Marked By The Vampire (Purgatory #2)(4)
Author: Cynthia Eden

It had been years since he’d let the darkness inside of him loose. But once he stepped inside of Purgatory, all bets would be off.

The ferry rolled again. He heard one of the guards beside him swear. The guy was rather green looking. Humans.

“Help! I need more help up here!” The captain bellowed.

Shane just kept his body braced as the ferry rolled. He could hear the thunder of lightning outside.

Philip pulled Shane toward the cell on the right. That had been their destination just before the delectable doctor had fallen—quite literally—into Shane’s grasp. Shane didn’t resist the guard. What would have been the point of that? But he did take his time strolling into that cell. The door—composed of heavy, silver bars—swung shut behind him.

“Jennings, you keep an eye on him,” Philip ordered.

It looked to Shane as if Jennings could barely keep his lunch down.

Philip touched Olivia’s shoulder. “He’s contained. You don’t have to worry.”

Yes, she did.

Philip hurried up the stairs. And Olivia—

Well, well…

She came closer to Shane. She was smaller than he would have liked, probably only around five foot four or five. He was much bigger and stronger than she was. If they both survived Purgatory, he’d have to be careful with her.

“You don’t seem afraid.” Her words were soft.

He stepped closer to the bars, the better to inhale her scent. Delicious. “Why should I be?”

“Because you’re heading to prison.”

His shoulders lifted in a shrug. He could see the pulse pounding at the base of her throat. Racing so frantically. He’d like to lick her there.

Then bite her.

“Prison doesn’t scare me,” Shane said. Those words were true. Nothing scared him. He’d lived too many centuries for fear. When you’d faced all the darkness that he had, there was no room for such a human emotion.

Especially when he’d never been human.

Her gaze slid over him, as if she were searching for something.

The ferry tipped again, a hard slant, and her fingers flew out and locked around the door’s bars as she tried to steady herself.

Jennings slumped against the floor, covering his face. The guy even let out a moan.

The human guards were making deadly mistakes. If he’d wanted, he could have killed them all so easily.

If he’d wanted…

Shane’s hands lifted. His fingers brushed overs hers. Olivia’s hands were soft, warm. “You’re the one who should fear Purgatory.” He was trying to warn her. Pate should never have sent her in. Shane didn’t care what kind of mind games the lady could play with killers. She was in way over her head.

“I’m not a prisoner.” One of her dark brows lifted. The lights were flickering over them, but he would have been able to see her perfectly in the darkness. “You’re the one caged.”

“You…you should back away from him,” Jennings managed to huff out. The guard appeared to be turning green.

She didn’t back away. Foolish or brave? He decided she might be both.

“You have a tattoo on your wrist.”

Now she’d just caught him by surprise. “Admiring me, were you?”

The boat rolled again. He felt her hands tighten around the bars. She shouldn’t have been afraid of falling. He had her.

“It looks like a dragon’s wing.”

Shane didn’t reply.

“Is it?”

Jennings had made it back up to his feet. “Get…get back, doctor. He’s dangerous.”

You have no idea.

He let her hands go. Took a step away from her.

Slowly, Olivia slid back.

He kept his eyes on her. The delectable doctor had noticed his tat—one that had been a real bitch to get since he healed from most injuries. But the artist had been used to working on vamps, and that ink had been a very special blend.

Once upon a time, he’d battled his share of dragons.

Now, he would battle different beasts in prison.

The doctor staggered a bit as she headed for the stairs. A few seconds later, she fled into the storm.

Laughter came from him. She wasn’t going to escape from him…once the ferry reached the island, they’d both be trapped in Purgatory.

***

They’d made it to the dock, to Purgatory.

The rain was still falling in heavy bursts, plummeting down as Olivia made her way off the ferry. Armed men were waiting to meet her, all wearing guard uniforms.

One man advanced toward her. “Dr. Maddox?” He offered his hand to her. “I hope the crossing wasn’t too difficult.”

It had been a nightmare. But she’d managed to keep her cool. The poor guard, Jennings, hadn’t been so lucky. He’d been viciously sick several times.

She took the man’s offered hand. Felt his calluses against her fingers. As his hand held hers, she was caught by his bright, blue gaze. A very cold gaze.

“I’m Warden Case Killian.” Another guard rushed up with a large umbrella, one that covered both Olivia and the warden. Case let go of her hand. “Pate told me that you were coming.” He motioned to the guards and another one took her bag. “I’ve prepared temporary quarters for you, but you must be aware that we live a very Spartan existence here. I hope that won’t be a problem for you.”

“No problem at all.” She tried to sound brisk and efficient, a hard task since her teeth were chattering and her clothes were soaked.

The warden gave a nod. “Good.” Then he was turning and leading her toward the heavy stone walls of the building.

Purgatory resembled an old stone castle far more than it did a prison. High towers rose from each of the four corners of the facility, and she could make out the shadowy form of guards walking along the walls up above.

She hurried to keep up with Case, but Olivia found herself glancing back over her shoulder.

The vampire was being taken off the ferry.

“We only transport prisoners once a week.” Case’s voice drew her gaze back to him. “We have to make sure all of the others are in lockdown then.” The heavy doors were opened for them at the entrance to Purgatory. When Olivia stepped inside, the silence was immediate.

Even the roar of the ocean stopped. She just heard…nothing.

This time, her shiver had nothing to do with the cold.

“We have to be very…careful about our new arrivals. Containment is always a priority,” Case added.

She pushed back her hair, sending droplets of water falling around her. The place looked like something from the Middle Ages on the outside, but inside the facility, technology was everywhere. Video cameras. Computers. Sensors.