Shadow's Claim

But he'd governed his urges. He knew how important this interlude was. It was their beginning. An eternity of pleasure lay before them if his campaign with her proved successful.

He was building trust, demonstrating their commonalities. His actions followed a formula, but the method seemed to be working.

Next, he would deploy the second stage of his plan, using her desires to his advantage. He stood and moved before her, greatly looking forward to it.

She gazed up at him with those entrancing eyes. Success would find her in his arms, her moans in his ear.

Failure? Would find her with her hands all wet . . .

Looking for all the world like he was about to kiss her, the vampire eased closer until she could perceive the heat coming off his body.

Lips parted, brows drawn, he reached down to gently cup her face, tugging her to him-

She shoved against his chest. "Stop! This is not why I'm here."

He eventually released her, his gaze narrowed.

Analyzing me. She knew vampires were an inherently logical species, but she'd never met any who exhibited that trait. Their minds had been tainted by bloodlust, their irises-and even the whites of their eyes-gone red from it.

She'd never met a clear-eyed vampire before, and now she was the object of this one's study.

"One boon, then-for a kiss."

She gave him a disappointed look. "You want my favors to be, well, sexual? Is that why you've maneuvered me into this bargaining? You're hardly playing fair."

Curling his finger under her chin, he said, "Do you really think I'll play fair when the prize is so dear?" With his other hand, he reached for her mask, gently unlacing it to remove the silk. Seeming captivated by her face, he bit out, "Zeii mea, beauty, you speak to me of playing fair? You've vanquished me with one move."

Her cheeks heated furiously. Why did she feel such a thrill at each of his compliments? Because others' compliments were so rare?

She reminded herself that he was a stone-cold killer, clearly a manipulator. He was so much older, with lifetimes more experience than she had. "You told me you wouldn't return for me. You seemed perfectly okay with the idea of never seeing me again. Now this? I want to know what changed."

"Me. For centuries, I lived a life of service, never desiring anything for myself. And now I do desire." He eased closer to her. "Bettina, I desire beyond reason."

His scent and heat permeated her senses. Did all vampires smell this mouthwatering? Maybe as a predatory tool to lure quarry like her? It was working.

Again she felt weak and breathless, the flash-fever returned. It seemed like her body was so busy struggling to regain equilibrium that her thought processes suffered. "I-I have a hard time believing you'd leave your home, a home you treasure."

At her ear, he rasped, "To treasure you."

He could be smooth, she'd give him that. But then she remembered that he planned to kill Caspion.

Chapter 20

She drew her head back. "Why? You know nothing about me. Your blooding makes you attracted to me. Your desire is actually just a quirk of fate."

"Does the blooding affect me? Yes. I need to protect you, to claim you, to"-he stopped himself-"to . . . possess you in every way."

What exactly did that mean? What had he been about to say?

"But you also fascinate me. Your creations intrigue me."

"You're a flatterer."

"Never. A teller of truths."

"You can tell me all the truths you like, vampire, but I'm still not going to kiss you. Not tonight. Not ever."

"I see. Very well, Bettina."

Funny. She'd thought he would put up more of a fight-

Suddenly his arm wrapped around her, mist filling her vision. One of his fingers pressed over her lips.

A split second later, another vampire traced into the tent, a younger squire who looked nervous, twitchy-and fearful of Daciano.

Ah, gods, she was seen!

But the squire quickly set about his duties, paying no attention to her.

She squeezed her eyes shut as if that would hide her from his gaze.

After a few moments, he asked, "Anything else . . . my lord?" His voice broke midsentence.

She peeked open her eyes. The young vampire hadn't even glanced at her. Was she hidden in Daciano's mist? Was that even possible?

"That will be all," Daciano said. "Do not return until gloaming tomorrow."

When the squire disappeared, Bettina said, "He couldn't see me?"

"You're my Bride. I can hide you."

"That was too close!" She shoved against Daciano's chest, but he didn't release her. "This is such a bad idea-wait a second. Why did that squire ready your bath?"

"You told me earlier tonight that you expected to be treated like a lady."

"Yes, so?"

His eyes bored into hers. "A lady tends to her lord's bath."

"What are you talking . . ." She trailed off. "You're not my lord!" She gave another shove that he didn't even seem to register.

"A boon says I am tonight."

"This was a-a carefully orchestrated trap! You planned all this, manipulating me!"

"Yes."

When he simply admitted to things like that, it seriously undermined her outrage. "You're insane."

"Perhaps all these unredeemed favors have gone to my head."

"You're not even in need of a bath."

"A bath can have other purposes. Here are your choices: you tend to my bath-or I'll tend to yours."