16
He didn't have to wait long.
The sleek black car came to a halt in the driveway bare inches from the bumper of his truck. The passenger door swung open and Pandora stepped out, her blood red dress fluttering around her knees. She smiled seductively in his direction. Mark's eyes narrowed.
She came toward him, eyes locked on him. And he almost laughed at loud as she came to an abrupt halt as if she'd hit an invisible wall.
She glared at him. "What is this? Too good to let old friends enter your house?" She glanced at the ground. Apparently the little trick he'd used was still working. She could not cross the line of salt on the ground.
"Old friends are always welcome here," Mark said, voice flat. "You are not."
Pandora looked as if she were going to argue, but stopped herself. A smile curved her lips. "You are hiding something. Perhaps...something that I want?" She sidestepped, careful not to get any closer to the line on the ground. Her eyes went to the second floor of the house. "Oh yes. Did you think you would be able to hide her forever?"
"What are you talking about?" He decided to play dumb. Just to aggravate her.
Pandora eyed him, her eyes dark. "Do not play games Mark. The girl we have been seeking...I should have known you would already have her. That deceptive humanity in you has made you weak. Kill the girl and end this foolishness."
"What I do with the girl is none of your business, Pandora."
"Oh, but it is. We have a job to do here, Mark. Just as you have a job to do. No one is going to take this bit of rebellion lightly." She seemed to savor saying it.
Mark's frown deepened. "I am not like you. I do not live by your 'rules'. Your 'code'. You of all people should have realized that. Perhaps your bosses will see that you were the one in the wrong. After all...you knew what I was when you suggested that I join you."
Pandora managed to hold her anger in check. It took great effort. She wanted nothing more than to slap the smug look from Mark's face. "Whatever you are planning...I would suggest you rethink it. The girl is dangerous to our kind. She can not continue to live. She would always be a threat."
"What do you mean by 'our kind'?" Mark asked. "Do not compare yourself to me Pandora. You and I are nothing alike."
"She will destroy you." She seemed to take pleasure in saying it.
Mark shook his head. "You still do not understand. You never will understand. I am not going to waste my time explaining it to you." He stood straight. "Leave. Come back again and I will kill you myself. The girl is under my protection now."
Pandora allowed a cold smile to form on her red lips. "Oh, is she?" She clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. "She has willingly given herself to you?" She shook her head. "I doubt that very seriously. She already has Dominic's mark on her. She would not let herself be taken by you. She belongs to your father, Mark. Even if you will never admit to it."
Mark refused to be baited by her words. "We shall see about that. He has not claimed her yet. Time is on my side, Pandora." He waved a dismissing hand at her. "Leave. Now. Before I decide I am sick of your face."
He ignored her outraged gasp and turned to go into the house. "This isn't over!" He did not acknowledge that he'd heard her. He slammed the door and stood there in the hallway, fists clenched, until he heard the car pulling away. They would be back. As soon as it rained, washing away the demon line he'd put down most likely. He looked up the stairs, then sighed. Pandora was right about one thing. Rayne was not under his protection. Having her in her dream was not the same thing as having her for real. If she came to him willingly...
He pushed the thought from his mind. After she'd shared his dream, the chance of that happening was slim. But he wanted her still, he could not define why, but it was there, eating at him. Rubbing at his temples, he made his way toward the kitchen. There would be no more sleep for him that night.
Rayne stood at the window, watching as the tall woman approached the house. She was beautiful in a cold, exotic way. She came up short before crossing onto the porch.
Even though their voices were low, Rayne could still hear them talking. She didn't know how that was possible. The window was down. But it was like they were here in the room with her.
Mark finally got rid of the woman. Rayne went to the bed and sat down, mind reeling. She could hear him downstairs. He had apparently decided to stay in the kitchen.
What did they mean...willingly? She would have to sleep with him?
The thought made her shudder. But another thought invaded, this one much worse. The mark on her back, the one she could not see...it was Dominic's mark. And that meant he already had some kind of hold on her. Was it possible that Mark would be able to break that hold? Just by sleeping with her?
Getting up, she paced to the window and looked out into the darkness. The woman had said that Rayne would destroy Mark. How? She couldn't even seem to gather her thoughts around him, let alone kill him. What kind of chance did she stand in any of this?
There was only one option then. Her stomach clenched at the thought. If she...gave...herself to Mark, then he would have to protect her. No more threats, no more worrying over what he would do to her...after this was over. And did he want her? She had the feeling that he did. What else could be the reason for those looks he'd been giving her all day?
She focused on the dream she'd had the night before...the one where she had asked him to warm her. It had not been...bad. Not like his dream. If she could keep that in mind, then she could get through this.
She squared her shoulders. All right, she was going to give herself to him. That was her only choice. It was either that or wait for his father to come for her. And she would rather die first. Steeling herself, she headed toward the bedroom door.