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Chuckling as Ava made her exit, Cortana shrugged off her blazer and neatly placed it on the top of the bed. She dragged the zipper open on the larger of her travel bags. Within twenty minutes, everything was put in its proper place and organized by day. The brief itinerary she’d created on the plane would do for now until she got a better feel of the den—and then she’d schedule a meeting with Ava to hammer out the details.
Satisfied, she allowed herself a slight reprieve. She unwrapped the six-inch silver daggers that’d been her constant companions for the last hundred years, feeling whole as she held the dual blades. The weapons were as much a part of her as her fangs, a symbol of her skill. Popping open the sheath to inspect one of the blades, her eyes lovingly traced the curves and ridges of the silver, the ornate lines that’d been engraved across the blade.
Satisfied they’d made the trip undamaged, she smiled and held them against her chest. A happy sigh swirled in her throat, unabashed in the comfort they afforded her.
The deep laugh that sounded behind her stiffened her spine.
Caught unaware, panic iced through her limbs. Before she knew what she was doing, the dagger released from her hand, sailing toward the man who’d crept up behind her without her noticing.
Chapter Two
Drywall dusted to the ground, the handle of the dagger quivering where it’d impaled the wall. Riaz beamed as his wolf growled with instant approval. Smothering the reaction, he finally glanced up to where the woman had frozen.
Seeing him whole and without injury, the fear in her beautiful brown eyes transformed to anger on a dime. “Sneaking up on me will get you killed, wolf.”
“Will it?”
As he reclined against the doorframe, Riaz leisurely examined the vampire in front of him, his eyes raking over the lean lines of her body. A long brunette braid trailed over her right shoulder, a look of fierce determination on her feminine features. Hands fisted on her hips, and a pantsuit that clung to every shapely curve of her legs. A flowing blue top hinted at the svelte figure beneath.
Beneath the deep brown gaze, her fiery nature positively seared him to the bone. She held his alpha gaze without quivering under his dominance. And instead of baring teeth in a show of aggression, his beast perked to attention.
This would be interesting.
A lazy smile claimed his lips. Riaz wrapped his fist around the dagger’s hilt and yanked it out of the wall, plaster showering toward the ground once more.
“My deepest apologies, sweetheart, I’ll make sure to stomp toward you every time I am in your presence from here on out.”
Unamused, the vampire extended her hand toward him expectantly. “I believe that’s my dagger.”
Irreverent. Critical. And an oh-so-subtle dominance challenge. The wolf in Riaz’ chest was practically vibrating with the force of his own waging tail. Fortunately, the man had no such appendage to betray his curiosity. Flipping it so that the hilt pointed toward her, Riaz offered the weapon.
“Don’t let me intrude on your giddy reunion.”
The vampire took the blade from him with a courteous thank you. Whipping out a handkerchief, she then made a show of cleaning his fingerprints from the blade, obviously displeased he’d unintentionally left his mark.
Riaz leaned around her to get a glimpse of the excessive amount of luggage she’d brought into her borrowed quarters. “Did you bring your entire flat with you?”
“Oh, you know what? I actually left the dog treats at home. Pity.”
“I think you forgot your casket, too.”
Eyes snapping up to meet his, the hint of mirth in her face died as the smile became incredulous. “That’s just tacky.”
“Well, tacky is my middle name.” He extended his hand. “Riaz Tacky Diallo, at your service.”
She grasped his hand with a firm shake. “Cortana Zervas.”
Baby-soft skin was a sensual kiss against his hand, a spark of electricity nipping at him from the contact. Tingles flickered up his arm and a pit churned in his stomach; his wolf was positively delighted. The barest of shivers scampered over Cortana’s frame, but he latched onto the effect like the predator he was.
Drunk on the feel of her skin on his, he yanked her closer, her stilettoed feet slapping against the ground as he took her by surprise. Shuffling closer to him, her beautiful brown eyes widened in consternation.
A scant few inches separated them.
Cortana made a move to cede the space between them and back up, but his wolf had already risen to the forefront, dragging in her scent like the animal was desperate for it. Inhaling deeply, Riaz savored the succulent smell of fresh raspberries, a hint of desire coiling around him like the sweetest caress.
“Do you jerk around all your guests as though they were your chew toys?”
He barked a laugh, releasing her at last. Riaz gave her his infamous, show-stopping smile. “I only gnaw on the ones who don’t mind a little slobber, Pet.”
