Free Immortal Heat (The Guardians of Dacia Book 1) by Loni Lynne

goods into town.
    It had been a blessing to be able to get off her feet. Marilyn knew she'd have blisters. So when the farmer and his wife came by with his wagon, they'd asked for a ride into Cluj. The farmer had told them he was only going as far as the hospital to get medical treatment for his wife. Had the couple stopped to show charity or had their good fortune been based on Draylon's mind manipulations? At times she sensed his thoughts, or thought she did, and then a dark wall separated her from seeing past the outer edges. She decided not to dwell on it too much. There was no way she was psychic. Still she wanted to know the truth, and he would be the one with answers.
    "Why am I being hunted?"
    "Right now is not the best time to discuss the issue. But I haven't a clue. What I'm more concerned about is getting you safely out of this country like I should have done from the start."
    "Because Vamier wants me? For what purpose? I'm only a history student."
    "Maybe there's something you know that he doesn't."
    Marilyn shrugged. "My paper's cut and dry on what Dacian history I could find and what I pieced together from my father's old notes. He'd only told me he was fascinated with my theories and thought we should work together."
    #
    Frozen, tired and hungry, Marilyn couldn't figure out which one she suffered from more. They'd rode into Cluj in relative safety with the older couple. This was their last stop. Draylon insisted on paying them for their troubles.
    "We walk from here. It's not that far."
    The large wad of cash Draylon pulled out of his tote had Marilyn wondering if he was possibly a drug dealer after all. She'd never seen someone carry so much at once. The jury was still out on what she thought of him. He was sexy—sure, but that didn't necessarily mean she could trust him. Daniel had been clean cut and handsome, but he'd been a major piece of work.
    No, Draylon took care of her, protected her from the vampire-like creatures over the past week and had given her shelter, even though it was within a witch's house. Part of her wondered when this bizarre dream would end.
    After dealing with the farmer who they'd been traveling with, Draylon shook his hand and shouldered his backpack onto his back. The farmer argued—trying to give Draylon some of the money back. Finally, the man stopped, looked at the money and tucked it into his pocket.
    Touching his hat in salute to the farmer, Draylon motioned for her to hurry. Stunned, Marilyn arranged her backpack and secured everything around her for best comfort and ran to catch up to his long strides.
    "Why didn't you just do that mind-manipulation with them and leave it at that?" she asked, catching up with him.
    "I didn't have to use my mind control, at least not at first. They were willing to take us to Cluj. But when he wouldn't take the money I offered, I finally persuaded him too. His wife's ill and the medical bills are piling up. I think $200 will help out, it equals about 670 Leu right now."
    He shook his head. "They are a proud people…I had to do something. He'd refuse it otherwise."
    Okay, Draylon's "nice factor" inched up her judgment scale. He took care of people—even those he didn't necessarily know.
    "Come. I want to get us out in the open soon. I have a friend who will take us to the airport."
    The hike was at least a good five miles. Marilyn followed Draylon through the city streets, taking her along open passages and high traffic areas. He'd informed her that the moroii, or what the Romanian people called "vampires," didn't want the risk of being caught in daylight—should it appear. They kept to hidden doorways and allies. So avoiding those areas were to their advantage.
    Pangs of hunger cramped her stomach, and she doubled over as it gurgled.
    Draylon stopped to watch her, his brows turned inward. "Are you okay?"
    "Yes…I think so. Just hungry—very hungry." She shook her head. "I'm usually not one to suffer. I can go without eating for awhile.