I no longer hear the blood rushing through the other three.Only Victor’s blood rivering in his veins hits my ears.
Need to help him.Need to…
I fall to the hard ground once more.
I grit my teeth and rise again, my cheek, belly, and back aching.Blood trickles from my neck wound.I’ll be bruised tomorrow.Only my speed and prowess in Taekwondo saved me this evening, and those weren’t ultimately enough.
Rogan.
Rogan saved me.
But…why?
I walk, willing myself not to stumble, toward Rogan, where he’s got the third guy pinned against a brick wall next to the dumpster where I left the man I fed from.
I glance quickly around.The man is gone.
Can’t blame him.He probably woke up to this fight and fled to save his own hide.
“Who sent you?”Victor growls.“Who fucking sent you?”
The thug spits in his face.
Rogan tightens his hold until the thug is gasping for air.
“Youwillanswer me.”
Mind control.Weres don’t have the ability.Vamps do.I’m not as good as a full blood, but I can do it if the need is dire.
Right now, I need Victor’s blood.That’s my dire need.Which means this thug needs to answer Rogan’s question so I can get what I crave.
Problem is, I’m weak.My body has taken a beating.Will that hamper my ability to exercise control over this thug’s mind?
I walk toward Rogan until only three feet separate us.I concentrate, meeting the thug’s gaze.
“Answer him,” I say.
Nothing.
I close the distance a foot.“Answer him.”
“Vampire…mind…tricks,” the thug chokes out.
As I suspected, I’m too weak.
“Don’t…work…on…me…”
My breath comes rapidly.Just that little bit of focus took all the energy I have left.Mind control doesn’t work?It works on most humans, which means…
This thugisn’thuman.
He’s not a vampire or a wolf.I’d be able to scent him.
Rogan pulls the thug toward him quickly and then knocks his head against the wall.The thug crumples to the ground.
Rogan turns to me, his eyes wild and feral and intense.He growls, and for a moment I wonder if he’s going to change.
Right here before my eyes.