For a tour guide,Marius isn’t all that chatty. He’s said a few things about our surroundings, commenting on the vegetation and wildlife—focusing mostly on the black bear population—while primarily concentrating on the road.
I would be a little more concerned if I weren’t tracking our progress on my phone. But he’s heading right for Negru Castle.
By my calculations, we’ll be there within the next thirty minutes.
My stomach knots at the prospect. Or maybe it’s in knots from my weird dreams last night.
I woke up shortly after falling asleep, an unexpected scent in my nose.Lavender with a splash of vanilla. Very specific. And utterly unlike everything else in my hotel room—a fact I learned this morning when I tried to find the source of the fragrance. I already knew my own products weren’t the cause, but I thought maybe one of the complimentary soaps might be the culprit.
Nope.
Nothing matched the crisp lavender or subtle vanilla.
However, the aroma chased me into my dreams, creating a chaotic fantasy involving the heart of my research—Count Negru.
That’s not his real name. But that’s what I call him, the mythical creature that isn’t so mythical.
My vampire.
What if he visited me last night?I think, my heart skipping a beat.
It’s a fool’s desire. A ridiculous fancy driven by my compulsion to hunt him. However, I allowed that fantasy to play through my mind all night, dreaming about my obsession and pretending that scent belonged to him. That he found me. Touched me.Did other things to me…
My thighs clench, my mind whirring with dangerous thoughts. I shouldn’t be this obsessed with a mythical creature. This hungry for his touch. His?—
Marius clears his throat. “Right, so, Negru Castle is about fifteen kilometers from here. When we arrive, the gate should be open for us, thus allowing us to drive all the way up to the front entrance. There are no tours today. Or, well, ever, really. So it should be fairly easy and quiet.”
I nod.
Then I frown.
Because his words… his comments…There are no tours today. Or, well, ever, really.
I… I know that part. I’m aware that Negru Castle is a private estate that doesn’t allow visitors.
Yet somehow I failed to question how Marius—a complete stranger to me—has access to the grounds.
Why didn’t it occur to me to ask?
Oh, right. Because he showed me that video and I jumped at the opportunity to hire him.
My lips twist to the side.I may have made an impulsive decision…
Which should make me nervous. Or perhaps prompt me to send an SOS to Gaby.
But I didn’t come all the way here to hide or approach this with caution.
I came here to find a vampire.
To prove that monsters exist.
That means meeting one.
I glance at my driver.
Or two…I narrow my gaze.
Mariusisextremely handsome. Maybe even unworldly so. The way the sun streams into the car makes his blond hair almost resemble white gold. His jawline is chiseled in that model-perfect kind of way. His eyes are hidden beneath a pair of shades, but I saw how deep blue they were last night.
