Chapter 10


Trent stared at Orion for a long second, then shut the door in his face. She leaned back against it and pressed her eyes with the heels of her hands to keep from crying. Goddess above, she was a professional Daybreak Assassin, she had to go kill a Wanted vampire in five minutes! She so did not need this - now or ever!

Orion blinked, and felt anger rise within him. This woman had snubbed him, attacked him (okay, not without reason), searched his mind, and basically ripped all his vampire's pride and ego to shreds, and now she had the gall to shut the door in his face? Well, fuck that! Fuck her! Furious, he turned around and stomped away.

Trent gratefully listened to his retreating footsteps. He had taken the hint and left her alone. She tried to convince herself she was glad he'd done so.

She drifted around house for the next five hours, fidgeting nervously and thinking about him. Would he come back? Surely he hadn't come all the way to New York just to turn back when she shut the door in his face.

Sighing, she wondered whether she was happy or glad he'd left. It was a silly question; it took all of her will power not to go rushing after him.

She clenched her jaw angrily. She had her pride - she would not go running after him, like some pathetic lovesick baby. She would wait right here - he would come to her.

It was all Orion could do that night not to run back to her apartment and kiss her. Having her so close to him was driving him crazy!

Why the hell had she just slammed the door in her face? Okay, so the last time he'd seen her he was trying to kill her. And okay, she had promised him that if she saw him again, she would kill him. But she could have at least heard him out-even outright attacking him would have been better than shutting the fucking door in his face.

He spent the rest of the night in fitfull insomnia, lying down in one place only to decide that it was too smelly, or cold, or uncomfortable for him to stay in. Then he would get up and wander around aimlessly until he found another spot to park his car and repeat the cycle, praying for morning to come.




Trent woke the next morning and immediately regretted it. Why did she have a hangover when she hadn't had anything to drink all night? Come to think of it, half-vampires didn't get hangovers.

She groaned and rolled over, grimacing when she saw her reflection. Her hair looked like a wild, tangly black halo, and her eyes were bloodshot and tired. She had only fallen asleep two hours before, at dawn.

A doorbell rang. Trent winced, knowing instantly who it was. It rang again, and then someone knocked insistantly-and kept knocking. Happily entertaining visions of beating Orion to a bloody pulp, Trent half-fell half-jumped out of bed, yelling, I'm coming, you asshole! With his vampiric hearing, he heard her easily and stopped knocking. Muttering curses under her breath, she staggered towards the door. Opening it, she promptly slugged Orion in the face.

Ow, fuck! he yelled as he fell backwards, holding a gushing nose. Trent glared down at him, waiting for him to finish moaning.

Orion's nose healed quickly, and he glared furiously up at her, blood still masking his face. What the hell did you do that for?!

Count yourself lucky, Orion-after all, didn't I promise to kill you last time we met?

You could have at least warned me, he grumbled.

And you warn your enemies before striking them down? Black eyes met blue, and Trent found herself unable to hold his gaze. Damn him, damn him, damn him!

I'm not your enemy. His voice was barely audible, but Trent could hear it perfectly.

You tried to assassinate me and yet you claim you're not my enemy?

He sighed, miserable. I know I tried to kill you. But-I just couldn't. He sighed again, biting his lip, and Trent felt momentary sympathy. Poor boy-he wasn't used to getting down on his knees and begging. But he had put her through hell, and he deserved everything. Go on.

I thought I could just kill you quickly, I thought I could ignore the soulmate factor. But I couldn't. I love you too much. His eyes met hers again, and this time neither of them could look away. A small ripple seemed to pass between them. He took a step toward her, his face intense and alluring despite the blood and the tired eyes.

Trent took a step back, looking away. She was trembling. I love you, Trent, he said. Please forgive me. I'll do anything, but I can't live without you.

Do you think I've forgotten what you did, Orion? I was not kidding around when I said I'd kill you. You're a smart boy; you must have known that. Why the hell did you come back?

He stepped forward again, and she retreated. She was breathing hard, and sweating. Why was he doing this to her? Jesus, he wasn't even remotely cute-he was ugly as sin!

I came back because I didn't care if you killed me or not. I would rather die right now, having seen your face, then live for four hundred years. He caught her wrists, and Trent gasped as the world turned upside down. I can't live without you, Trent. And don't lie to me-I know you feel the same. He lifted her chin, staring into her eyes. Forgive me, Trent.

He kissed her, and everything else disappeared. All Trent knew was that she loved him, she loved him too much to pretend anymore. She was sick of waiting, sick of crying herself to sleep, sick of telling herself she didn't love him. To hell with my pride, she thought as she dragged him into her apartment, throwing him on the bed.


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Heh heh heh. Don't worry-it's not over yet. Chapter 11 will come soon, with many surprises. :)