Free Blood Therapy (Kismet Knight, Ph.D., Vampire Psychologist) by Lynda Hilburn Page A

when the ghost with the bloody knife darted through my peripheral vision. How exciting that I’d become used to him so quickly.
    “Are you saying that when I’m around Devereux I’m not myself?” My stomach clenched. “That I’m under his control?”
    She tilted her head, looking confused. “Well, of course. How could you not be? He is very powerful.”
    “Do you mean he manipulates me on purpose? He lied to me?”
    “Vampires control humans—it’s what we do. What do you mean, he lied to you?”
    “Devereux told me shortly after we met that he’s always in charge of his powers, that he never influences me so I can make my own decisions about him. If he lied about that, how can I possibly trust anything he says?”
    She shocked me by laughing. “Men! What are we to do with them? Devereux didn’t lie to you—that was his ego speaking. In his mind he’s all-powerful—he simply isn’t aware that his abilities are too strong ever to be completely under his control. He doesn’t know you’re influenced by him to the degree you are. The ever-popular psychological state of
denial
. Not that he doesn’t prefer you to do as he wishes. He simply takes obedience, from everyone, for granted.” She chuckled with delight. “I’m sure he feels very magnanimous about your supposed
free will
, but it’s easy for me to sense the ways your brain waves have been altered.”
    “What? My brain waves?” Bile rose in my throat.
    “Certainly—you can’t expect to be around someone as dominant as Devereux without repercussions. Vampires entrance humans without even meaning to, and our influence causes actual physiological changes in the brain’s wiring. It isn’t something we have to think about. The more talented the vampire, the larger the effects to the mortal.” She patted my arm. “I’m surprised you can even remember your own name at this point. Why do you think you’re having so many headaches?”
    Ice slid down my spine. I had been going through a lot of aspirin lately.
    “So as long as I’m near Devereux, I’m a puppet?” My heart rate doubled, my head spun. “Is that what you’re saying?”
    She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Relax. It wasn’t my intention to frighten you. Quite frankly, I assumed you knew what it would mean to devote yourself to a master vampire. They are a rare breed. Devereux could affect every individual in this castle simultaneously if he chose to, even as young as he is.”
    “Young? He says he’s eight hundred years old.”
    “Like I said, a mere youngster. Regardless, no vampire can ignore his power. He’s unique.”
    I breathed to calm myself. “How could I possibly know what it means that he’s a Master? Nobody told me. He said I would acclimate to him and not be so overwhelmed. That I wouldn’t always feel so …
intoxicated
.”
    She gave a quick shrug. “I’m certain he believes that, and perhaps it’s true. You really are more talented than you know.”
    “I wish people would stop saying that without explaining what they mean.”
    She stared at me for a few seconds and appeared to come to a decision. “I can’t help you with that, but here’s what I
can
do. Close your eyes.”
    “What?” My heart rate accelerated again. “Why do you want me to close my eyes?”
    “What have you got to lose? I already told you I won’t hurt you. Really. Do you think I want Devereux to rip my head off? But I will use one of my abilities to temporarily clear all vampire influence from your mind. It’ll be better than pain meds.”
    “What are you talking about? How can you clear the influence? If you’re really telling the truth and I’m being affected anyway—”
    “Oh, bother. You can thank me later.” In the blink of an eye, Anne pressed one hand against my forehead and her other on the crown of my head. A subtle vibration pulsed through my skull-bones for a few seconds, followed by a quick blast of heat.
    “Yikes!” The heat swam through my head and