“What business is it of yours?”
For the past few weeks, he’d been fearing their next encounter. After he’d killed the male in the alley and she’d run for her life, Eclipse had expected Orianna to scream bloody murder when he formally introduced himself. Instead, she was considering him with skeptical yet inquisitive eyes.
Two could play at that game.
“I figure you’ve got two options,sezari. Either you’re forthcoming with some information or I’ll simply compel it out of you.”
“Compel?” She snorted, a sound that was oddly endearing. “Is that code for something? Torture, perhaps?”
His lip curled in a smirk he couldn’t help while his gaze dropped to the pulse in her neck. “Though tempting, not necessary.”
“You won’t hurt me,” she said.
His eyes snapped back to hers. “And how do you know that?”
She turned to face him more fully, both hands holding on to her glass. “I remember you from the alley. If you wanted to do me harm, you would’ve done it then, when you killed that asshole.”
Her comment caught him off guard. She didn’t seem at all bothered by the fact he’d taken a life.
Since he couldn’t lie to her, he figured there was no reason to pretend otherwise. “You’re right, I won’t hurt you.” However, she was the only one who was safe from him.
“How’s the shoulder, by the way?”
He frowned, confused. “Shoulder?”
“You were shot that night.”
Eclipse glanced down at his shoulder, remembered the blazing pain he’d felt when that bullet had struck him. The worst had been Obsidian removing it, knowing his pain had been transferred to Penelope in the process.
“It’s fine,” he told her, meeting her gaze once more.
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Despite her bravado, when Eclipse took one step toward her, Orianna moved back. He continued his pursuit until she was backed against the iron bars of a cage currently imprisoning two human males, who were making out like it was their last night on Earth.
“I didn’t catch your name,” she said softly, the words coming out as a rasp. “I’m Orianna McKay.”
He could smell her. Not fear. Intrigue. She was a risk taker and she was turned on by his nearness. Oddly, it stirred something deep inside him.
“And you are?” she repeated.
“Eclipse.”
The female stared at him for the longest time before surprising him yet again.
“What’s with the sunglasses?”
“Light sensitivity,” he said easily.
“Yeah. Okay.”
“Why’re you here?”
“I’m looking for my sister.”
“Amber?”
Her eyes narrowed. “How did you know that?”
