Free Bloodlust by Michelle Rowen Page A

were both dying. The thought made my throat thicken. I wondered which one of us would last longer.
    Declan stood there stoically, seemingly unmoved by the announcement. “So what’s your plan?”
    “When Kristoff is awakened, I think he’ll be able to find me through our bond. I know he’ll come for me—out of revenge for what I did to him. He’ll want to kill me. This will be my only opportunity to kill him first.”
    Declan snorted. “You think you can kill an immortal when you’re not even immortal anymore?”
    “I need to try.” Matthias’s gaze narrowed. “And I need to know the location of my daughter. In my final days, knowing she’s safe is all I actually care about.”
    “Father of the year,” Declan said dryly. “But I’m not telling you where she is.”
    Any warmth drained from Matthias’s face. “Why?”
    “Jill might believe that you’re on our side, but I’m not quite as trusting as she is.”
    Declan shot me a look and I shot it right back at him. Trusting? I didn’t trust anyone except for him, and after what happened earlier I was a little iffy on the unconditional confidence I’d had in him before I’d seen his desire for me turn to hate and rage. But I sure as hell didn’t trust Matthias as far as I could throw him—except when it came to Sara.
    Matthias’s expression was tense. “You can trust me when it comes to the safety of Sara.”
    “She’s a dhampyr. A female infant dhampyr.”
    “Your point?”
    “I know about the immortality ritual you participated in.”
    Matthias shook his head. “That was against my will, the final straw in my dealings with Kristoff. That he’d sacrifice his own child—”
    “For the chance to live forever. That’s right. Drinking the blood of a dhampyr like Sara could give you that immortality back couldn’t it, Matthias?”
    I felt cold. “You’re not suggesting—”
    “That Matthias would sacrifice Sara in order to save his long life?” Declan’s face was stony. “Actually, that’s exactly what I’m suggesting. And it’s all the more reason why I won’t tell him where she is.”
    I watched Matthias, worried about how he’d react to this. He drew closer to Declan and he didn’t look happy. In fact, I could see a slight tremble to his fists he clenched at his sides.
    “She’s my daughter. Other than Kristoff, she’s my only family.”
    Declan shook his head. “This doesn’t give you any right to be near her in your current condition. You’re the one who’s admitted you’re near death.”
    “You don’t trust me.”
    “That’s right. I don’t.”
    Matthias looked at each of us in turn. “Then how do I gain your trust?”
    Declan frowned. Perhaps he was expecting Matthias to throw a temper tantrum, but he didn’t. I felt his sincerity that he meant his daughter no harm. It made my heart ache a little for him.
    Still, I was conflicted.
    I wasn’t sure why this conversation was making me so emotional, but I felt tears sliding down my cheeks. “You’re wrong about one thing, Declan, I don’t trust easily. I don’t trust Matthias in many matters, but when it comes to Sara, I . . .” Both men were staring at me now with strange expressions on their faces. “What’s wrong?”
    “Jill—” There was a catch to Declan’s voice. “Your face . . .”
    I reached up to wipe at my tears. When I pulled my fingers back I saw that they were covered in blood so dark red that it was almost black.
    A moment later a curtain of pain descended over me, making me collapse to my knees. I braced myself on the floor, hunched over, and saw the blood drip to the cheap beige carpet there.
    After a moment, all I could feel was agony. All I could see was blood.
    And then darkness claimed me.

6
     
    THERE WAS LIGHT STREAMING IN THROUGH THE WINDOW when I woke. I sat bolt upright in the bed, but felt a firm hand on my shoulder.
    “No, Jill. Lay back.”
    I blinked and the world became less blurry. Declan was beside me. A quick scan of