Torn - Abigail Livinghouse (top 100 books of all time checklist .txt) 📗

was a killer, and I was with a killer. I swallowed, as Pearce got up from the bed.

 

“I’ll tell you more later. Miramar’s wondering where we are.” He offered me his hand which I took, but as soon as we were out of the room, our hands dropped and Pearce went into his bedroom and I went downstairs, as if nothing had happened, like nothing had changed.

Chapter Eight

Downstairs, Miramar rushed to my side and was on me in an instant. “What did you two do up there? Why is your hair all messy? Oh my God, you two didn’t, did you?” She asked, her eyes widening with every question until they were the size of dinner plates.

 

I shook my head. “We didn’t do anything, Miramar.” Which was partly true.

 

Her eyes narrowed as she folded her arms across her chest. “Are you sure?” She asked, looking at me as if staring would make me talk.

 

I nodded. “Positive.”

 

I went over to the front door and headed outside then. I needed some air away from everything. I was a bit shaken, well that was an understatement, from what had just happened. My legs wobbled as I walked to the side of the house until I just collapsed on the ground, sitting with my knees pulled up to my chest and leaning against the brick of the house.

 

I was insane. I finally decided. I had to be insane. All my life, I hunted vampires. I killed them for a profit to support my family. And I was known as one of the best hunters in my village. But now, after meeting one vampire it changed everything. I had run away from my family, God knows how they’re doing and if Pearce’s connections are looking after them or not. I had avoided Pearce, thought the worst things about him and vampires alike, but now, I’m kissing him, and developing feelings for him. I shook my head, a headache beginning to form.

 

I hadn’t even been here for a day and already I had caused so many things. But this wasn’t just me, this was Pearce’s fault too. It takes two to kiss, and two to fall in love. I clapped a hand to my forehead. Why? How could all of my beliefs suddenly shift just by meeting Pearce? I no longer flinch while I’m around vampires, and I no longer think I need a weapon around them either, which is just foolish. Everyone needs a weapon around vampires. I still viewed them as dangerous, but I felt more at ease around them than I had my whole life. All because of Pearce. I nearly groaned thinking of him. Why did I have to love him? There were so many other men, why a vampire? Why him?

 

“Hey there”, I jumped at the deep voice snapping me out of my train of thoughts. Liam stood looking down at me, grinning. Well, let me rephrase my earlier thought. Liam was one vampire you want to have a weapon around.

Chapter Nine

      I scrambled to my feet, my hand going to my belt for my stake and remembering I did not have one. Damn it. The sun had set and it was pitch black outside. There were only a few lights on in the house. I could barely see Liam’s devilish face in the darkness.

 

“What a lovely night to be outside, don’t you think Kyla?” He purred in a low, seductive voice. However I was not seduced, I was scared.

 

Yes, I know, the great Kyla Tyler is scared. It doesn’t happen often, only rarely like the time when I had fought Xian and Pearce’s deranged sister Carline in my village which they had raided. I pursed my lips.

 

“What do you want?” I asked, glad that my voice was strong. I just hoped he couldn’t see my shaking hands.

 

“Whatever you have to offer me, baby.” He inhaled deeply, sighing. “You smell wonderful.” He murmured.

 

“I have nothing to offer you.” I spat at him, but he just chuckled.

 

“Oh, quite the contrary.” He took another deep breath. “I think you have plenty to offer me.”

 

Suddenly, he was in front of me in just a few quick strides. I swallowed, my hands shaking so violently I clenched them into fists, digging my nails into my palms and trying to get them to stop. What had happened to the fierce, fighting me? Had Pearce taken that from me as well as my ability to think clearly? No, I could still fight, but now, I was afraid of harming someone I didn’t want to harm. But Liam, oh, I wanted to harm Liam. I had no weapons though, which means I would probably be doing more damage to myself if I tried to fight than to Liam. In other words, I was completely helpless.

 

I stiffened as he reached out and held a chunk of my long hair in his hand, bringing it to his face and sniffing it. “Hmmm.” He sighed. “Beautiful.”

