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“Ah, lass, we both know that’s a lie.”
Josephine doesn’t respond. She continues to glare at me, a mixture of fear and anger flickering in eyes so deeply dark chocolate they appear black. Maybe they are. Then again, that could just be the effect of dim lighting and the purple bruises that mar her face.
I have a feeling she won’t give me a chance to find out.
Despite the physical distance between us, the pounding of her racing pulse and her rapid breaths call to me. It sends my pulse racing after it, my breaths quickening to match hers.
With the way her stomach is grumbling, I expect her to cave and accept the food. When she doesn’t, I place the tray on the floor and slide it through the small gap between the bars.
“For when ye find yer appetite, then.”
Josephine studies the platter of food and swallows but doesn’t move even as her stomach growls again, growing more insistent. She’s staying as far away from me as possible. If she wants to eat, she’ll have to get over that.
I sigh as I ease back from the bars. “We’re really not off to a good start here, are we, Josephine?”
Her brow twitches at the use of her name.
“Josie,” I try again.
Hmm. No twitch this time.
“Ye prefer to be called Josie, then. Noted.”
She frowns at me. “I didn’t know vampires could read minds.”
“Some can. I can’t. Just perceptive, that’s all.” I shrug. I’ve always been good at reading people, but that was taken to a whole new level when I became a vampire and received the gift of sensing others’ emotions.
I’m tempted to reach out with my mind and put hers at ease with my gift, but if Josephine—Josie—senses my efforts, I may never gain her trust. Instead, I sit in the metal folding chair against the wall across from the cell and settle in.
The key with her will be patience.
Unfortunately, time is a luxury I don’t have. Sebastian is preparing his vault of torture devices at this very moment. Even if he wasn’t part of the equation, I’m not sure how long I can control myself around Josie.
We need to find some kind of common ground—soon.
How do I get her to understand that I’m trying to look out for her? Being able to get close without her freaking out and me turning into a blood-crazed animal would be a good place to start.
I scoot the chair closer and the metal scrapes loudly against the hard floor, making Josephine’s gaze snap to mine.
We remain locked, motionless, breathless, both of us assessing each other in a drawn-out moment that can’t be more than a few seconds but feels like an eternity before those huge, dark eyes blink and break the spell.
“I can’t figure you out,” she says to the floor, so quietly I’m not sure whether or not she meant to say it out loud at all.
I can’t help the snort of laughter that comes out of me. I have no idea what to make of her, either. “At least we have something in common.”
Actually, that gives me an idea.
I straighten in my chair. “How about we make a deal? Quid pro quo. If ye’ll answer a question for me, in return, I’ll answer one of yers. How does that sound?”
Josie’s eyes narrow at the floor, still refusing to look at me. “Only if I get the first turn.”
My lip twitches into a smile. “And if I insist that yer the one answering first?”
“I won’t trust you. I’m not very inclined to take a vampire at his word.”
“I’m not particularly inclined to trust a witch, either. If I agree, how do I know ye’ll keep up yer end?”
We’re not getting far, but I’ve got her talking—it’s a small step in the right direction. Maybe if I give her the chance to feel me out, she’ll feel more at ease and open up.
