Free Blue Moon: Blood Moon Trilogy #3 by A.D. Ryan Page A

sure in the moment—and I looked him dead in the eye. “Then why don’t you? Why play this game with me? Why keep me caged?”
    The sinister smile that spread across his lips petrified me. “Because I need you.”
     

Chapte r7 | treasure
     
    B obby released me, and I rolled off the table, away from where he stood. The table acted as a buffer between us once more as I caught my breath. When I could finally breathe normally again, I spoke, not shocked to hear just how raspy my voice was.
    “What do you mean you need me?” The second the words left my mouth, I thought back to something Cordelia had said right before I’d been taken.
    “She talked about some kind of key.”
    “I’m the key,” I stated.
    Bobby’s triumphant grin was the only answer I needed. “I think so, yes,” he declared, eyeing me up and down as he walked toward the end of the table again. I went in the opposite direction, not trusting him to be too close to me—key or not. “You know, manipulating Nick into attacking you was easier than either of us thought it would be. Who knew all we had to do was be in the general vicinity?” He stopped walking, and I did the same.
    “You orchestrated this whole thing.” It wasn’t a question.
    “Of course we did. Though, I honestly thought it would take a little more effort. I gave him more credit than he deserved—a flaw left over from this shell, I suppose.”
    I shuddered at the memory of that night as well as when Nick explained how he’d only been trying to keep me out of Gianna’s sights. “And if it none of this works?”
    Bobby appeared confident and unruffled. “After years of tests and research, I’m fairly confident in the outcome.”
    “Which is?” I demanded, even though I already knew the answer.
    “The perfect killer.” He looked positively delighted as he imagined the possible outcome. “Without the restraint that the sun puts on our kind, we’d be free to walk in the day. We’d no longer be susceptible to the UV rays.”
    “Maybe not, but I could still rip your fucking head off,” I growled under my breath.
    “You’d benefit from it, too, dear sister.”
    I rolled my eyes. “I’d rather die than have your putrid blood running through my veins.”
    He ignored me. “The way silver burns your skin… Becoming a hybrid would free you from all of that.”
    “Still not interested. It’s a small price to pay to keep my soul intact.”
    Bobby flashes his fangs. “You won’t even miss it,” he told me, moving toward me again. “I promise.”
    “How can you even be sure it’ll work? From what I’ve seen and heard, any time we’re bitten by one of your lackeys, or vice versa, the end result is always death,” I reminded him.
    Bobby nods. “Our trials haven’t been without sacrifices on both sides.”
    “I think the word you’re looking for is murder , but please, proceed,” I amended him, unable to keep the venom from my tone.
    Just like when we were younger, Bobby hated being interrupted, his eyes locking with mine contemptuously. “The reason we think you’re the key is that we share genetic ties.”
    I let this information swirl around in my head for a bit, wondering how that could make a difference.
    “Because we come from the same human bloodline, our scientists figure it’ll act as a stable foundation for the species to coexist within one body.”
    I swallowed thickly, realizing he could very well be onto something. “So…what? You w-want me to bite you?”
    Bobby laughed hysterically. “Do I look suicidal to you? While I’m almost positive I’d walk away from this, there’s still a small chance the werewolf genes could kill me.”
    “Pity,” I snapped. “Let’s say we give it a shot, anyway.”
    His eyes narrowed menacingly. “No, the plan is to inject you with my blood. Should you survive, great. If not? Well, it would serve you right after what you did to Gianna.”
    “My only regret with Gianna was that I didn’t stretch her death