Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

Well, yeah, but that was Talon. His wants had always come above everyone else's. But using words and strength was far different than using psychic talents. Besides, if I did do that, I'd be no better than he was. "Telepathy is a defense. I refuse to use it for anything more."

"Yet you used it at Moneisha just fine."

"That's different."

"It's not, you know."

"Rescuing my brother is defense of pack, nothing more."

"If you say so." He glanced in the rearview mirror, then said, "That wolf doesn't seem the type to accept his wishes being denied."

"He'll get over it." Yet I remembered the look in his eyes, remembered his vow that he always got what he wanted, and wondered

I shifted in the seat and studied Quinn for a moment. "So what about you?"

He didn't return my look. "What about me?"

"How long did it take for you to get over Eryn?"

His smile was both wry and bitter. "I think current evidence suggests I'm not."

It certainly did. "So how long were you with her?"

"Nine months."

"When did you discover what she was doing?"

His expression was grim. "Not nearly fast enough." He hesitated, then added, "Four months ago."

Only four months. No wonder he was still hurting. No wonder he was still so angry. "And how long has Eryn been assigned to the whorehouse?"

"Two months." He shrugged. "It took time to buy her company."

"And are you intending to leave her there?"

"Yes."

"The punishment doesn't fit the crime, you know."

His sudden grin was savage. "She created her bed. Let her lie in it for eternity. I don't care."

The harshness of his words was a sharp reminder that this was a vampire I sat beside. A rare vampire, granted, in that he apparently still had the capability to feel, but a vampire all the same. And he could obviously be as cold and as cruel as any of his race

"If you didn't care, you wouldn't have reacted so harshly," I noted

He didn't say anything, but we both knew I was right. He looked in the rearview mirror again, and a prickle of unease ran down my spine

"What's wrong?" I twisted around, saw the distant flash of red-and-blue lights. "Cops or emergency services?"

"Cops, I think."

I grinned. "So much for the theory that this was a perfect night to test this beastie's speed."

"True. But unlike you, I'm not above using my psychic skills to get me out of trouble."

I raised an eyebrow. "You obviously haven't read the papers lately." Not that I actually had, either. Jack had told me the news over lunch one day

He glanced at me as he slowed. "What do you mean?"