So, of course, that meant everything out of his mouth was flirtatious. Anyone who saw Fox would think he didn’t have a single damn survival instinct. But if the flirting knocked sexy off his game, then Fox had a shot at escaping.
It was just a shame that he had such a cool power. Fox would have loved to talk to him about it, would have loved to watch him part the veil between worlds as easily as parting his mother’s gauzy drapes to peer out the window. But it would be better if he didn’t try to stick around. He didn’t know what this new vampire had in store for him. It was just better if Fox had his own plans for escaping and getting the fuck away from all vampires for a very long time.
Dawn was fast approaching, thank God. The sun was going to be up in less than an hour. This bloodsucker had to go to ground soon. He already looked exhausted. Sweat dotted his brow, and there was the finest tremble to the hand resting on the steering wheel of the massive SUV. The windows were darkly tinted, but Fox doubted it was enough to protect the vamp from the sun. No, they’d have to stop, and once he was asleep, Fox had a shot at escaping.
“What do you know about this prophecy?” the vampire asked, breaking the lengthy silence. It was the first time they’d spoken since he’d snapped at Fox to get in the damn car.
Fox was proud of himself for managing to keep his mouth shut for this long. He tended to talk—a lot—when he was nervous. But then, he’d been busy alternating between watching the vampire driving and looking over his shoulder to make sure they weren’t being followed.
“The prophecy? Not a fucking thing.”
The vampire’s hand tightened on the wheel while his other fisted on his thigh. He snarled, his upper lip curling just enough that Fox saw a hint of one white fang.
Fox immediately threw his hands up. “Hey! It’s not my fault. I was in Denver working as a budtender in a dispensary when these vamps caught me after work. They said that someone called the Variks wanted me dead. They were taking me someplace safe. Next thing I know, I’m halfway across the country and tied to a fucking bed. I don’t know if these Variks are real or if they just made it up, but it was clear they didn’t give a shit about my safety. I would have been fine on my own.”
The man muttered something under his breath and shoved his free hand through his hair, but Fox couldn’t be sure if it was out of frustration or if it was really bothering him.
“What’s a budtender?” he asked after a second.
Fox couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his lips as he stared at the vampire. It was the last thing he’d expected him to ask about. “It’s like a bartender for pot. Colorado is a legal state. In the dispensary, I answer questions, offer my advice, and handle the product.”
A little grunt came from the man’s throat, but that was about it. He’d met plenty of people who were happy to get all judgy about legalized weed and people who enjoyed a little herbal refreshment, but if the vampire had any problems with it, he didn’t give any indications, at least.
“Look, we both know the sun is gonna be up soon. This SUV offer enough protection for you?”
“I’ve got a place where we can stop for the day, rest, and make some plans.”
Fox shifted in his seat, placing his hands under his thighs to keep from twisting his fingers together and giving away his growing anxiety. “And what plans are we making, exactly?”
The vampire glared at him for a second before turning his attention to the road again. “What the fuck I’m going to do with you.”
That didn’t sound promising in the least. Fox slumped in his seat and crossed his arms tightly over his chest. His chances of survival were starting to look a little grim. A new knot twisted in his stomach, blocking out the gnawing emptiness that had plagued him for the past two days. Panicked thoughts buzzed in his brain, and he debated whether he had a shot at escaping if he just jumped out of the SUV when it slowed down for the next stoplight, and other equally stupid plans.
This guy might be much hotter than the other vampires, but this was feeling less and less like a rescue. He needed to get home—not that he was entirely sure how he was going to accomplish this. The fuckers who grabbed him took his phone and wallet. No ID and no cash. He couldn’t even call anyone. Of course, he had no one to call. His only family had been his mother, and she’d been dead for almost ten years now.