Stupid need from my wolf to scent everything.
His eyebrow lifted, and a grin slowly pulled at the corner of his full lips with my response to him, making his chin dimple return. It seemed so naughty that I was instantly captured by the gesture. I had never seen a man smile quite that way before, like there were a thousand delicious secrets he wanted to share with me andonlyme.
Vampire. Don’t forget he’s a Vampire!
Swallowing dry to regain my composure, I watched him briefly glance over his shoulder, making sure we had privacy. “You smell delicious too, Natasha. But right now, I just need to know that you are okay… You are still bleeding.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, not only because he knew I had scented him, but because only then did I feel him gently caressing my fingers as he held my hands in his.
What the hell was wrong with me today?
Slowly, I pulled my hands from his, taking a couple of steps back until my clarity returned. “I can’t heal like a normal Wolf Shifter. I’mdifferent. I need… help.”
Now why in the Moon Goddess’ name did I tell him that? He’s the enemy!
“I know…” His words were kind yet filled with concern, and he reached for my cheek, a thumb gently stroking my skin and sending tingles down my body before his touch disappeared. “Vane, please get the healing potion kept in Natasha’s nightstand.”
“Here you go,” his sister offered not a second later, moving so fast that the curtains billowed through the balcony doors.
A gasp escaped me with the start, and I took another step back, bumping into the brick wall.
“Vanessa!” D growled, and she cringed.
“Sorry, I thought you knew we were fast,” she confessed, biting her lower lip before glancing at me. “I’m going to sit over there,” she mumbled, deflated, shuffling back to her armchair.
Sighing, D offered me the potion, and I frowned at the brown bottle—it was one I’d seen many times.
Shadows suddenly swirled all around us, pulling from the corners of the balcony and from what seemed like thin air, even though night hadn’t yet fallen.
“Now, why would she need the potion, when the real thing is right here?” The voice echoed within the darkness, as though it were alive.
“What is-what?” I sputtered, watching the smokey bands gather next to D and effortlessly form a full man of flesh and bone.
When they dissolved, bottomless, forest-green eyes bored into mine as Dante straightened, the night he somehow harbored within returning to his core. An unmistakable air of danger exuded from his every pore, intensifying his intimidating presence, and although my wolf immediately recognized its power, I wasn’t afraid… I was mesmerized.
He had called himself theLord of Twilightwhen I last saw him, and now I understood why. Somehow, he’d manipulated the darkness that existed in everything around us, and grew from it… or maybe he wasmadefrom them?
Arching a brow, Dante pushed D out of the way, until only he stood before me. D snorted behind him but didn’t attempt to rejoin us. Remaining silent, the mysterious stranger extended both palms toward me, expecting me to place mine on them.
“Cuore mio…”he spoke in a seductive tone, almost singing with the peculiar language. No question or statement accompanied the words, just his silent request for my touch.
“What kind of creature are you?” I murmured, too astounded by what I’d seen him do.
His lips twitched with amusement. “I’ve been called many things in my lifetime, buta creaturehas never been one of them.” He waved his fingers at me, reminding me he was still waiting for my hands to reach him.
“Not toyourface,” D added behind him, enjoying my question a bit too much, and making Dante narrow his eyes even though he didn’t turn to look at the Vampire.
Amusement also stirred within Dante’s gaze, telling me their interaction was nothing but friendly.
“I can wait all night,” Dante called to me, bringing my attention back to his outstretched hands. “There is no need to worry… I’m not the one who bites.”
“Yeah, that would be, Hannes—the Wolf Shifter,” D declared, and even Vanessa chuckled.
“You are a Vampire,” I reminded D, glancing at him over Dante’s shoulder.
D’s crooked grin returned, eyebrow lifting suggestively as his chin dimple flared to life. “Yeah, but my specialty is sucking.”
My eyes widened with the naughty meaning behind his words, cheeks instantly burning from embarrassment. I was shook.
