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She smiled at him. He was placating her, trying to make her feel better. She
appreciated the effort. Are you sure I m the one?
53
Ava McKnight
One hand left her waist and reached up to caress her cheek. In more ways than
you can imagine.
Zora s heart skipped a beat. If I do this& if I take on Branson and win& She kept
her gaze locked with his. If we both survive& Will you
Yes. Oh hell yes.
She smiled again as her heart soared. You ll make love to me? He d latched onto
her thought before it d fully formed, but she wanted to be very clear about her
intentions. And wanted to hear him answer the verbal question, not an unspoken
thought in her head.
Yes, Zora, he said as he bent his head to hers and kissed her. Long and deep. His
kiss conveyed his desire, his need, his commitment to keep his promise. When he
pulled away, he said, I will make love to you. All night long.
Her teeth clamped down on her lower lip as excitement shot through her. Vaughn
grinned. She said, Now you re learning the power of persuasion. Keep it up. She
stepped out of his embrace and moved past him. I can save humanity and get fucked
by the hottest vampire in existence. That s incentive I can work with.
You re a quirky little thing, he muttered.
She laughed, despite the fact that she was still scared shitless at what lay ahead for
her. But Vaughn s kisses and the anticipation of finally getting what she wanted
made her a little lighter of heart. And if he was so convinced she had the potential to
save this town, Zora would do her best to prove him right. If for no other reason than to
protect her aunt.
She picked up the crossbow and tested it without an arrow, so she was accustomed
to setting it up and was familiar with the trigger and how to reach it easily and use the
right amount of pressure to release it. Vaughn finished packing the bag of weaponry as
Mia returned to the back room.
54
Vaughn s Bidding
He turned to her and said, Go home. Lock the doors. Stay there until this is done.
They don t know you re not a blood relative or one of the tribal members. Branson may
come after you if he feels you pose a threat to him or his plan to overthrow the council.
Mia nodded in understanding. She took Zora s hands in her own. You can do this.
You must do this.
The pressure she felt and the fear of the unknown returned, but Zora remained
focused on what needed to be done to protect Mia. And the town. I ll do whatever I
can. I promise.
Good girl. Mia gave her a kiss on both cheeks then said, We ll catch up when
this is all over.
Mia returned to the store to lock up. Vaughn zipped the duffle bag and hefted it
over his shoulder. He took Zora s hand and led her out the back door.
Zora stepped outside and instantly pulled up short. She gasped. A tall, dark-haired
man with deep-set amber eyes stood in wait, as though he d known they were about to
come through the door. The sinister look in his eyes told her exactly who he was.
Branson.
Zora felt the tension rise in Vaughn.
Keep walking.
She did as he instructed, sidestepping Branson. Five men stood in the back parking
lot, surrounding her rented Jeep. Vaughn led her to the vehicle and held the passenger
door open for her. She climbed in and watched, the anxiety rising inside her, as Vaughn
stashed the duffle bag in the back and then slid into the driver s seat. Zora handed over
the keys without a word. He started the Jeep and shifted into gear. The pack inched
closer. She glanced over her shoulder and found Branson staring at the medallion she
wore. His eyes lifted and she was instantly chilled by his hard, amber gaze.
Look straight ahead. Bury your fear. Don t let him feed off it and use it to his advantage.
55
Ava McKnight
Tearing her gaze from Branson s, she did as Vaughn instructed. He eased the
vehicle forward. The pack circled, closing in on them. He stepped on the accelerator,
shifting into second as he sped out of the driveway, the Jeep shimmying as the tires
spun on the snow-packed road. Zora spared a glance in the side mirror. The pack and
their leader stood together, watching the retreating vehicle with menacing looks on
their faces that chilled her to the bone all over again.
Good Lord. What had she gotten herself into?
56
Vaughn s Bidding
Chapter Four
Zora couldn t stop shaking. Her hands trembled, her insides quaked. She paced
before the roaring fire Vaughn had built in the tall fireplace in the living room. He
gripped her shoulders, holding her still as he looked deep into her eyes, the way he d
done earlier in Mia s shop.
Breathe, he said.
I m trying.
Vaughn s jaw clenched. Branson saw your fear. You have to learn to keep it from
him, Zora. He ll use it against you.
You re out of your vampire mind if you think I can take on that man. Wolf.
Whatever.
To hell with Vaughn s incentive. She d stood toe-to-toe with evil in Mia s back
parking lot and she d been terrified. There was no way she could defeat Branson.
He didn t know all those years ago that the power building in this house was
coming from you. Women in the tribe didn t possess the kind of power the men did.
That s why you re a rare breed. He killed your father and your brother because he
assumed they were the threat to him and his pack. Now he knows he was wrong. He
knows you re the one capable of bringing him down.
Oh yeah, she said as her body continued to tremble. I m a huge threat. He s got
a lot to fear when it comes to me.
He does, Vaughn said with conviction. And he knows it. But he also knows he
can use your fear against you.
So why don t we just call it a draw and I ll go back home.
You are home, Zora.
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Ava McKnight
No. She shook her head. This will never be my home again.
Vaughn stared at her a moment, then said, After we destroy the pack, you won t
have to return to city. You won t need all those damn pills you take. You won t need to
work sixteen-hour days to keep your mind occupied.
Easy for you to say.
No, it s not. He gripped her upper arms a little tighter. It s not easy being in
your head.
I never invited you in, so don t blame me.
Zora. His hands dropped to his sides and he let out what sounded to be a long-
suffering sigh. After pinching the bridge of his nose with a finger and thumb, he said,
If I could block you out the way you did me when you were in the hospital, I would.
She eyed him curiously. Because the look in his eyes suggested otherwise. Really?
Okay, no. That s a lie. He raked a hand through his hair. I ve been connected to
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