Not that it took away from the man’s aura. If anything, she’d always found his long platinum locks hot. She’d even mused that them being plastered to his wet body would be a sight worth money.
That was something she hoped he’d never find out. She had enough problems.
“Hi there.”
“Why didn’t you allow Dmitri into your bedroom?” Alek demanded, his eyes full of suspicion.
“That’s a nice way of greeting someone who just escaped death for the hundredth time.” She half turned and neatly tossed her box into Dmitri’s arms.
Ignoring his surprised look, she crossed her arms and lifted her chin. “Plus, why would you want me to let him into my bedroom? Just what sort of woman do you take me for?”
She laughed as the anger in his eyes went up a notch. “Don’t worry there wasn’t anything going on aside from me getting my girly things packed.”
“If you were any other woman, I would believe that” he said closing the space between them. “But you’re not someone who cares about things like that. So, if you felt the need to enter the room alone you had a reason. Which in turn leads me to point out if you had stayed with Dmitri those Cambions wouldn’t have had a chance to attack.”
Lanias scoffed, “They would have attacked no matter what. I killed their boss and a few of their friends.” She shrugged, “Who knew demons could be loyal.”
“Lanias,” he warned.
“Tell your father he’s being worrisome.” Lanias instructed Dmitri who’d slowly began retreating as the two’s argument grew in intensity. “We made it back whole, viola,” she motioned to her body giving him a cheeky grin. Only to see Alek’s eyes harden.
“You don’t know how –.” He cut his words short and grabbed her suitcase. “Never mind. I would only be wasting my breath.” He was visibly flustered taking bold steps away.
Lanias watched him go. The fluttering in her stomach subsided. She both enjoyed and hated arguing with the Vampire. He was too intense for her full enjoyment, the feeling of having someone watching her and caring for her the way he did madeher nervous. She wasn’t used to it. She’d much rather have him treat her as a curios puzzle.
She glanced over her shoulder to find that Dmitri was gone as well. Sighing, she decided to go to the room she’d been in before. While no one had directed her, Lanias decided to assume that was to be her room during her temporary stay.
So much had just occurred that standing in the quiet hall allowed a moment to take in the décor. And she couldn’t help letting out a small smile at the color choice, no blacks or dramatic splashes of red. Everything was soft browns and beiges, it made her think a little bit of the farmhouses in France.
No grim paintings, stone paneling, or cobwebs in sight.
“What’s so amusing?”
She flinched, as Aleks voice came from behind her. She spun around and glared down at him from where she stood on the steps. Seeing his amused gaze, she bared her teeth at him. “Is this your form of petty revenge?”
He grabbed her by the hip and pulled her forward. She sucked in a quick breath looking into his heated gaze.
“My revenge is never petty.” His gaze searched hers, “I’ll ask you once more, are you sure you want to make this deal with me? Once done, there will be no turning back.”
“What is it you fear?” She demanded, placing her hands on his shoulders. “You are the one who offered. Don’t tell me you didn’t expect me to take it.”
“I didn’t,” He freely admitted. “I didn’t believe you were alive. And now you’ve cheekily returned like nothing happened.”
“You’ve got that wrong. It’s you who slipped back into my life.” She gently pulled herself out of his hold, “I am not one to regret what I do.” She gave a delicate shrug, “If I can accomplish what I need by agreeing to our deal then so be it.”
“You treat this bond as if it would be nothing but business,” he said with distaste.
Lanias squinted down at him. “Surely, you’re not asking about my heart. A monster like me?”
He leaned forward and placed a hand against her cheek. “You will learn soon, who between you and I may be the true monster.”
She grabbed his hand, pulling it back. Following the movement with her eyes as she lowered it to his side. “Alek, this is my final answer at this time. I must make the bond with you, and you don’t have to worry about my soul or anything cliché like that. That was damaged a long time ago.”
ALEK
Alek stared down into her midnight orbs and mentally sighed in relief.
Taking the hand she didn’t hold, he pressed his thumb to his teeth and dragged it across. The red blood oozed up and slid down the palm of his hand. He offered it up to her, “Take it, then the contract will be done.”
