“Bossy, much?”
“I know the master only wants to do the right thing, but he refuses to see logic when it involves risking your safety. You’ve quickly become his blind spot.”
He was right. Thierry couldn’t see past his desire to keep me safe. He’d never let me leave the house tonight even if it meant we were risking Amy’s life.
Also, he obviously didn’t want me anywhere near Gideon again.
I leaned over and kissed Thierry softly on the lips, praying that that wouldn’t be the last time I ever kissed him.
Then I got up and looked at Barry. “Wish me luck.”
“There’s no time for luck. Just go.”
“Sheesh. It’s not like I asked you for a hug or something.”
He glowered at me. “Why are you still here? The master will not be unconscious for long.”
Good point.
I turned and pushed the door open and left the house, hoping that everything would work out perfectly. I’d had enough experience to know that was an impossibility, but a girl could dream, couldn’t she?
I headed to Darkside, since that was the last place I’d seen the billionaire vampire hunter in question.
No one was there. The club was closed for business and deserted.
My cell phone rang three separate times and I knew by the call display that it was Thierry.
I didn’t pick up. He was probably furious with me for leaving. Probably? Make that definitely. I understood his point—my being out on the streets in my current chain-free condition wasn’t the best decision.
Another understatement.
Who cares what he thinks? my nightwalker said. That guy is such a drag. He never lets you have any fun.
“Is that so?” I said aloud. “Not that I’d take any advice from you.”
I am you, stupid. And I know what you want.
“And what’s that?”
To be free. To have fun. You used to have fun, but ever since you met Thierry you’ve been miserable.
“That has nothing to do with Thierry. That has to do with being a vampire.”
You know who’s fun? Gideon. He is so sexy and exciting and life with him would be so wickedly awesome.
“Wickedly awesome?” My evil inner voice sounded like a Valley Girl.
Yeah. You liked Gideon, didn’t you? You felt sorry for him. More than you should have.
And there was something else there as well—a spark of something more. Are those feelings all gone now?
I gritted my teeth. “They’re gone. He was using me—trying to manipulate me.”
And it totally worked. You left your “true love” lying on the floor unconscious so you could run out to find Gideon. You’re going to give him exactly what he wants from you.
“Only to save Amy.”
Mmm hmm. Sure. Yeah, I believe that. Vamp tramp.
My jaw tightened. “I don’t care what you think.”
Well, you should care. As soon as I have the chance, I get to make the decisions, sweetheart. I’m so sick of your taking the lead. I want my moment in the sunlight.
Figuratively speaking, of course. No real sunlight. It stings like a bitch, doesn’t it?
“You can shut up anytime now.”
Great. Now I was having full-fledged conversations with my inner nightwalker. That wasn’t a good sign. She wasn’t feeling any angst about this situation. She was happy to let the darkness take over completely. She wanted to find Gideon for reasons different from mine. And she couldn’t care less about Amy.
Is that really how part of me felt? Or was my nightwalker a separate identity completely from who I actually was?
I guess we’ll soon find out, won’t we? she said inside my head.
She was a total bitch.
Hey, no need to be rude.
I shouldn’t be on the streets in my condition. It was like drinking and driving—risky, dangerous, and insanely stupid. But I held on to one thought: Amy. It was like waiting until after Valentine’s Day to break up with somebody. I had to make sure she was safe before I could let my nightwalker take me over completely.
Unfortunately, she seemed to want to get an early start. I pushed back at her whenever she raised her ugly head.
Thierry’s words from earlier rang in my head. “Gideon cherishes your dark side while I restrict it. I suppose you’ll have to decide which of us is correct.”
Was he just being jealous, as he used to be with Quinn? I already knew which was correct.
It’s not as if I was conflicted about what side I was going to take. I loved Thierry. I hated
Gideon. It was that simple.
Yeah, right, my inner voice chimed.
“Shut. Up.”
Where the hell was Gideon? And how was I supposed to find him in a city of two and a half million people?
How about a location spell? my nightwalker suggested helpfully.