you put a wooden stake through the heart of a creature with the intent to kill when it has no heart?" She took a shuddering breath. "I am forced to live with them, be a part of them forever . There isn't any personal happiness to be gained from being what I am, but if I can have their acceptance, if I can have some power "—she looked him straight on—"at least then I will have something."
    "Then have me," Cam said. "Make me your mate. Let me be the one who will bring you happiness. Not Jace. He will never make you happy. He'll never even be faithful to you."
    "You're wrong," she said grimly. "He will because when we transform someone, they are bound to us forever, in loyalty. He won't love me, that can't be forced, but he'll stay by my side. He'll never stray."
    "It isn't enough—" Cam began.
    "It has to be, Cam. I won't do it to you. I won't turn you into something so despicable. I won't force this life on someone who doesn't deserve it. I think we can both at least agree Jace deserves it. He's already a creen, he just doesn't know it."
    "Dahlia, please," Cam pleaded. "Don't do this."
    Dahlia stepped toward Cam, ravenous now. Her fangs began to extend. "Kiss me, Cam," she commanded. He obeyed, as she knew he would. The hunger receded until completely gone. Tears