Sick and tired of being the one left behind, aren’t you? And all the fighting, all the death. I can help you with that. I’d so like to help you.
Why don’t we talk about it, you and me? Just us girls. Let’s have a few drinks and trash men, why don’t we?
Aren’t you going to ask me in?
Blair stood at the window, and the face behind the dark glass smiled at her. Her hands went to the window, started to lift it.
Hurry now. Open up. Ask me in, Blair. That’s all you have to do.
She opened her mouth, the words already in her mind.
Then something flew at her from behind, sent her sprawling across the room.
Chapter 5
There was a scream of rage from what floated outside the window. The glass seemed to vibrate from it, almost to bow in from the pressure.
Then it was gone, a blur of motion. Blair felt the room spin.
“Oh no, you don’t. There’ll be none of that.” Larkin took a firm grip on Blair’s shoulders, pulled her up to her knees. “What the bloody hell were you doing?”
His face shimmied in and out of focus. “I’m going out. Sorry.”
The next thing she knew she was coming to on her own bed, with Larkin tapping her cheeks. “Ah, there you are. Stay with us this time, will you, muirnin? I’m going to fetch Glenna.”
“No, wait. Give me a minute. I just feel a little sick.” She swallowed hard, pressed a hand to her shaky stomach. “Like I’ve had entirely too many margaritas. I must’ve been dreaming. I thought I…Was I dreaming?”
“You were standing at the window, about to open it. She was outside, somehow standing out there. The French one.”
“Lora. I was going to ask her in.” She turned horrified eyes to Larkin. “Oh my God, I was going to ask her in. How can that be?”
“You looked…wrong. I’d have said you were asleep, but your eyes were open.”
“Sleepwalking. A trance. They got into my head, and they did something. The others!”
He pressed her back down when she started to jump off the bed. “Downstairs, the lot of them. In the kitchen where Glenna’s put a meal together, God bless her. She asked if I’d fetch you. I knocked, but you didn’t answer.” He looked toward the window now, and his face went grim. “I nearly went away again, thinking you were sleeping and could probably use that as much as food. But I thought I heard…I heard her talking to you.”
“If I’d let her in…I’ve never heard of them being able to do mind control if you haven’t been bitten. Something new. We’d better get down, tell the others.”
He brushed lightly at her hair. “You’re shaky yet. I could carry you.”
“Bet you could.” It made her smile. “Maybe next time.” She sat up, leaned toward him, touched her lips to his. “Thanks for the save.”
“You’re very welcome.” He took her hand to help her off the bed, then wrapped his arms around her when she swayed.
“Whoa. Head rush. They worked something on me, Larkin. They used memories and emotions. Private stuff. That seriously pisses me off.”
“You’d be more so if she’d managed the invitation.”
“Good point. Okay, let’s go down and…” She wobbled again, cursed.
“My way then after all.” He scooped her off her feet.
“Just need another minute. Need to find my balance.”
“You feel balanced enough to me.” He looked down, smiled slowly. “You’ve a lovely shape to you. I like that the clothes you wear don’t hide it away. And just now you’ve got a pretty scent to go with it. A bit like green apples.”