His eyes narrowed. “Don’t play with me, Darci. I’ve lived too long for these juvenile games.”
What, all of twenty-eight or nine? That’s how old he appeared to her. Since he seemed edgy, she refrained from teasing. “It’s not a game, it’s—ugh, let me show you, okay?”
She skirted around his grim figure and walked back into the living room, Blaéz right on her heels. Did he think she had a lover stashed in her living room? If only he knew just how lonely her life had been over the last few years.
She halted in front of the television. Of course.Why not add a little embarrassment to my life?She’d paused the DVD right on the tangled bodies in the middle of a love scene—but no view of Spike’s face. Heat crawling into her cheeks, Darci picked up the remote from the couch and pushed play. Moans and grunts surrounded them as Buffy and Spike started going at it again. Wonderful.
Stopping a few feet away from her, Blaéz cast a brief look at the screen then back at her. That piercing stare didn’t waver. “You like bleached-haired, scrawny males?”
She snorted. “If that was true, I wouldn’t be with you. It’s a TV show, Blaéz, and one that I like. That actor does a great job of portraying Spike, a tortured vampire in love. I’m sure you didn’t come here to tell me to stop watching Buffy. Let’s have it—what’s wrong?”
He stared at her for a long second, then said, “This isn’t about vampires, but demons.”
Darci blinked, so sure she must have heard wrong. “Wait, you’re not talking about a TV show, are you?”
“No. When I patrol at night, they are what I go after, not humans.”
Her mouth opened and shut. He was dead serious, she realized, and not toying with her as payback for the Spike thing. “You—you’re saying there are demons in this world and you are what? A hunter?”
“Yes to the first, and the second needs to be discussed. But now is not the time.”
“Make the time! You can’t just drop something like that on me and expect me to keep silent,” she snapped, anxiety twisting her stomach. “All you’ve ever told me about yourself is that you have psychic abilities—is that how you know about demons?”
“Yes. My abilities are a part of it. Darci—” He grasped her hands, his thumbs stroking her palms as if to calm her. “What I do is dangerous. There’s always the threat of my enemies watching me. With me coming to your home, it’s risky. I don’t want anything to happen to you. It’s why I’d like you to move into the castle with me. You’ll be safe there.”
What the heck was he talking aboutsafefor when she couldn’t get past what he’d just said?He—hekilleddemons! Her knees gave way. She dropped down onto the couch behind her.
Blaéz crouched in front of her, his pale eyes filled with concern. “Darci?”
She shook her head. How could she reassure him that she was okay when she wasn’t? He’d just shoved her world right off its axis.
Blaéz rose and disappeared. Dishes rattled. Soon the scent of coffee drifted to her, then he reappeared. He lowered to the wooden chest in front of her, thighs spread, caging hers, and held out a steaming mug. “Drink. It will help with the shock.”
Her hand trembled as she took the cup. Coffee spilled. She yelped at the painful sting that broke through her fear. Blaéz grabbed the mug and set it on the wooden chest beside him. He reached for her hand. “Let me see.”
“It’s nothing.” She cradled her throbbing fist to her chest. “Explain all of this, what you just said. And why you didn’t tell me this before?”
“When was there a chance to ever talk?” he asked, rising to his feet, his tone terse. “In the library? Or when you were attacked by those human trash? Oh wait, maybe when I was hurt?”
Darci scowled. He had to point that out. She crossed her arms, wincing a little at the achy burn when her fist brushed against her body. “Fine, tell me now.”
Chapter 12
Blaéz pacedthe small living room his jaw clamped in frustration. He expected her questions, perhaps a little fear, but not her stubbornness. Dammit, he had to get her to the protection of the castle before Maloch’s minions got a scent of her.
“Stop prowling like some caged animal, Blaéz, and tell me.”
He cut Darci a terse look. And there was his other problem. So damn close, he could barely think straight. He wanted to touch her, feel her luscious body sliding against his, her tongue in his mouth instead of talking!
He ran his fingers through his clipped hair and his gaze lit on the TV screen. A muscle beating on his jaw, he picked up the remote and shut off the annoying image of that pale-haired wretch Darci liked and forced himself to concentrate. “I’m a Guardian of this realm. We deal with anything supernatural that’s a threat to mortal existence—”
“Now that sounds like it should be a TV series,” she muttered.
For some reason, her blasé response irritated him. “This is no bloody shits and giggles TV series, Darci. It’s fucking reality.” He leveled her a stony stare. “Do you really think I’m going to leave you here alone so those fuckers can get to you? Get your things together, we’re leaving.”
“No.” Her chin angled in a stubborn tilt. “You just dropped this bomb on me. What did you expect? That I’d calmly leave, that I wouldn’t ask questions, demand answers?”
Christ. The one female he wanted more than his next breath was so damn obstinate.
