Page 40 of Viktor

“Well then, he should need a break from his project. I’m sure he’s got plenty of time to pop over for a chat.”

“Grudges die hard.” Quintus eyed the empty glass. “Do you need another donor?”

“No, this blood will do,” Viktor insisted, still craving the one human he could not have.

“It’s been some time since I’ve taken a donor myself…now that I’m bonded it’s not necessary.”

“Well, I’m not bonded. And it has worked well my entire immortal life and I don’t intend on changing.”

“How do you know this human isn’t yours?” Quintus asked, with a playful curiosity.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Viktor replied.

“The hunger will grow. There will be no other who can satisfy you. This is how it works. The Goddess—”

“Don’t bring her into it. The Goddess knows what I like just fine. I don’t do relationships. Especially not with humans. It’s pointless.”

“You didn’t do food either, but apparently you’ve eaten eggs.” Quintus smiled knowingly.

“It’s complicated.” Viktor went silent and rubbed his hands together, recalling her energy. “She’s complicated.”

“This is going to be entertaining to watch.”

Viktor grumbled as he strode across the room and stared into a large round metal mirror that hung in Quintus’ study. He smoothed back his hair, attempting to appear nonchalant. “I’m going to help Dr. LaFleur stop whoever is threatening her. I’m not sure what they want with this painting, but I’m going to find out and put an end to the nonsense. I don’t care if humans are responsible or not.”

“Humans?”

“Yes, I believe some are involved. Paranormals too. Someone left a parting gift in her apartment. A ritual of some sort. You know how it goes, it’s all fun and games until you conjure a demon you can’t control. I’ve caught the scent both in Miami and San Diego.”

“Humans should be easy to track down.”

“The demons could cause issues,” Viktor countered. “One of her human friends is missing. And we’ve got this painting to deal with. At the museum, a detective was asking questions one minute and beating down an office door the next. Possessed.” He sighed. “It’s all a bit of a mystery at the moment. But I’m sure that painting has something to do with it.”

“You may need help. Perhaps Kellen has information.”

“The fae?” Viktor gave a curt laugh. “As if. He’s in Hell kissing Satan’s ass, just sitting there like a sticky charred marshmallow.”

“The high priestess? Samantha,” he specified.

“At some point, but right now, I think it’s best to talk to someone who knows demons.”

“Who then?” Quintus asked.

“A demon who owes me.” Viktor checked his appearance one last time before turning back to his brother. “A demon who loves to socialize, who has his pulse on both demons and humans, Hell and Earth.”

“Thorn,” they both said in unison.

“You know it.” Viktor nodded at Quintus, knowing what he had to do. Sometimes you had to lay down in the mud to get the dirty details.

Viktor appeared in his kitchen and set down the takeout he’d bought for Waverly. He listened for her but heard nothing but silence. I shouldn’t have left her so long. He inhaled, detecting her delicious scent. Although it still lingered in the air, she’d been gone from the room for hours.

Drawn to a flickering light outside, he moved to look out the floor-to-ceiling window that lined the back of his home. At the sight of her outside in the yard, his pulse sped. Wearing his red satin robe, she walked barefoot along the patio toward the pool. What is she doing outside? In my robe? The temptation from earlier in the evening haunted him, the taste of her lips still burning fresh on his.

Viktor stood in the darkness watching her through the window as she reached for a switch on the table and fired up the lights around the jacuzzi. A circle of fire roared to life in the center of the table, reggae music sounding into the night. Viktor’s heart pounded as she turned to the lake, and slowly removed the robe. Slow as molasses, the crimson fabric fell from her shoulders and revealed her tanned skin. Her blonde hair spilled down her back, teasing her full bottom. She draped the robe onto a chair and faced the home once again. Bared to him, she stood nude and stared up to the second floor, smiling as if she knew he could see her.

Viktor took a step back, laser focused on Waverly. She sees me? It was impossible, yet his instincts warned him that she sensed his presence. His excitement spiked. She knew he watched yet exposed herself, her vulnerability. As she dipped a foot into the hot tub and descended into the water, he sensed her energy.

Resisting temptation had never been his strong suit. As Viktor dematerialized and his feet hit the ground, he wore a sensual smile.