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pushed the shirt off the girl’s shoulder and her teeth extended. She buried her mouth against the girl’s shoulder, seeking out a less dangerous vein to feed from than the carotid. She found one with her tongue and her teeth punctured the vein seconds later, bringing a rush of sweet blood.
    Nikia drank lightly, denying Illiana’s commands to drain the girl. Between trying to check her own consumption and ignore her mother’s orders, she lost track of part of herself. She was aware of the blood flowing into her mouth and the never-ending pounding of her head but Kieta’s moans gradually filtered through her haze. She broke away from the girl when she realized they were sounds of pleasure.
    Her mouth dropped open with shock when she discovered she was caressing the woman’s unfettered breast through the thin cotton T-shirt. More disconcerting was the realization that her panties were damp and she was breathing hard with arousal. Her mother’s commands became less demanding, more sensuous, as she whispered in Nikia’s mind about how pleasurable it would be to fuck the girl.
    Her hand trembled and she flicked her thumb across Kieta’s nipple. Nikia sensed danger but couldn’t stop herself from leaning forward to kiss the girl on the mouth. As Kieta’s tongue touched hers, she moaned with need. Her mind replaced Kieta with an image of Atar and her pussy flooded with heat.
    “Drink from her. Take her. Drain her.”
    The words whispered through her mind but even couched in a seductive tone, they were enough to bring instant awareness. With a cry of dismay, Nikia backed away from the girl. She had enough forethought to lock gazes with Kieta before giving in to her panic. “You won’t remember this. Now get out.”
    When the girl had gone, Nikia slumped against the sink. She splashed cold water on her mouth, both to remove stains of copper down her chin and to wash away the taste of Kieta.
    She wasn’t attracted to women and the kiss scared her but it wasn’t what caused the fear. Knowing Illiana had been able to almost seize control of her again was what made her blood run cold. While she had been busy feeding and trying to ignore her mother’s darker impulses, Illiana had finessed her way through Nikia’s defenses. Another minute or two and she would have won.
    Exhaustion weighed heavily on Nikia when she made her way back to her seat. She collapsed into it and closed her eyes to slits. She paused to scrutinize Kieta, who seemed confused and upset as she spoke to the young man beside her. She didn’t think the girl would remember anything but couldn’t be certain of her mental powers, not after Illiana breaching them.
    It was time to surrender herself to Atar and return to Corsova. She couldn’t be sure she could hold off Illiana and she couldn’t risk countless lives for a taste of freedom.

* * * * *
    She waited for him to find her at a coffeehouse near the train station. Nikia had been there since the train arrived at three a.m., sitting on one of the patio chairs, killing time. When the owner came down from his apartment above the shop at six, he hadn’t blinked an eye. Instead, he had served her rich Italian coffee, along with a pitcher of real cream and kept the cup filled during her vigil.
    It was a little after seven when she saw Atar approaching. His stance was wary, as if he suspected a trap, with her sitting out in the open as she was. She tried to give him a little smile, for reassurance. “I’ve been expecting you.”
    He arched a brow but said nothing else. She frowned when he took something from his pocket. Nikia squinted to identify the object. Her eyes widened when he lifted it higher and pointed it at her. She identified the Taser seconds before the two probes penetrated her skin. A jolt of electricity followed the sharp pain, sending Nikia into unconsciousness in a matter of seconds.

* * * * *
    Nikia experienced a sense of déjà vu upon waking. Once again, she was lying on her back, with