“Mine,” Adrian said under his breath.
The woman’s eyes seemed to widen even more, and her hand lowered to her chest. Adrian’s hand shot to his chest too, mirroring her gesture. He pressed his palm against his heart that was beating as if it was going to explode. He needed to reach the woman, or he would perish on that dance floor.
As he moved forward, she stepped toward him. He felt the invisible tether uniting them, pulling them together.
The taller woman followed in a hurry, worry etched in her gestures, and grabbed the small one by her elbow.
Adrian snarled, his fangs lowering of their own volition. “Mine!” he repeated, this time loud enough to be heard by the people milling close by.
The tall she-wolf pulled back the object of Adrian’s desire. “Back off,” she growled at him.
The small she-wolf patted her companion’s hand. “It’s okay,” she said, before prying her arm free and resuming her walk toward him.
Adrian closed the gap between them in one step, and she was in his arms a moment later.
The rest of the room disappeared. It was just the two of them.
“Who are you?” the she-wolf whispered. Her pulse beat fast.
Adrian couldn’t answer. The throbbing vein in her throat drove his senses to madness, and he leaned his mouth to her skin, needing to feed on her. Not even in the throes of his Vampire’s Thirst had he experienced such compulsion. He had to make her his in both the human and vampire way. His fangs grazed her flesh as his hardness lengthened, making him ache for her softness.
Primal possession in his mind, Adrian made to pierce her, but her sudden intake of breath stopped him.
Ashamed, he leaned away but couldn’t force himself to release her yet. She pushed at his chest, and he shook his head. “Please, don’t be afraid of me. I’d never hurt you,” he said, resting his forehead against hers. Their masks clanked softly.
“Who are you?” she repeated her question.
“My name is Adrian,” he answered. “Who are you?”
“I’m Lavinia,” she said, and he was relieved that her body slowly relaxed in his hold. “I felt you—”
“I felt you too, Lavinia.” He smiled against her skin.
The Vampire’s Thirst that had plagued him for days had finally relented.
With Lavinia in his arms, he felt whole and ailing. “It would seem that you are the cure for my illness.”
16
Lavinia felt the warmth radiating from her body. It enveloped the two of them like an embrace.
Adrian. She tried his name in her mind, and it sounded right. His arms around her felt right. Even when his fangs had descended and almost pierced her, that too had felt right, and the sensation scared her because it shouldn’t have felt natural.
Since she was little, her father had taught her to distrust vampires, and it was in her genetic build to run away as far as she could if an undead was close. As a half-breed, her compulsion to flee was even stronger because her status as a pariah among the supernaturals made her an easy target. In a supernatural court of law, a pure-breed’s word counted more than hers.
And yet, she had felt this inexplicable calling a few moments ago when this stranger had walked to her. Even wearing a mask, he was the most handsome man she had ever seen and exuded an aura of raw power. His elegant bearing, the way he filled his perfectly tailored black tuxedo, his voice, his penetrating gaze—everything about this vampire was attractive to her. Down to his clean, manly scent, there wasn’t a single detail about Adrian that she disliked.
Yet, her reaction to him transcended logic. Never in her life had she experienced such a strong need to touch someone, and a complete stranger at that. That longing was still there as he cradled her in his arms.
Even her wolf was howling in her head, demanding Lavinia mark this man as her mate.
“Lavinia, sweetie,” Maia called. The psychologist’s voice was worried and deservedly so. “Why don’t you step back from this man and we can talk?”
Lavinia had a hard time thinking with the ruckus her beast was making in the confines of her mental cage.
“No,” Adrian growled when Maia stepped forward, her fingers skimming Lavinia’s arm.
“I’m going to call for help if you don’t release my friend at once,” Maia said.
Adrian leaned back and looked Lavinia in the eye. “I can’t let you go. Please, understand it,” he pleaded.
