“You dare defend him to me? Does your betrayal know no bounds?”
Even Cain could hear the pain in Rafael’s voice. Pain like that could twist a man. He should know.
“He did nothing wrong. You only wish it were so simple. I left on my own. Cain had nothing to do with it.”
Rafael flew across the room until he was within inches of Lucas—possibly the only being the creature ever cared about. “I know he helped you hide from me.”
Lucas shook his head. “He showed me a few tricks, something you should have taught me, nothing more. I would have figured it out on my own eventually.”
“Why? You were to be my successor. You could have had it all, Luc.”
Cain had been about to dissolve. He needed to get to Diamonique while he could, but Rafael’s question gave him pause.
“I didn’t want that kind of life!” Lucas shouted. “I knew when I saw Cain and Diamonique together that The Dominion could never give me what I truly craved.”
Rafael punched the air with his fist. “What could you possibly want that I could not give you?”
“Love,” Lucas tossed right back.
In that moment, Cain felt truly sorry for Rafael.
“You are my son! How can you stand there and say that I do not love you?”
“You love having a son. It’s why you adopted me. Why you turned me. You never loved me or you would have understood that by leaving The Dominion, I was seeking something better. I wasn’t leaving you, Father, just the life you wanted for me.”
Rafael pointed an accusing finger at Lucas. “I created The Dominion for you. It was all for you.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that Cain is innocent in all this. Leave him be. Deal with me instead.”
Rafael stiffened and Cain knew things had just gone from bad to worse.
“Cain is the reason you left. Cain and his bitch,” he ground out. “They’ll both pay.”
Then he was gone and Cain had a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. Rafael knew. He hadn’t expected the old man to know where he and Diamonique’s special place was. He’d thought she’d be safe there, as long Rafael had no path to her. The bastard had read his mind and Cain hadn’t even been aware of it. Emotions. They had no place in combat with an ancient vampire, but his fear for Diamonique had clouded his brain to the point it might even cost her her life.
His gaze zeroed in on Lucas, his one chance at saving Diamonique. Time to make a deal with the Devil’s son. “Will you help me get her back?”
Lucas grimaced. “It won’t be easy. He’s determined to place the blame squarely on your shoulders.”
Cain flew across the room and jerked Lucas off his feet. “Damn you! Diamonique should not have to pay for your decisions,” Cain demanded.
“No. You’re right.” Then Lucas closed his eyes.
Several precious seconds went by. To Cain it felt like hours.
Finally, Lucas opened his eyes, “Put me down, I know where he’s taken her.” Cain complied and Lucas held out his hand. “Come with me if you want to see her alive.”
Was he a fool to trust Lucas? No. Lucas hated Rafael as much as he did. Hell, maybe even more. Besides, without Diamonique, Cain was nothing. He gripped Lucas’s outstretched palm. At once, heat flooded his body, then Diamonique’s living room dropped away, and he was standing in a dark room. He saw Diamonique. She was nude and chained to a wall. Rafael leaned against a doorway, his smile a frightening thing in itself. There was a young, blond girl kneeling at his feet. She, too, was nude. Rafael clutched the girl’s left wrist and blood trickled out of a gaping wound. Rafael’s newest pet.
Chapter Six
Diamonique pulled against the chains, but it was no use. She wasn’t strong enough to break them. Something kept burning her skin. It felt like acid being poured onto her—slowly. It hurt like hell, but she refused to give Rafael the satisfaction of crying out. It was just what he wanted.
A roar rent the air.
Diamonique lifted her head to see Cain and another man in the room.
“You bastard!” the man shouted.