Liam jackknifed to standing. "I hope, for your sake, that you’re correct."
I was on my feet in the next moment, blinking at the speed with which I moved. Come to think of it, the bruises and aches that had punctuated my movement before our horizontal wrestling match were gone. My body felt better than it had in forever. I felt like I could run a two-minute mile, jump a tall building and lift a car—all at the same time.
"I'm coming with you," I said.
Thomas stepped forward. "Appointment first."
"You keep saying that, but I never agreed to see a doctor. How do you guys have doctors anyway?" The spooks preferred to keep their presence hidden from humans. I had a hard time believing they would allow one to give them regular checkups. It'd be too easy for that human to expose them to other humans.
"Our vampires are capable of attending medical school," Thomas said, his eyes coolly amused. "We have a few who have an interest in the medical field and make it a point of keeping up with all new techniques and research."
"As for your appointment, we decided it would be best that you see one while you're here to make sure everything is as it should be," Liam told me.
"You decided? I take it, I don't have a choice in this."
Their silence was answer enough.
There it was. The thing that drove me crazy about vampires. They made decisions for me—without ever once consulting me. I wasn't a child and had no intention of handing my life over for anyone else to plan or guide. I'd done that once, and it had not ended well. Never again.
"We don't know how you were able to survive the curse that prevented Thomas from siring more vampires. We had your background checked and know you aren't one of his descendants. It’s in everyone's best interests to figure out why," Liam said.
I studied him with narrowed eyes, trying to see if there was more to it than that. His explanation made sense, and it wasn't one I objected to. That didn't mean I appreciated them making these decisions for me.
"It can't wait until after we talk to the companion?" I knew before I asked the question what the answer would be but wanted to try anyway.
Thomas gave a small shake of his head. "This has waited long enough."
"I’ll let you know what I find," Liam said, his eyes intent as if to impress on me his sincerity.
My hopes fell. They weren't going to budge.
Seeing my capitulation, Liam took a step toward me and touched me on the arm before departing, leaving Thomas and me the only ones standing in the empty gym.
CHAPTER SIX
"HOW HAVE YOU been?" Thomas’s words were stilted and formal.
"Besides the fact that my friend is missing, and I'm being forced to stay in this house of horrors, I'm just hunky-dory."
Thomas’s lips quirked to the side. "I don't know. You and Liam seemed like you were having a good time."
I gave him a deadpan look. We were not going to discuss that. Not now. Not ever. "Let's get this over with. I have work in a few hours."
Actually, probably sooner. I didn't know how long Liam had spent training me.
Thomas inclined his head and turned, leading the way. I followed, assuming this doctor wouldn't care that I was in yoga pants, a workout shirt, and covered in sweat.
"You haven't used the car I gave you," he said.
I kept my face expressionless as I kept pace with him. "No."
"Is there a reason? I can get you a different car if there’s one you like better."
"I don't need a car. My bike is enough."
"I beg to differ. I've met Jerry's other couriers. All of them have some form of vehicular or magical transportation. A car would only increase your profits by saving you time."
"I'm fine." My answer was short and to the point.
"There are no strings attached if that's what you're worried about," he said, his voice calm and reasonable.
There were always strings attached. Nothing in this life was ever free.
My silence was answer enough. Thomas didn't accept that. "You're being ridiculous. It's a gift. Denying it only hurts yourself."
My snort was full of scorn. "I think I've had enough of your gifts."
"You're talking about your turn."
I didn't answer. I hoped we got to where we needed to go soon, because this conversation was one I'd planned to never have.
"You must know it was never my intention to abandon you," he said, his voice coaxing.
I rounded on him with a snarl and fangs bared. He drew up short, his eyes flashing a warning I refused to heed. "You killed me. You destroyed the person I was, made me into a monster afraid of being around my own family for fear I might hurt them. Your abandonment was the only good thing you ever did for me."
"I can understand why you’re angry," Thomas said, his voice infuriatingly calm. "But, you need to look at this as a gift. You’ll live for a very long time. If you would just accept your circumstance, you'll find this life can be a good one."
"It was not one I chose," I shouted at him. Of all the things wrong with what was done with me, that was the one that continued to haunt me. He'd stripped my options from me when he made me what I was. He'd taken any dreams I had and turned them to dust. Even if I could get past everything else and embrace my vampyness, I couldn't get past that. Not yet. Perhaps not ever.
There was a long silence between us—one full of anger and bitter feelings on my side, and regret and something I couldn't define on his.
We came to a stop in front of a door. We were on the first floor in a section Nathan had showed me yesterday.
Thomas met my eyes, his expression calm and totally at odds with the writhing mass of feeling currently residing in my stomach. "What's done is done. I can't change it and don't even know if I would if I could. Your existence has been a gift to me."
My lip curled. I bet it had. The vampires had a weird rule. Only those capable of siring other vampires could be selected as the master of the region. My timely appearance was what enabled him to take the city and make it his when it would have otherwise gone to a much less charming vampire. For all that I railed at Thomas and wanted to take a hammer to his head, I knew he was the lesser evil of the two. Didn't mean it didn't burn.
He blinked in acknowledgment of the irony. "As much as you may dislike me, you'll see that you need me. This is a cold, hard world you've found yourself in. You're going to need allies, and it's my duty to ensure you're prepared whether you like that or not. Keep that in mind."
"Don't forget. We have a deal," I told him. "I allowed you to claim me as yours, but you agreed to stay out of my life."
"That agreement only holds so far. I cannot make requirements as your sire." He stepped closer, the deadly predator that had enabled him to claim the city present in his eyes. "But be warned, this city is mine as is everything in it. As its master, I still hold power over you."