“You aren’t listening to me.” She sounded sad, snuggling more deeply into the pillows. Once again she felt safe, when she knew that couldn’t possibly be true. “I will not take chances with your life.”
Lucian laughed again. Jaxon could hear the genuine amusement in his voice.
“You still do not understand me, young one, but you will soon enough.”
* * *
Chapter Three
The sounds and smells told Jaxon she was in a hospital. She opened her eyes warily. She was lying in a bed, but she could still feel her gun in her hand. A nurse was hovering nearby.
The woman smiled at Jaxon. “You’re awake. Good. The doctor is planning to release you this evening. He was worried about your going home alone, but your fiance assured him you would be well taken care of.”
Jaxon’s heart sank. She was hoping she had merely dreamed about vampires and dark, sexy, “Carpathian” strangers, but she was more than certain she had had no fiance prior to being shot. She stayed very still. She had no idea what to say, how to respond. She didn’t know even know how she had come to be in a hospital. The nurse was bustling around, opening the curtains, and allowing Jaxon to see that the sun was already down.
Jaxon realized she no longer felt safe. She was in an environment where she had little or no control. If Tyler wanted to get to her, it would be easy. He could disguise himself as an orderly and waltz right into her room. And she was alone again. For a few precious moments of her life she had really shared with someone—Lucian—however bizarre that event had been. Now she was alone and once more responsible for the safety of those around her.
You do not listen very well, Jaxon. There was that soft, soothing voice. Either that, or I have completely misread your intelligence and need to explain things much more clearly and carefully to you. She heard a tinge of masculine amusement.
Jaxon looked around her quickly. No one else was in the room with her but the nurse. The nurse appeared not to have noticed any disembodied voice. Now you’ve got me hearing voices. I’m going to the nearest mental institution and insisting on immediate help. She chose her thoughts carefully, willing him to hear her response.
He laughed. She could hear his genuine amusement, that velvet-soft and beautiful, perfectly pitched voice that seemed to caress her whether he was touching her or not. It was so very familiar now, a part of her she never wanted to lose.
But you have to go away. She was taking a firm stand on this. Either she was completely crazy and he was a figment of her imagination because she needed someone so desperately, or he was very real—and more trouble than she could handle.
I doubt if you would make up someone as domineering as I. You would want some fop to order about so you could continue believing you have to protect everyone.
That isn’t funny, Lucian. You have no idea what Tyler Drake is like. Some of the best people in this country have tried to catch him and failed. You’re so arrogant, you’re going to get yourself killed. I hate that trait in men. It isn’t bravery; it’s sheer stupidity. I know Drake is dangerous, and I’m always prepared, because I don’t imagine myself so much more skilled than he is. There was an edge to her voice. She was becoming irritated with Lucian’s arrogance.
His voice never changed, remaining as gentle and soothing as ever. It is not arrogance, Jaxon, when one knows one’s own abilities. I have confidence because I know who I am, what I am. I am a hunter. It is what I do.
He’s a killer. It’s what he does.
You are becoming distressed. I will be with you soon to take you home with me. We will have plenty of time to discuss this. In the meantime do whatever the doctor says to get you released.
Jaxon became aware that the nurse was staring at her. She blinked rapidly to focus her attention on what the woman was saying. “I’m sorry, I was off in my own little world. What were you saying?” She forced a small smile.