Free Rising Darkness (A Rylee Adamson Novel, Book 9) by Shannon Mayer Page A

which was “I’m going to make you love this.” Damn me and my ability to read people.
    “It might be best,” Faris said as he stood, and motioned to the empty decanter beside me, “if you’re going to offer your blood to everyone else then this would be a good time to test the theory.”
    Berget’s lips tightened. “We don’t have to test it, this will work and you know it.”
    “What are you really up to?” My hands twitched, itching to have a blade in them. Just in case.
    Faris was far too sly for this to be anything but a ruse to get what he wanted. I took two strides and shoved him—hard. He stumbled back, totally caught off guard. “You’re up to something, vampire, and you’re damn well telling me before I agree to anything with you. Doran might think you’re the safer bet, but that doesn’t mean I agree.”
    He ended up against the window ledge, leaning his ass against it. Still, he wasn’t angry and that made me believe he really was up to something. Something I wouldn’t like.
    Fucking vampires.
    Alex grumbled in his sleep. “Fucking vampires.”
    It seems you’re connection to Alex has grown. I sense him through you without you Tracking him, Blaz said softly to me.
    Fantastic. I slid a hand through my hair. “Everyone out.” Faris made a move to stand and I pointed at him. “You keep your ass glued.”
    Berget passed close by me. “I’ll be right outside the door.”
    Doran looked at Alex. “You’ll keep him in here, for what good it will do.”
    I nodded, but kept my eyes on Faris.
    The room emptied and the silence that fell was weighted, heavy with emotions and possibilities. “You are going to come clean with me, Faris, or it won’t matter that Liam’s soul is in you. I know he’ll move on, and I’ve grieved him once.”
    He pushed off the window ledge and strolled toward me, touching things as he went. The table, the edge of a chair, the spine of a book. My eyes followed his hands, like watching a cobra slide through the air. “Rylee.”
    Just my name, and fuck, I almost went under his spell, felt it curling through my blood. I did the only thing I could. “Liam.”
    Faris shook his head. “He’s tucked away for the moment. Once I realized what was happening I made sure he couldn’t come forward. But”—he lifted those mesmerizing hands to my face—“his soul still calls to you, doesn’t it?”
    I nodded, unable to move. My brain screamed that Faris was taking advantage of the situation; the rest of me didn’t give a flying fuck. He was Liam, Liam was in there.
    And I wanted him.
    He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I want you too, but not like this. I want you to want me for me, or not at all. Do you remember what I told you, about my past?”
    I nodded. He’d never been in love before. Never trusted his heart to anyone.
    His fingers caressed the edge of my jaw. “Liam’s love for you is . . . infectious.”
    He took a step back and I drew in a breath that shuddered through my chest. It was an effort to get the words out. “What are you really up to?”
    Faris looked to the ceiling and then back to me, his eyes clear. “The only way to get you to see I am the best match for you is to prove it. The only way I can do that is to spend a great deal of time with you.”
    “You could die.”
    He shrugged. “Everyone dies, it’s just a matter of when.”
    Those were Liam’s words. Or close enough that I knew he was yet again influencing Faris. “So to everyone else—”
    “I would look weak if they knew the depth of my feelings for you. So it is best if they believe I am up to no good.” A grin tipped up one side of his lips and he winked at me. Another of Liam’s traits.
    Oh, this was not a good idea. Faris was gorgeous, temptation and desire wrapped into a rather irresistible package. But I’d never had a problem before, because he’d always been such an untrustworthy asshole.
    With Liam’s soul in him . . . this was going to be fucking