Original Sin (The Order of Vampires 1)

Her heart plummeted to her stomach. “It’s all relevant! You can’t hold me here forever. Whatever you gave me will eventually wear off and when it does, I’ll fight you with everything I’ve got every step of the way.”

“Genunk!” The command shattered the last of her calm. “Sleep!”

But before her eyes closed, she saw him. This was no dream. This was real. And those eyes were not the eyes of a person.

Chapter Sixteen

The wind carried her in a warm embrace, tight and safe, as she sped through night under a blanket of stars interrupted only by a passing canopy of trees. It had to be another dream, so she let it carry her wherever she needed to be.

Peaceful serenity cocooned her. No worry. No angst. No recollection of falling asleep or where she slept. Only peace.

The darkness consumed her as she sank deeper and deeper and deeper until...

Annalise’s nose twitched at the pungent stench of... Was that manure? Her mind awakened, but her body had yet to fully rouse.

Blurred glimpses of light seeped through her eyelashes, convincing her it would be best to rest a little longer. Too bright. And what was that god-awful smell?

She drew in a full breath, filling her lungs and immediately regretting it. A cough choked her, the stench filling her nose. She rolled to her side and winced when a sharp stick poked her. Not a stick. Straw.

Her eyes only caught a hint of the hay before she sneezed. Then she sneezed again, and again, her allergies in a full-blown flair up as she found herself covered in bits of straw and hay dust.

“Oh, God.” Her eyes watered, her sinuses flooding as the scent of hay tickled her nose. At least the sneezing and instant stuffiness seemed to neutralize the stink of manure. Another sneeze. “Jesus!”

“You’re awake.”

Jolted by the melodic voice, Annalise rolled to her back, digging her elbows into the bed of straw, and blinked through watery eyes at the small, childlike woman kneeling in a streak of sunshine. Were they in a barn?

The small woman giggled. “You’re clumsy.”

“Where am I?” As Annalise’s eyes adjusted, she searched for familiar markings. They were definitely in a barn. The little woman didn’t appear threatening, but there was something strange about her. Her face looked too young for her eyes. Staring at her... She had the youth and beauty of a young girl, but the wisdom of a grown woman trapped in her eyes.

“No need to be frightened. Here, drink this.” The girl held out a copper cup.

She didn’t move.

“I’m Grace.” Her small, elfin features made her age indiscernible. She was wearing a sheer white bonnet and—

Oh, God. A chill raced up Annalise’s spine. “Are you Amish?”

The girl smiled and nodded. “I was sent to watch over you.”

“Son of a bitch,” Annalise rasped, cradling a palm to her head.

The girl—Grace—giggled. “You should not say such words.” She pressed the cup into Annalise’s hand, wrapping her fingers around it. “Drink.”

Like a puppet on a string, she took the cup and sniffed. “What is it?”

“It’s buttermilk. I imagine you’re quite hungry. You’ve been in and out for nearly eighteen hours.”

Eighteen hours? No. That couldn’t be right. “Where am I?” How far was she from home—and a police station? She needed to find civilization and a phone.

“Lancaster, Pennsylvania.”

“How... How did I get here?”

She smiled. “Adam brought you.”

Adam. Memories flickered, blurry and clouded. Waking up in a hotel without her clothes, trying to escape, being abducted by an Amish crazy person. Her heartbeat spiked. He’d drugged her. She had to get out of here.

Setting the cup aside, she sat up. “Can you help me? I need to get to a phone—”

“There isn’t a phone for miles.”

“Then a road.”

“Adam said you should rest.”

She didn’t give a tiny rat’s ass what Adam wanted. This girl was her only hope to get out of here. Or she could be her biggest obstacle. Either way, she was leaving. “What did you say your name was?”

“Grace. You can call me Gracie.”

“Grace, I need you to help me. Please. Before Adam comes back.”

“He won’t be long.”

“Where did he go?” For all she knew he was off digging a grave.

“He needed to ... eat.”

That didn’t leave much time. “Can you tell me how to get to a main road? I have to get home.”

“Your home is here now.”

Her blood chilled as she saw the conviction in the other woman’s wise eyes. “No,” she said slowly. “My home’s in Bensalem.” They were all fucking crazy. “Please help me. I need to find a phone.”

“Adam will provide everything you need. He’s your mate. You saved him.”

Her head cocked, the woman’s words passing through but not finding a foothold or making any logical sense to her brain. “Look, I need to get out of here—”

“You can’t leave before the bonding ceremony. Adam needs you to stay here. That’s why he sent me to watch you.” Her smile bloomed. “You and I will be sisters.”