Page 118 of Dark Lover

Sam took his hand. “Ian, don’t.”

He jerked away from her. “Ye used to pretend to be my best friend. Ye used to pretend to be a father figure. But every night was the same—and then there was your New Year’s Eve game. Now, yer even more of a coward. Ye stabbed me with the pike, while I was unconscious,” he spat, trembling. “How brave ye truly are!”

Sam cringed, sickened again by what he’d endured as a boy. “Ian, don’t bother,” she tried. “You won’t win this debate!”

“But it amused me.” The monk grinned. “Just as it amused me to be your friend when you were a child. Just as it amused me to play games with you. You were so easy to manipulate, to enslave, Ian. I’d hoped for more of a challenge now.”

Sam looked from Ian’s harsh expression to Carlisle’s amused one. She knew Ian wanted to destroy the monk. She was afraid he’d try to do so. He’d failed earlier, before being hurt. He couldn’t possibly succeed now. And she hated the fact that he was a prisoner again, pretty much helpless. “He’s playing games now. He’s messing with you.”

“It’s all the truth,” Ian said. “I’m sick of games.”

Carlisle laughed. “But more games await. I live for pleasure and pain, and you are my prisoner again!”

Ian breathed hard. “If ye think I’ll ever give ye satisfaction now, you’re wrong. I’ll kill myself first.”

Sam knew he meant it. Somehow, they had to escape. But Carlisle’s power was frightening.

“Really? Little Ian grew up to be a virile man,” Carlisle said softly. “I’ve seen the tape.”

As Ian lunged, Sam grabbed him from behind. And he knew better, because he twisted free of her but did not lunge at Carlisle again.

“This is quaint,” Carlisle murmured. “You’ve become fond of her. Maybe the way to really hurt you is through her?”

“Leave Sam out of this. This is between ye and me,” Ian said tersely.

“If hurting her hurts you, than she is very definitely a part of this,” he returned thoughtfully. “You went out of your way to find her at the Cathedral.”

Sam’s mind tumbled over what he was doing. “Ian, he’s baiting you. We have something he wants!” Ian was too weak. If push came to shove, she knew he could be terribly hurt this time. She looked at the monk. “Ian is right, you’re a frigging coward,” Sam said. She moved to stand beside Ian. “Let me guess. You want the page.”

“How clever you are, Sam.”

“I’ll die before I give ye more power!” Ian exclaimed harshly.

Sam cast a sharp look at him. He meant it. And she realized the blue shirt was redder than it had been. He was bleeding again.

The monk’s blond brows had lifted. “But I won’t let you die…ever. Surely you know that?”

Ian trembled.

“I’m too pleased to have you back. You’ll live out the centuries in my new maze,” he added. “But I will let her die.”

As Ian shook in fury, Sam fought her own anger. Carlisle was enjoying these head games. He was a sadist. “Carlisle, he will die if the bleeding continues. Surely you know that.”

“Sam, rest assured, I will not allow him to die. He can spend the rest of his life trying to hide from me in my new maze, after he watches you die. Unless you cooperate?”

Sam realized he meant it. “Don’t you know that your days are numbered? Even if I die, even if Ian dies, I guarantee Nick will hunt you down. But you won’t kill us, because you want the power of virtual control and we have it. You need us.”

“Yes, you have the power that I want. And I will do whatever it takes to get it.”

Ian touched her hand and she looked at him. Their gazes locked.

I won’t let him have the power.

She ignored that. She was willing to do anything to save Ian, even give up the page. Are you all right? You’re bleeding again.

I’m fine. I want ye out of this.

His gaze was unwavering on hers now.