 

“What are you going to do?” I quipped. “Kill me?”

 

Liam laughed, and I jumped at the sound. “No. Certainly not.” I couldn’t see his face which was still buried in my hair, but he sounded teasing. “I don’t kill my victims.”

 

I couldn’t help but ask the obvious question. “What do you do with them then?”

 

He pulled his face out from my curtain of hair, grinning sweetly. “Transform them.”

Chapter Ten

I gritted my teeth, readying myself for a fight anyway. I didn’t care if I killed myself trying to fight Liam, as long as I didn’t end up a vampire I would be content.

 

“No”, I said, looking into his dark eyes which were staring at me eagerly. “That’s just not going to happen.” I thrust my knee up and into his groin, spinning around and heading for the house.

 

I knew that it wouldn’t cause him pain, but I hoped it would catch him off guard. No more than two seconds later a hand closed around my wrist, and I knew that it was the hand of death.

 

“Come here”, Liam yanked my arm so roughly that I could feel it dislocating. I yelped in pain as I was crushed against Liam’s chest and held prisoner by his arms.

 

“Now”, his voice growled in my ear. “After that little stunt what you deserve is death. But, I’m a generous person and I want you.”

 

“Pearce!” I screamed. “Pearce!”

 

I wondered why none of the vampires in the house were coming to my aid, but then I realized why. They figured someone had finally gotten me and that I was no longer theirs for the taking. They didn’t want me as a houseguest, they wanted me as dinner, but probably thought someone had me already. I swallowed, letting out one last high pitched scream. “Pearce!”

 

I could hear Liam’s laughter booming painfully in my ears. “Oh Kyla, your precious mate won’t come for you this time.”, he leaned in closer so that I could feel his cold breath on my neck. “You’re mine.”

 

I shut my eyes, hoping that the venom really was numbing, and that this wouldn’t cause me too much pain. I felt cold fangs brush against the skin of my throat, but then there was a crashing noise and nothing. I opened my eyes to see Pearce standing next to me, and Liam doubled over on the ground. Pearce was staring at the vampire on the forest floor, but then he turned to me, his face frantic and eyes darting all over my body.

 

“Are you hurt? What did he do to you?” He asked, his brow coming together as he assessed my condition.

 

“My arm.” I said, but shook my head. “It’s nothing. I’ve had worse.”

 

“He broke your arm?” Pearce’s eyes flashed as he said this. I shook my head again, wondering if I had the power to calm Pearce. Probably not.

 

“No, just dislocated.” I said, although I didn’t think he heard me. He turned back around and faced Liam, who was on his feet with a grin on his face.

 

“Well, isn’t this touching. Mates together. Beautiful. Just like in the movies.” The grin widened. “I hate movies.”

 

That’s when he pounced. He did not go for Pearce however, but me. He slammed me into the ground. Liam was on top of me, and the weight of his body crushing mine was too much to bear. I tried to exhale, but ended up screaming out in agony instead.

 

“No!” Pearce’s own scream drifted over to me in the hazy pain shooting through my neck and stomach, and I heard some scuffling, a few growls, but that was it. My head fell back onto the ground as I closed my eyes.

 

“No, Kyla don’t leave me!” The voice that filtered through the fog settling around me was faint, but it was enough to force me to keep my eyes open.

 

A face began to materialize in front of me, no, hovering over me. I blinked several times, trying to make the person come into focus, but the best vision I could obtain and keep from slipping away from me was blurry. I squinted, seeing Pearce’s dark eyes and angelic face looking worriedly down at me. I felt his hands touching my body, feeling for breaks. I sighed, wanting so badly to close my eyes and leave now. I was so content here, with Pearce next to me. It seemed like a good way to go if I had to.

 

“Kyla please, don’t go. Don’t leave me alone here. Please, Kyla.” Pearce was begging, but also crying. His head was bowed as sobs shook his whole body, but no tears came. I remembered what he said, about Transform vampires not being able to produce tears. I scowled.

 

“Don’t cry. Why would I leave you?” I said in the best whisper I could manage. His head snapped up