“I said a lot of things.” Bennett’s smile turned predatory, and Dakota’s pulse kicked into overdrive. “Because I knew they’d get you to open the door. You’re predictable like that. Always wanting to believe the best in people, even when they've shown you exactly who they are.”
Heat flooded Dakota’s face, embarrassment mixing with anger until he couldn’t separate them. “You’re an asshole.”
“True.” He stopped just outside Dakota’s personal space, close enough that Dakota could smell his cologne. “But you already knew that. You just chose to ignore it because options in Cedar Falls were limited and I was better than nothing.”
The bastard hit the nail on the head. Dakotahadsettled. Had convinced himself that Bennett’s intermittent attention was better than the alternative of being completely alone in a town where he knew no one. Had ignored every warning sign because the loneliness had felt worse than the disrespect.
“Get out.” Dakota’s voice shook, his hands curling into fists. “You've said what you came to say. Now leave.”
“Not yet.” Bennett reached out, his fingers brushing against Dakota’s arm in a touch that made his skin crawl. “There’s something else you should know. Something I should’ve told you months ago.”
Dakota jerked away, putting the small kitchen table between them. “I don’t care. Whatever you think is so important… I don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m a vampire.”
That was absurd…and impossible. Dakota stared at Bennett, waiting for the punchline, for the laugh that would indicate this was some kind of joke. But Bennett’s expression stayed serious, his eyes locked on Dakota’s face like he was waiting for a reaction.
“You’re insane.” Dakota edged toward the door, his heart pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. “Get out of my apartment before I call the cops.”
“Go ahead and call them.” Bennett didn’t move, didn’t even look concerned. “Tell them a vampire is in your apartment. See how that goes for you.”
Dakota’s hand found his phone in his pocket, fingers closing around the familiar shape. But even as he pulled it out, doubt crept in. Because Bennett looked completely serious. No hint of humor, no sign that this was some elaborate prank.
“I can prove it.” Bennett’s smile returned, and this time his teeth looked different. Longer. Sharper. Canines that extended past what should have been possible, gleaming white in the apartment's overhead lighting.
Fangs.
Dakota’s phone slipped from his numb fingers, clattering against the floor. His legs hit the couch, and he sat down hard, his brain trying to process what his eyes were showing him. Vampires weren't real. Couldn’t be real. That was fiction, stories people told to scare children and sell movie tickets.
But Bennett’s teeth stayed elongated, visible proof of something Dakota’s rational mind wanted to reject. His mouth had gone bone-dry, his tongue sticking to the roof as he tried to form words.
“How?” The question came out barely above a whisper.
“Does it matter?” Bennett’s teeth retracted, returning to normal proportions. “The point is I’m not human. Never have been. And that friend of yours, Kivani? He's not human either.”
Dakota’s stomach lurched at the mention of Kivani’s name. “Leave him out of this.”
“Can’t do that.” Bennett moved closer, and Dakota found he couldn’t make his legs work to stand up, to put more distance between them. “Because Kivani is a Bengal tiger. A shifter. And he's been lying to you about what he is since the day you met.”
The words made no sense. Kivani couldn’t be a tiger. That was even more ridiculous than Bennett being a vampire, and Dakota’s brain had barely managed to accept that impossibility. Kivani was just a guy. A really attractive, built-like-a-mountain, protective guy who'd been nothing but kind since Dakota had moved to Crimson Hollow.
“You’re lying.” But Dakota’s voice lacked conviction, his thoughts spiraling as pieces started clicking into place. The way Kivani moved, too fluid and graceful for someone his size. The amber color of his eyes, which Dakota had never seen on another person. The protective streak that bordered on territorial.
“Why would I lie?” Bennett crouched down to Dakota’s eye level, his expression almost sympathetic. “I gain nothing from telling you this except maybe the satisfaction of watching your worldview shatter. Which, I’ll admit, is pretty satisfying.”
Dakota wanted to argue, to call Bennett a liar and demand he leave. But his voice had stopped working, his throat closed up with emotions he couldn’t name. If Bennett was telling the truth about being a vampire, then maybe he was telling the truth about Kivani too. And if Kivani had been hiding what he was, had been lying by omission this entire time, then Dakota didn’t know anything about anyone.
A knock sounded on the door, loud enough to make Dakota jump. Bennett’s head snapped toward the sound, his body going rigid in a way that looked predatory. Dangerous.
“Dakota?” Kivani’s voice filtered through the door, concern evident even muffled by wood. “You okay in there?”
Relief flooded through Dakota so fast it made him dizzy. Kivani was here. Whatever was happening, whatever impossible things Bennett had just revealed, Kivani would help him make sense of it. Would protect him from whatever threat Bennett posed.
Dakota pushed off the couch. His legs shook, but he forced himself toward the door anyway. Bennett moved faster, his hand shooting out to grab Dakota’s wrist and yank him back.
“I wouldn't do that.” Bennett’s grip tightened, fingers digging into Dakota’s skin hard enough to bruise. “Let him in, and things get complicated.”
Dakota tried to twist free, but Bennett’s strength was impossible. Not human strength. The realization sent fresh terror through his system, his heart racing so fast he felt lightheaded. “Let go of me.”
