“Certainly.”
When we came to the room at the farthest end of the hall, I felt like the breath had been crushed from me. For the first time since I stepped foot into the building, I was scared. Fear was an aphrodisiac to the man at my side, and I struggled to gain control.
I waited for him to cross the threshold first, fearing imprisonment. It was hard to shake those suspicions after the last time I'd been in Harley's company. Of course, he'd taken me by force and attempted to bond me to him by blood. Naturally, I was on guard.
“Have a seat.” With a sweeping gesture, Harley indicated the nearby table and the couch on the far side of the room.
I did not intend to stray far from the door. “I think I'll stand. Thank you though.”
I drank in the sight of the room where I'd fought for my freedom. Being bound to Harley would have been my greatest nightmare come to life. It was because of him that I'd instead bound myself to Arys. It seemed like a necessary choice at the time as it guaranteed no other vampire could ever bind me.
With a shrug, he crossed the room and took a seat on the sofa. He sat back in a manner that was just too casual. The black leather pants that he wore paired with a black shirt, open partially to show the smooth expanse of his chest, drew my attention. It was the first time I'd seen him in person clad in something other than a fine suit. Was it wrong that I thought this was so much better?
“Anytime you're ready, my darling.” He indicated that I should begin, and I took up pacing a line back and forth in front of the door.
The blood coursed through my veins as if I were running a race. Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to spit the words out before I ran like a coward. Harley watched me with a mischievous smile playing about his lips. He was enjoying this.
“You know things … about the power that I have. You share much of what I can do.
I need to know more.” I cringed inwardly, hating that I needed something from him. It could only empower him, even if only his ego.
I continued to slowly pace, finding some kind of comfort in the constant motion. His eyes followed my every move. I wanted him to say something before I went on, to give me an indication of whether or not he cared to hear anything further.
“Arys doesn't have a clue that you're here. Does he?”
I jumped at his words. Fighting back the panic that threatened to envelope me, I knew I had no choice but to answer honestly. I prayed that this wouldn't blow up on me.
“No. He doesn't. In fact, he was adamant that I stay the hell away from you. But, this isn't about him. It's about me.”
A low chuckle came from Harley. It stroked me in places that only a lover knows, and I shuddered in both pleasure and revulsion.
“You're bound to him. Do you think that he won't find out? Don't be a fool. You can't keep him out of your head forever,” he said, leaning forward in his seat. “And trust me; you don't want to see Arys in a jealous rage.”
I knew that already, but hearing him say it reinforced my fears. “I can handle Arys.
Just tell me if you're willing to help me or not.”
Placing his chin in his hands, Harley studied me until I felt like I was on display. It didn't take long for me to grow short tempered. I wanted to ask him what the hell he was looking at, but then I felt it, the slightest touch of his power. Similar to what Veryl had done in his office, Harley was metaphysically feeling me out. It was invasive, rude and strangely, I liked it. God! The man was so frustrating.
“You'll have to be a little more specific, Alexa. From where I'm sitting, you have more than enough power to blow this city wide open. What exactly is it that you seek from me?”
Again with the talk about how much power I had. If only that was the problem. I ran a hand through my long hair, shoving it away from my face in frustration. “That's just the thing. I'm so f**king sick of hearing everyone go on about how much power I've got when I have no idea what the hell to do with most of it. I feel like I'm running on all cylinders and going nowhere.”
I paused in my pacing, fearing that I had revealed too much but knowing it may be the only way. Harley knew things, and I needed to know them, too. I didn't have the patience to figure it out over the course of my lifetime. I wanted to know now.
He seemed to consider this, or maybe he was just trying to unnerve me. “You know what your problem is? You still have that pesky heartbeat. It's what holds you back.
Much of your power comes from your link to a vampire. That kind of power comes from the dead, something that you are not. Yet.”