He’d taken her blood. The delicious languor faded, replaced by sheer panic. Mara felt the forces inside her fading as if someone had uncorked her like wine. She sat up, struggling against the sudden weakness.
Lucien pressed her back onto the mattress. “Easy,” he soothed. “You’ll be slightly dizzy for a while, it will pass.”
“You took my blood. You drained me!”
“I warned there was no going back. Your blood is inside me now and I can track you anywhere. A necessity, after what happened in Miami. I will not risk your life anymore.”
“What if someone comes after me? How the hell am I supposed to defend myself?”
“I will protect you.”
Mara drew in a labored breath. “If I were so damn dangerous, why would I give up everything to get a job at night and work my way through school? I only wanted to be normal. Tell me something, Lucien, did the Society have any reason to go after me before Jones took me? Did I do anything to warrant their interest?”
He fell silent, searching her face. “Ah, Mara, sweet, it’s not that black-and-white. The Society spares no one they deem dangerous. Only humans are excluded from their patrol. It was only a matter of time before they decided to focus on you. All these years, they have watched, and waited.”
“I gave them no reason for their scrutiny!”
“You are a Darklighter. The moment you were born of an illegal mating, they condemned you to be on their questionable list.” Lucien’s jaw became taut. “They have done so since another half-breed caused them to question their policies.”
She was hunted without cause. The thought panicked her. “And now you’ve weakened me and left me helpless to become their prey? Pardon me if I don’t thank you.”
“I drained part of your destructive darkness. It’s up to you to harness the power for good.” His gaze softened. “Let go of your anger, Mara. You must surrender your thirst for justice and leave Jones to the human authorities.”
“That’s not fair! How can I ever forget what he did?”
Torment shadowed his face. “You must, to find peace within yourself. To find balance. Use the white light inside you to draw strength from the darkness. Alone, each will always struggle for control. Blending them together gives you the ultimate power and will allow you the peace you seek.”
“And how am I supposed to do that? Is there a guidebook?” She felt close to tears.
“You’ll know when the time is right. When you make a decision and it’s not based on anger or any negative emotion, but because it’s the right choice.”
It sounded easy and nice and sensible. She was not feeling sensible at the moment.
Beneath him, she lay naked and helpless. A droplet of blood rolled down her neck, beaded on her bare breast.
Tracking his gaze, she saw his eyes widen with lust.
Mara hardened her heart. “You’re right, Lucien. Of course. I’m lucky I have such a powerful Ancient to protect me, who wants to mate me.” Her voice became a seductive purr. “Kiss me.”
When he dipped his head down, she reared up. But she missed, her head hitting empty hair instead of his skull.
Those damn vampire reflexes, she thought, grumbling.
Lucien rolled off her, watching her like a predator as he lay back and hooked his hands behind his head. Mara flexed her hands, willing her talons to emerge. Nothing.
Not even the white light inside her pulsed.
“Your powers will return.” All lethal grace, he slid out of the bed. “You need food, energy. I’ll see about getting dinner warmed.”
The twin globes of his taut naked butt vanished beneath the whisk of a silk robe. Mara watched, the space between her legs wet and wanting all over again. Burying her face into her hands, she tried to think of a solution.
She hated this, feeling helpless. Trapped.
Nothing to do but wait, and escape at the first chance when her strength returned.