As crazy as it sounded, Lavinia understood him. “Maia, it’s okay. Give me a moment.” Reaching up, she pulled him down to her. “What’s happening to me?” Surprise didn’t ever cover the gamut of emotions she felt in his presence, but one thing she knew: this pull between them wasn’t natural. And yet, it was. Otherwise her wolf would have never allowed Adrian close to Lavinia.
“I’m not sure, but it might have something to do with the malady that has almost driven me to insanity,” he said, his hands gently roaming over her back, making her shiver under his touch.
“What is it?”
“It’s called a Vampire’s Thirst, and it made me ravenous for days. It was as if there wasn’t enough blood in the world to satisfy me, but as soon as I laid eyes on you, it calmed.” He brushed her nose with a small peck of his soft lips. “You cured me, my little she-wolf.”
“This—” She gestured between them. “—can’t be, though.” The moment the words left her mouth, Lavinia felt a pang of regret.
“Why not?”
Why not? she thought as her wolf barked and paced, angry with her because she wouldn’t mark their mate. How can he be my mate? Her question only agitated her beast, so Lavinia recited a list of reasons for both Adrian and her wolf. “Because you are a vampire and I am a werewolf. Because we’ve never met before. Because—”
“I have no explanation to offer you besides the fact that I can’t deny the magnetic pull between us. Can you?” His fingers skimmed her naked back.
“I…” she started, shaking her head and looking for a possible refusal of his words. Her body thrummed with longing, though, making her sensible to his subtle touches. Her wolf roared so loud, Lavinia feared everyone in the ballroom had heard her.
Adrian leaned closer to her throat again, and instead of sending her running and screaming as the gesture should have, she automatically arched against him. Her blatant offering spurred Adrian into a frenzy, his lips latching to the hollow of her throat where he sucked her skin into his mouth. The sensation stole her senses, making her moan, and finally appeasing her wolf.
“Lavinia!” Maia shouted, awakening her from her dream-like state.
Lavinia jumped, startling Adrian who lost his grip on her. She stepped away, severing the physical connection with him. His face scrunched up in pain, and she felt his ache inside her as her wolf howled.
“You, step away from her,” Maia commanded, grasping Lavinia’s wrist and pulling her away from Adrian.
It was only a few steps, but even that minimal distance pained Lavinia. “Maia, I need to be with him,” she said.
Maia turned to look at her, both hands on her wrists. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know,” Lavinia admitted. “But there’s something between us.”
“What is it?” Maia frowned, her eyes cutting from Lavinia to Adrian and back.
“I can’t explain it—” Lavinia needed to go back to Adrian. Her body ached from the lack of his touch. “It’s strong, and I can’t deny it. I must be with him. My wolf is going into mating mode and is driving me crazy.” She swayed, her body moving toward Adrian.
As if responding to a silent call, he leaned toward her at the same moment. It felt like vertigo, this intense sensation, almost as if her internal compass had shifted. Like a planet gravitating around its sun, she couldn’t help but obey the natural law and try to escape Maia’s hold.
Maia gently shook her as if she were trying to feed her some sense. “Lavinia, this is insane. I can’t let you go with a stranger. You are under my care unti
l Lane arrives and I don’t intend to leave you even with the detective if I’m not sure you are okay. Let alone a stranger.”
“I know that what I’m saying is hard to believe, but you must trust my instincts,” Lavinia said, needing more than anything else to be back in Adrian’s arms. Nothing else mattered but him.
“I won’t hurt her. I promise,” Adrian said.
Lavinia didn’t know anything about him, and yet, she could detect the frustration in his voice and how he shook with need as strong as hers. She also knew that nothing would stop him from taking her because vampires were as territorial as werewolves, and equally explosive. His resolute gaze and tense body spoke of a man ready to fight. Lavinia had seen the same expression on her father’s face on those occasions when werewolves from his ex-clan had insulted her mother.
“Maia, let me go. We can stay where you can see us, but I need you to let me go now,” Lavinia demanded. Her assertiveness surprised the psychologist, who opened her hands and stepped back.
