Bittersweet Blood (The Order #1)

Ella stood up. She wrapped her arms around her middle and paced the room, coming to a halt in front of the table.

“They approached me six months ago. All they wanted was names, names of people close to you. I didn’t know what they wanted them for.”

“Did you care?”

Hatred flashed across her face. “No, I didn’t care. They paid me well.”

“So it wasn’t only Tara. You’re responsible for Gabriel and Stefan’s deaths as well. Who else was on your list?”

“Your little red-headed boyfriend.”

“Graham?”

Christian pulled out his cell phone; he flicked it open and pressed in a number. “Graham, don’t leave the building until I get back.” As he closed his phone, Ella watched him through narrowed eyes.

“So at the time they approached you, you knew nothing of Tara?” Christian asked.

Ella shook her head. “I went to them with that one. I saw the way you watched her that night. I told them if they really wanted to hurt you, she was the one.”

“Why?” Tara asked.

Ella glanced at her and shrugged. “Why not?”

“Who were they, Ella? Who did you sell this information to?”

“I told you that night at the bar. If you’d been listening.”

“Asmodai?”

She nodded. “He hates you. He’ll not stop this until everyone you care about is taken from you.”

“Why?”

“The demons I spoke to weren’t very forthcoming, but from what they did say, I gather you’d cost him something he wanted very badly. Something he lost when you banished him to the Abyss after the last wars.”

“I remember he asked for a meeting. I ignored his request, but what could he have lost?”

“How should I know? That’s all I know.” She looked warily at Christian. He stared back.

Piers stepped up beside him and put a hand on Christian’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I should have listened to you and gotten rid of her years ago.” He stepped back. “Tara?”

“Yes?”

“You’re the one most harmed by this. Her life is yours to take.”

She didn’t see the knife held loosely in his hand until he held it out to her. For a moment, she stared at the gleaming silver, wicked and razor sharp. She imagined running that blade into Ella, thrusting it through flesh and bone, feeling the life leave her. Then she shook her head. “Just do it.”

Ella’s gaze darted around the room, frantically hunting for a way out. She halted in front of Christian. “Christian, remember what we once had.”

He rose to his feet and turned away. Ella stared after him. She didn’t seem to notice Piers come up beside her until he put a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped. She tried to turn but he held her effortlessly in place. Tara watched in fascination as his other hand fisted in the long dark hair. He jerked her head to the side, baring the long line of her throat. Ella fought, her hands scrabbling for release, then the fight oozed out of her, her arms fell to her sides and she stood docile. Her eyes caught Tara’s. She held her gaze and for a second they flashed the old hatred.

Piers lunged. This was no gentle feeding. His fangs tore open the flesh of her neck, sank deep into the vein until the blood pulsed from the open wound, and he swallowed convulsively. He raised his eyes and there was nothing human in them.

Tara took a step toward Christian. He must have felt her regard because he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tight against his side.

She saw the instant the life left Ella. A moment later, Piers released her and she crumpled to the floor. He stared at Tara then wiped his hand across his mouth. Licked his lips.

Tara looked from him to the body on the floor. She’d expected to feel some sort of satisfaction, but she felt numb. Nothing would bring Chloe back.

“Can we go home?” she asked.





Chapter Twenty-One


In the car, Tara gave in and released the tight hold on her feelings. A wave of icy cold washed over her, and she shivered. She hugged her arms around her but nothing seemed to warm her—she was cold from the inside. Behind her closed eyes, all she could see was Chloe’s tortured body.

It was impossible to believe that she had spent the last four days worried about losing her chance at a stupid normal life, while somewhere Chloe had been through hell. Chloe had been alive and conscious when the Order found her. What had she suffered in those last four days of her life?

She must have made a small sound because Christian rested a hand on her leg, squeezing lightly, and Tara found she was crying. She put her fists to her eyes but she couldn’t seem to stop. She choked on tears.

She didn’t notice when the car stopped. Only when Christian unfastened her seatbelt and dragged her into his lap did she realize they no longer moved. Tara curled into him, her fingers clinging to his shirt.