“Looks like you’ve found something interesting.”
Eclipse only spared Kaj a brief glimpse as the vampire approached.
“Aw, hell,” the male drawled. “She’s the one, huh?”
She most definitely was.
“So tell me, what are the odds she’d show up here tonight?” Kaj mused.
“No fucking clue.”
“You do realize this is probably the worst place for her to be, don’t you?”
Oh, yeah. He knew.
“May I offer my vein,” a human female suggested, stopping directly in Eclipse’s path.
Eclipse didn’t look her way.
“Why don’t I show you someone who’ll take you up on that,” Kaj told her. “You good here?”
Though he nodded, Eclipse wasn’t sure how much truth there was in that answer. He was in caveman mode at the moment. The only thing he wanted to do was throw Orianna over his shoulder and whisk her off anywhere but here. The primal male inside him was eager to get her alone, strip her down, and feel those long legs wrapped securely around his hips. As far as he was concerned, that was the only way to sate these intense urges, to relieve the pent-up frustration.
“I’ll check back in a little while. Stay outta trouble,” the vampire said as he motioned the human blood bank in the opposite direction.
Moving toward hisamsouelot, Eclipse inched past a male sinking his fangs into the neck of a female. Curious, he reached into the male’s mind. He found the vampire was directing thoughts of euphoria into the female’s frontal lobe, rewiring her brain to believe their intimate interaction was about sex, not feeding. Eclipse didn’t approve of compelling humans to do their bidding, but as long as the vampire wasn’t dropping bodies in his wake, Eclipse figured it really wasn’t his place to intervene. After all, vampires weren’t in the business of drawing attention to themselves any more than angels were.
“No, thanks,” the soft voice sounded, drawing Eclipse’s attention. “I’m actually looking for someone.”
“How do you know you haven’t found him, baby?” a male remarked.
Remember whose house you’re in, angel.
Eclipse’s eyes shot over to Darko, who was standing at the railing on the second level. The male was watching him intently, clearly reading his body language.
Stay out of my head, vampire.
A devilish smirk was the vampire’s response.
It took effort, but Eclipse gave a curt nod, assuring the vampire he wouldn’t cause trouble. Provided this asshole understood Orianna was not on the dessert menu tonight. Not for him, at least.
Figuring now was the perfect time for his path to cross with the oblivious female, Eclipse purposely moved to intercept and stopped as Orianna did her best to shrug off the irritant hoping to latch on to her vein.
“Leave,” Eclipse ordered the vampire.
The male turned to face him, likely gauging his chances of taking Eclipse down. He must’ve realized they were slim to none, because he offered a hiss but backed away, nonetheless.
Light blue eyes lifted slowly, perusing Eclipse’s six-foot-six-inch frame before coming to a stop on his face. He waited patiently for recognition to dawn, preparing himself for the repercussions. This was the first time they’d come face-to-face since the incident in the alley, the time when Eclipse had killed the human male who’d been threatening her.
Her pretty face remained expressionless, though Eclipse saw the curiosity there. Orianna knew who he was, but there was no fear, no desire to flee.
A smile would’ve revealed his fangs, so he held off, content merely to observe the heat he recognized in her eyes. It was what was known asamnigh, a phenomenon that affectedamsouelots—souls destined to be together, their divine decree sealed by the Fates. Ever since their initial meeting, their souls had begun the dance, attempting to pull the two of them back together. Because so much time had passed, Eclipse knew it would increase tenfold before the night was over.
“Looking for someone?” he prompted, studying her lovely face, memorizing every soft, alluring angle.
Orianna took a sip of her drink, her smile sweet yet blasé, as though his mere presence wasn’t affecting her. “As a matter of fact, I am.”
“Who?”
