Page 88 of Dark Lover

He was going to try to hurt her. Not to get back at Maclean, not to get the page and its power, but just for the hell of it. She stared at him. This man hid his evil, and that begged the all-important question, just how evil was he?

He’d admitted to selling his soul. Everyone knew Hemmer was a deal maker. Who knew what he could have negotiated with Satan? “Where am I?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” He shuddered with distaste. “You’re in the Middle Ages. How anyone could endure this primitive time is beyond my capacity to understand.”

“Could you be more specific?”

“Are you hoping for a knight in tarnished armor?” He laughed. “Maclean won’t bother to come back for you, not that he would know where to find you, anyway.”

“You partnered up with the infamous monk of Carlisle. I’m probably in one of his castles—unless you own real estate this side of the law, too. And because it’s not a good idea to meet oneself in another time, I’d bet my grandmother’s pearl necklace I’m in 1527—a safe time for him because that’s where he belongs.”

“Smart girl. But there’s three hundred and sixty-five days in the year. He can’t possibly find you without coming to us and that’s what we’re counting on,” he said.

As the thugs reached down for her, Sam tensed, thinking about Ian. If he came after her, they’d be expecting him. And she was fairly certain he’d come after her. He wouldn’t leave her lost in time, a captive of evil.

She did not want him to walk into a trap. She didn’t want him to face off again with the monk, especially not alone. She could not worry about how protective she was feeling about him. Instead, she had to escape. Escaping would effectively destroy any trap and ruin their leverage.

Hemmer shook his head. “You humans…you’re in love with him. I’d have never thought you such a foolish woman.”

Sam jerked. Hemmer could read minds. “So what, exactly, did you get from Satan when you sealed the deal and sold your soul? Other than the power to leap and to read minds?”

Hemmer grinned. “No denial of your feelings?”

She slowly shook her head. “Romance is not in my nature, so no, I am not in love. But I have decided that Ian’s case is mine. He was evil’s victim, and I intend to make things right. It’s called justice.”

“What I like best about you is that you truly have no fear,” Hemmer said softly. “I have immense plans for you.”

She knew what he intended. The one thing he did not bother to hide was his lust. She just didn’t know which move he’d make first—torture or rape.

He’d probably try both, together.

She wasn’t exactly afraid. She knew she could get through whatever was coming. But she’d have to be an idiot not to know there’d be lots and lots of pain.

Sam thought about her sister. They’d always had amazing telepathy, before either one could talk or walk. But that telepathy had been dependent on a few factors—like geographic location and time. For Tabby to hear her now, she’d have to be somewhere in the vicinity and in the same year.

But just in case she might be nearby, Sam sent her a distress signal. A magic spell would be really useful about now.

“Release her,” Hemmer said to the huge savages with him.

The thug snapped the shackle with his bare hands, then jerked her cruelly to her feet. Sam decided not to resist…yet. She was well aware that she’d been divested of all her weapons, and she only had her bare hands. “So, do you like being the monk’s lackey? Where is he, by the way? Surely he won’t miss the party.”

“I am no one’s lackey.”

“Oh, so you guys plan to share the power from the page?” she mocked.

“I never share power.”

Sam smiled. A war loomed. Divide and conquer worked for her. “I’ll bet that’s exactly what Carlisle’s thinking.”

“Does anything frighten you?” Hemmer asked softly.

“You sure don’t.”

He smiled. “I’d be disappointed if I did.”

Sam was shoved by the guards toward a very small trapdoor. As she stumbled forward, she heard a woman’s cry. Sam looked back at the other prisoners. As she was shoved forward, she said, “What are they down here for?”

“I have no idea. Nor do I care.”