THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

took advantage of it.
    “Have you forgotten the blood-bond, Ainsley? You die, I follow. It’s as simple as that. Then there will be no one left to perfect the vaccine, no matter how much blood you leave behind.” He wrapped the sheet around himself, holding it bunched at his hip with one hand. “Christ, we might as well concede to his demands if that’s your plan.”
    “He’s right, Ainsley.”
    Ainsley wheeled on Eli, her lip curled in a veritable snarl. “I know he’s right, dammit!” Her fierce expression crumpled, leaving raw, stomach-churning fear etched in every line of her face. “Oh, God, what are we going to do? I can’t let anything happen to them. This is all my fault.”
    Guilt scored Delano’s conscience, raking its claws deep into his psyche. The two people who gave her life meaning, the people for whom she’d sacrificed everything… And now, because of him, their lives now hung in the balance. If he hadn’t hunted her down, Lucy and Devon Michaels would still be safe. Ainsley would be safe.
    “I’m the one who dragged you into this, remember? It’s my fault.”
    Eli snorted, crossing his arms across his powerful chest. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Janecek is the villain of this piece, make no mistake about it.” He glared at Ainsley. “None of this is your fault, Ainsley. Absolutely none of it. You just happened to be born with a funky gene. Are we clear on that?”
    Before Ainsley could respond, Eli wheeled toward Delano.
    “And you — you coulda been more transparent with Ainsley from the start, no question. You know my position on that, so I’ll leave it alone. But everyone in this room knows that it wouldn’t have made a tinker’s damn of a difference to the outcome. Once her eyes were opened to the predators, Ainsley could no more have turned her back on this project than I could. So if you please, a little less self-flagellating and a little more strategizing as to how we’re going to bring this motherfucker down.”
    Amazed, Delano arched a brow. “Are you finished?”
    “Gawd, I hope so. I just shot my word quota for the next four days.”
    Delano clapped his free hand on Eli’s back. “As always, you give wise counsel. Why don’t we, er,” he looked down at the sheet he clutched over his nakedness, “compose ourselves and meet over the dining room table?”
    Eli nodded. “I’ll put coffee on.”
    As soon as they were alone, Delano went to Ainsley and gathered her into his arms. She shuddered, and he held her closer, absorbing her fear and dread and guilt and misery. “I’m so sorry, little one.”
    She let herself lean on him a moment, then pulled back. “I’ve got to go get dressed,” she said, her voice thick with unshed tears.
    “Of course.” He released her immediately, although it was the last thing he wanted to do. He wanted to hold her. He wanted to tell her what this past day had meant to him. He wanted to hear what it meant to her. He wanted the equivalent of morning-after assurances, in the evening. But this was not the time. He gave her arm a last squeeze. “I’ll see you shortly.”
    When she’d left, he headed straight for the bathroom. Standing at the basin, he turned the water on. He gave it a few seconds to run cold, then cupped his hands beneath the faucet to capture the crystal-clear liquid, bent and drank deep. Then he repeated the process a half-dozen times, until the sweet, clean water had knocked the edge of his thirst. Shutting off the tap, he reached for a hand towel and swiped it across his face. Catching his own gaze in the mirror, he cursed. “Great timing, Bowen.”
    He was about to go up against an enemy who was among the most powerful vampires alive.
    Cursing, Delano started the shower, adjusted the water temperature and stepped under the hot spray, letting it bathe the scratches on his back with tongues of fire. Scratches that had failed to heal during his day sleep, because, God help him, he was no longer a vampire, or fast achieving that state. A fact he was going to have to keep from Ainsley and Eli, who were going to need every ounce of courage they could muster for the confrontation to come.
     
    Ainsley managed to stay in her chair out of sheer willpower. They’d been going over different scenarios and what-ifs and contingencies for hours now, and she was ready to scream.
    No, she wanted to hit something, to lash out. She wanted to tear this room apart. She wanted to hurl her coffee mug against the