“You’ll stay where I can see you at all times,” Maia said to Adrian.
“Will do,” Adrian answered. The irritation in his voice was clear, and Maia reacted to his aggressive tone by growling low. His roar silenced half of the room. “I’ve given you my word.”
Placing her hand on his tuxedo jacket, Lavinia looked straight at the vampire. “She’s only protecting me, and you are still a stranger.” Her wolf disagreed loudly and stomped, pacing back and forth in her head.
17
Adrian’s frustration with the entire situation grew by the second, but he wouldn’t scare Lavinia more than he had already done.
“You are right, of course,” he said to her, then nodded at her werewolf bodyguard in a silent peace offering.
The woman took a moment before nodding back. “My condition stands. You stay where I can see you or I’ll call the Directive on you. I don’t care if you are a day-walker. I only care that Lavinia is safe.”
Adrian bristled at the werewolf’s tone and a red haze lowered before his eyes. Lavinia’s small hand pressed against his chest, centering him.
“She means well,” Lavinia reminded him.
He smiled at her before turning his attention to the she-wolf staring daggers at him. Even wearing a mask, the woman knew how to convey an impressive war-like expression. If it weren’t for the fact that she was the reason he couldn’t spirit Lavinia away, he would have admired the woman’s gumption in standing up to a vampire as old as he was.
“Let’s go sit,” he offered begrudgingly.
With a small smile, Lavinia rested her hand on his proffered arm. The contact spread warmth through his cold body and reached his heart. He pulled her closer to his side, relishing the softness of her curves against his body, and led her and their third-wheel into the next room. There, people who didn’t wish to dance could converse in a quieter setting. He steered them toward the settees facing the large fireplace. Adrian took the seat beside Lavinia, while the formidable she-wolf sat in front of them.
The woman’s cell phone dinged, and she checked her messages. “The detective is arriving,” she announced, looking at Lavinia.
“Good.” Adrian stretched his legs in front of him and crossed his ankles. “So you can finally relax.”
The woman didn’t react to his barb. Instead, her gaze cut to a point beyond Adrian.
A moment later, Lane’s familiar voice called, “Maia.”
Adrian turned to see his friend walking toward them.
“Lavinia,” Lane said, smiling, his hand descending toward Lavinia’s shoulder.
As if a switch had been turned off, common sense escaped Adrian. Red-hot anger filled his mind with murderous thoughts. Before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed Lane by the collar of his tuxedo shirt and threw him against the fireplace.
Around them, people shouted. Adrian only heard the fearful cry that escaped Lavinia’s mouth, but he couldn’t stop himself from going after his friend.
“Adrian!” Lane called, surprise in his eyes. He raised his arm to stop Adrian’s fist but didn’t fight back.
“Adrian, stop!” Lavinia’s hand grabbed his elbow.
Light as a feather, her hold had the power to anchor him down, and he lowered his fists.
“I know him,” Lavinia said. “He’s not a danger to me,” she added, misunderstanding his reaction.
Lane scooted back, creating some space between him and Adrian. “Are you… sick?” he asked, his eyes darting back and forth from Adrian to Lavinia, who held him back.
Adrian shook. The red haze slowly receded, leaving him breathless.
Lane stared at him, a frown raising his domino mask up to his forehead.
“Don’t touch her,” Adrian said, his voice a harsh command as he stepped in front of Lavinia, shielding her from the other man.
Understanding dawned on Lane, and he raised his hands in surrender.
“It’s okay,” Lavinia said from behind him. Her small hand tentatively rested on his arm.
“Is this day-walker your friend?” Maia asked Lane.
“He is.” Lane pushed himself up, keeping Adrian in his sight, without lowering his gaze.
“Your friend is acting possessive around Lavinia, and she doesn’t think it’s strange,” the woman said.
“I think that presentations are in order.” Lane sighed. “Maia, this is Adrian Alberti, my mentor—”
Maia interrupted him, “I know who he is.”
