He glanced at the wood that was stacked up next to the fireplace, and bent down to toss another piece on the fire, when he felt something in his pocket. He reached inside and felt the stake that he carried with him at all times. He pulled it from his pocket and stared at it.

Maybe there was one way to defeat the power and destroy the hold it had over him.

Gripping the stake tightly in his right palm, he brought its tip to his chest. Swallowing hard, he clasped his other hand over it and took a breath. His thoughts went to Eddie and the way he’d looked at him that night before he’d driven off: with such promise in his eyes. Yet it had all been a lie.

He felt a sob rip from his chest, and closed his eyes. With all his strength, he thrust the stake against his heart, but he met resistance. His hands worked against an invisible foe, fighting to keep hold of the stake, struggling not to be pulled back. The tension in his shoulders increased and with a violent jolt his hands were ripped to the side, losing their grip on the stake. It tumbled into the fire as Thomas was thrown back. Disbelief coursed through him. His power was getting so strong that it was controlling his body now, and it wouldn’t allow him to take his own life, because doing so would extinguish the power itself. And the power wanted to survive.

“Thomas,” Xander’s voice intruded from behind.

Thomas swiveled, furious at being interrupted, and lashed a glare at the vampire. Murderous thoughts boiled up inside him and he stretched his arms toward him, snarling.

“I said I wanted to be alone!”

Before his eyes, Xander’s hands went around his own neck and he started squeezing it.

Xander stared at him, stunned at his own actions. But Thomas continued to exert mind control on him and made him squeeze harder. Xander’s attempts at fighting him off with mind control were futile. In fact, Thomas felt barely any power coming from him, whereas on the night he’d first entered this house, Xander had easily fought him off. None of that power was evident now.

Was it possible that Xander had had help that night? Had Kasper been able to channel his own power into Xander to help his follower defeat Thomas? To fool him into thinking all his followers were stronger and more powerful than they were?

Thomas released his mental hold on Xander, who then dropped his arms and coughed.

“Get out of my sight! Or I’ll crush you!” he warned him.

With a panicked look on his face, Xander stumbled from the room.

Inside Thomas, the dark power started to settle. It had gotten its due for now. It had proven its superiority and been appeased. But for how long?

38

Eddie heard the ringing of his cell phone via his Bluetooth-equipped helmet as he navigated through light traffic. He’d been aimlessly combing the city for Thomas. Without success. With every hour that had passed, he felt worse because he knew this was his fault. Thomas had disappeared because of him, so it was his responsibility to find him.

He answered the call. “Yes?”

“Thought you should know. We know where Thomas is,” Cain said.

Eddie’s heart leapt, a weight lifting off his shoulders. Now everything would turn out all right. He’d go and see him and talk to him. Confess what he really felt in his heart, and apologize. “Where?”

“Uhm, he’s with Xander and his people.”

Shock made his heart stop. “They captured him? Fuck!” His hands curled into claws and his fangs descended. He’d get those bastards and skin them alive if they hurt Thomas.

“No, Eddie. They didn’t.”

“But you just said—”

“He joined them,” Cain interrupted.

“Joined? He would never!” Eddie tried to wrap his brain around the information as he slowed his motorcycle.

“Afraid so. I figured you’d want to know, given you and he . . . ” There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line. “Listen, it’s none of my business, but if you love him, now might be the time to help him. If anybody can get through to him, it’s you.”

Stunned, Eddie sucked in a breath of air. How could Cain know that he loved Thomas when he’d only just realized it himself? “How did you find out?”

“I saw you and him kissing in his garage. I didn’t mean to spy on you; I just happened to come by.”

“Fuck!” Eddie hissed.

“Hey,” Cain said quickly. “I’m not judging. Whatever floats your boat. I’m just saying if there’s anything you and he have to air out to make up—”

“Make up?”

“It’s pretty obvious. When you guys were at Oliver’s party, there was some tension. And then Thomas left early. Listen, I don’t care what this is about. None of my business. But if there’s anything you can do . . . Samson tried, but didn’t get through to him. Amaury told me that Thomas claims he’s got nothing left to lose.”