Devil's Cut: Immortal Keeper Vampire Paranormal Romance Series

had been a second, right as we toasted, that made me feel like we really were partners, and not just names on the company letterhead.
“All right, I’ll do it.” After mentally tallying my reservations, I listed them off one by one. “No breaking the law, not even a bit. No messing with anyone’s mind, because that would be like malpractice or something. And only this one meeting, nothing else, ever.” Just the thought of looking into someone else’s thoughts creeped me out, but again, saving the company was high on my priority list.
“Agreed.” We’d moved to the kitchen table, and he leaned back and crossed his legs, looking all refined. I might have believed it, too, if not for the instantaneous nudge inside my head. His smile grew wide as the nudge turned into a weird scratching on the inside of my skull.
“You should know vampires can read human thoughts effortlessly,” he said. “As you can hear my thoughts, they will be able to hear yours.” His expression didn’t change as he added, “Which means you have very little time to learn how to protect yourself from the likes of me.”
I tried pushing the scratchy feeling away, but it turned insistent, growing stronger until my left eye twitched. Reflexively, I shoved harder, scared I couldn’t exorcise the sensation out of my very own head. Is this what a nervous breakdown feels like? I wondered.
“That’s me, trying to get into your head. I’m about to read your thoughts, every single one, in explicit detail.” He took another slow sip of whisky. “Pushing won’t get rid of me. I’ll just find another way around.”
“Stop it, Forge.”
“Make me, Selena.” The pompous bastard sounded like he was enjoying this.
The insistent, grating sensation in my skull was making me panic. “Fine. Then explain how I keep you out of my head.” A horrifying thought occurred to me. “You’d better not be looking around while you’re in there, because that’s just rude.”
I took his smug smile as a definite yes. Pissed off, I shoved against him even harder, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the edge of the table.
“Instead of pushing, try surrounding yourself with an impenetrable barrier, like a shield.”
What he was suggesting was so foreign that all I could do was stare. “I can’t build a shield out of thoughts. That’s impossible.”
“Yes, you can. Like this.”
A cool sensation replaced the scratchy one. With it came a quiet I hadn’t known in months, since before my life turned into a shitshow. It felt wonderful to turn off the world, if only for a moment.
This is how you do it.
I still don’t understand.
Watch me, Selena. Watch what I do.
I followed him as he created a temporary shield, blanketing my thoughts with a seamless, secure barrier that shut out all outside noise. I felt second-rate as he effortlessly wove together an invisible, yet soothing coat, then, just as quickly, made it disappear.
“Now, copy what I did. Imagine yourself surrounded by layers of mental shields. A wall that no one can breach, and only you can allow someone access.”
“Sounds good,” I said, trying to recreate the complexity of what I’d just seen. I couldn’t even wrap my head around it, much less figure out how to begin. “But it still makes no sense.”
“Then close your eyes, Selena, and watch me as I show you again.” This time his shield felt like a warm blanket, soft and comforting, before it solidified into something concrete. Impenetrable. I tentatively touched the smooth shell, noting the patterns in it, the intricacies. Still, I laughed when Forge said, “Now. Use mine as a template and create your own.”
It took forever, but I tried to copy Forge’s shield the best I could, my structure nowhere as complex. Clumsy, almost. But I didn’t stop until I was done, my efforts resulting in a sloppy, lopsided replica of his.
“Okay, there, my shield is up.” I grinned, fueled by competition and maybe a bit of liquid courage. “I’m ready. Bring it on.”
With a smile, he ripped mine away.
“That’s not fair,” I protested. “I worked hard on that.”
“It was more like a leaky ship than an impenetrable safe,” he said, ruefully shaking his head. “Poorest first attempt I’ve ever seen in my life.” But there was something in his face, a trace of emotion that might have been humor.
Was he messing with me?
“I don’t think it was that bad.” I added, “How long did you say I had?”
“Two weeks, Selena. But that’s enough for today. There’s always tomorrow to practice.”
I couldn’t leave before I wiped away that condescending note in his voice. “Again,” I demanded quietly. “Show me again.” This was how I’d learned the whisky business, after all. Nagging Dad until he showed me everything. Then learning whatever I could from everyone else at the plant. Sure, my knowledge base was haphazard, but I’d learned from the best. I just hoped Forge knew what he was doing.
The look that crossed his face—was it surprise or doubt?—was accompanied by a shake of his head. “Enough for today. You can return tomorrow evening for another lesson.”
“Again, or the deal’s off.” Somehow just knowing there was an entire race of beings who could read my thoughts whenever they wanted to disturbed me. I figured I’d do everything I could to protect myself. Plus, I had a willing teacher, as long as I did his dirty work.
Again, Forge’s cool, soothing shield encompassed me, and this time, I was more thorough in my exploration, then slowly replicated it. Definitely not perfect, but definitely better. When I was finished, I waited for Forge to tear through it.
“Very good, Selena. You’re a quick study.”
Warmth blossomed inside of me, perhaps a bit hotter than it should have. It had been a long time since anyone had noticed my efforts, much less praised me for them.
“I thought you said—”
“I will transfer five million into the company account tomorrow morning, via Mr. Holloway. Will that amount be sufficient?”
I blinked, trying to fathom the obscene number he’d