Lane continued as if he hadn’t heard her, “Adrian, this is Maia Conti. She is the senior psychologist for the Directive.”
Adrian and the she-wolf nodded at each other in what could have passed for civility if one didn’t look at their stern expressions too closely.
Lane turned toward Adrian, his gaze cutting to Lavinia behind him for the briefest of glances before he asked, “A word alone?” At Adrian’s stormy look, he added, “Please?”
Lavinia gently squeezed his arm. “I need to talk to Maia, too.”
A vise tightened around Adrian’s chest at the idea of being separated from Lavinia, but he realized that his behavior bordered on insanity. He took her face in his hands. “Stay where I can see you.”
Nodding, Lavinia smiled at him. “I feel the same.” She took his hands and lowered them.
To take that first step away from her, he had to summon all his strength. He smiled even though his heart stopped beating from the searing pain of seeing the psychologist take Lavinia away with her. Lavinia pulled Maia back when the woman tried to walk around the corner.
“What’s happening to you?” Lane asked, stepping in front of Adrian.
“My thirst abated when I saw Lavinia,” he said, eyes locked on the beautiful woman who’d saved him.
“What does that mean?”
“According to what Lando told me and what I read from the Satan Archives, I’ve got the Vampire’s Thirst, and Lavinia is the cure.”
“Lando? He let you read the archives?” Lane passed a hand through his hair, disturbing his mask that sat askew on his nose. He straightened the thing. “Start from the beginning.”
With economy of words, Adrian summarized what he had discovered. “She’s my bloodmate.”
Shock showed on his friend’s face. “Bloodmates are the stuff of legend—”
“What I’m feeling can’t be denied.”
Lane shook his head. “Of course not. You are a day-walker, for Lilith’s sake! If there’s anyone who could’ve stopped that thirst, it is you. Only something as phenomenal as finding a bloodmate can explain what happened to you.” He blinked. “It all makes sense now, doesn’t it?”
Adrian nodded.
Lane rubbed thoughtfully on his chin. “And to think that the cure to your ailment was so close the entire time. Lavinia works at Leone Rampante—”
Adrian’s hands shot to Lane’s jacket. At his friend’s use of Lavinia’s given name, he reacted once again without thinking.
“Peace,” Lane said. “I have no intere
st in that girl besides the fact that she’s under my tutelage—”
“Not anymore,” Adrian hissed right away before asking, “Why?”
“She is Carolina’s roommate and might be in danger herself. I brought her to the Directive’s headquarters because she needed a safehouse,” Lane answered.
“Lavinia’s staying at my place from now on,” Adrian said, moving toward her. “I will obliterate whoever is after my bloodmate.”
18
Lavinia saw Adrian walk back to her. His sure swagger and the way he held her gaze made her shiver, and her heartbeats sped up in anticipation of his touch.
“Lavinia, I don’t feel comfortable leaving you with that vampire,” Maia said, tugging at her hand. “I recognized him at once. He’s an ancient vampire and beyond dangerous—”
“I’ve heard rumors about him. He owns the place where I work.” She had connected the dots when Lane made the introductions. But even without knowing that he was the famous Roman day-walker, she had felt Adrian’s raw power when he took her in his arms. “But I trust him.”
“Why?” Maia’s frustration resonated loud and clear in her clipped question.
“I can feel it in here.” Lavinia pressed her palm against her chest. “Adrian would never hurt me.”
“How can you say something so idiotic?” Maia threw her hands in the air. “You’ve just met that man!”
“And yet, I know.” Lavinia shrugged. “I can’t explain it, but my wolf senses didn’t tingle in warning when he approached,” she said, looking straight at Adrian who was back at her side.
He smiled at her, and Lavinia lost herself in the depths of his eyes the color of brandy.
In her peripheral vision, she caught the detective walking to Maia. “I can vouch that Lavinia is safe with Adrian,” he said.
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