As I moved through the crowd, I sensed there was some fear within the crowd. I was older, dressed differently, incapable of blending in. As if I cared. I was here for a sole purpose.
Her.
Until I found her, I would remain on edge.
Until I could fully protect her.
Until she was mine.
I purchased a drink and continued moving through the crowd.
Finding her was easy. All I’d been required to do was find the group of people curious about why a dog had been allowed into the establishment.
She was front and center of a group of people, including several men who were watching her intently. And even from where I stood, I had a perfect view of the fact they were undressing her with their eyes.
I’d never been a jealous man but tonight was different. Everything about my world was different including its purpose.
Tonight I would enjoy the fruits of my labor, my hunt and protection successful.
I lifted a glass in reverence, taking a deep breath. “Very soon, my beautiful healer, you will be mine.”
Exactly as I’d promised both her and myself.
* * *
Rafaela
“You look fabulous, darling. I can’t believe you came out with us tonight.” Jules had been right by my side from the moment I’d stepped off the metro, he and his on-again, off-again boyfriend keeping me company while we’d walked to the club.
Even while a few other students had joined us when a couple of blocks from the club, everyone laughing from still being in celebration mode, I’d been lost in my own train of thoughts. All involving Kazimir.
Another level of anxiety had been set off like a handful of bottle rockets the moment I’d stepped onto the street.
Someone was watching me.
Maybe I was a little bit crazy, all the fantasies I’d tried to ignore for so long resurging like a tidal wave. Yet I could feel someone, his energy and his strength, his power and prowess.
Thoughts regarding the man on the sidewalk were never far from my mind. Given the metro hadn’t been crowded, I’d watched every stop, every person who’d gotten on, terrified I should have stayed behind locked doors.
But I’d promised myself I wouldn’t live that way. Not after everything I’d been through. So here I was, trying to enjoy a night on the town and my stomach full of knots. I moved toward the balcony railing, peering over the crowd below. There were hundreds of people crowded close together, dancing the night away. With the low lighting, I couldn’t make out a single face.
Yet every inch of my skin was on fire, electrified from some unknown heat source. And the inner voice that I’d relied on more in the past three years was poking and prodding me.
He’s here.
Him.
While I wanted to shove aside the thoughts, I couldn’t. My instincts never lied.
I was certain he was here, watching me.
Stalking me.
Hungering for me.
Tiny electric prods swept through me as excitement boiled my blood.
No. I wasn’t going to do this. I returned to where everyone was crowded around a table, grabbing my drink. Yet I couldn’t stop scanning the room, cognizant Golden was constantly nuzzling my leg.
