Free Stefan (Lost Nights Series Book 1) by Jocelynn Drake Page B

as I had the thought, I tucked it away. Stefan wasn’t human. He was a freaking vampire and the sooner I remembered that the better off I was going to be.
    The other man looked from me to Stefan, his expression calculating before he carefuly said, “You can’t take her in.” The other vampire shoved his hands into his pockets, looking completely relaxed as if he didn’t have a care in the world, but there was a shrewdness to his eyes that made me think his demeanor was only a facade. “Two fledglings have been brought before the coven tonight for entertainment. That could work in her favor.”
    “I don’t think much is going to help,” Stefan muttered softly, but he loosened his tight hold on my arm. “Does your presence mean that she supports me?”
    “No.”
    With that cold word, I felt Stefan flinch, his hand tightening almost painfully on my arm as if he was preparing to fight or flee. I didn’t know who the “she” they were talking about was, but I was getting the impression that she held some serious power in Stefan’s world.
    “But she thought you might trust me,” the stranger continued. “Keep you from digging yourself an even deeper grave. Or maybe I should say, I deeper grave for her.”
    A chill ran down my spine and I shivered, but I was willing to accept any help I could get at this point. Stefan grunted softly and the tension eased from his shoulders. “Prepare her. She doesn’t understand our world.” He then turned around to face me so I could see the lines of worry cutting into his face. Gently, he cupped my cheeks with both of his hands and tried to smile, but it never reached his eyes. “Do you trust me?”
    “I... I don’t know,” I stammered, trying not to be drawn in by the fear in his gaze. “You didn’t trust me.”
    “I know and I was wrong. Things will happen tonight. I will be different than you have known me. I need you to trust me; trust that I am trying to do what is best for you.”
    I closed my eyes for a second, soaking in his touch. Exhaustion burned through every inch of my trembling frame. The only fuel left in me was adrenaline and fear. I wanted to go somewhere safe and sleep for a day, maybe even a week. After that, maybe I could deal with all this, but that wasn’t an option. So for now, I was willing to trust Stefan. This was his world, not mine.
    “I trust you,” I whispered.
    Stefan pressed a kiss to my forehead. I opened my eyes, and he was simply gone as if he’d never been there. My shoulders slumped and I stared at the building, my dread growing in my chest.
    “I can’t read your mind,” the other vampire said in surprise, drawing my attention back to him.
    Rubbing my sore and burning eyes, I sighed. My shoulders slumped and some warning voice in my head screamed that I should be scared to be left alone with some unknown vampire, but I just couldn’t find the energy. That and Stefan wouldn’t actually leave with a vampire who would hurt me, right? “Yeah, neither can Stefan. I’m beginning to think that vampires can’t read my mind. I can’t say that I’m sorry about that.”
    “You might change your mind about that after tonight.”
    We stared at each other in silence for several seconds as if weighing the other’s attributes and appearance. I don’t know what the vampire finally came away with, but he gave me a reassuring smile in the end and I hoped that he hadn’t decided that I’d make a really yummy snack. I wasn’t feeling particularly yummy and I didn’t think I could stand to lose another pint of blood. Stefan hadn’t fed from me in several days, but I was too damn tired. Losing anything was just going to leave me curled up in an unconscious ball.
    “I’m Knox,” the vampire said at last.
    “Erin. Erin Prescott.” I started forward with my hand extended toward vampire.
    His smile turned into a wide, amused grin as he actually stepped back, keeping his hands in his pockets. The skin around his dark brown eyes