“What do you need us to do?” I wonder.
“My nephew has been getting close to a vampire named Dante. New to the city, not much known about him. Has conartist written all over him. I don’t trust his intentions and ordered a potion to reveal what’s hidden.”
My stunned expression causes Elias to give me a withering look and explain, “My pack is lessfree-spiritedthan what you’re used to and takes security matters seriously. We need to understand this vampire’s motives. Are his feelings real or does he have an agenda?”
Elias says more, I think. Someone is definitely talking. I hear none of it. The potion’s purpose, revealing what’s hidden…
What my mother told the customer in her store wondering about his true mate was right, thattryingto use witchcraft to rush an already magical phenomenon almost never works. But when it comes to magical accidents like this, all bets are off.
Bane had looked so gorgeous, inside and out. The potion revealed his true self, which was hidden under the shallow surface of him. But did it cause me to Recognize him too? I never would have guessed this or gone looking for answers in this particular direction, not in a million years. Maybe that’s why the universe decided to toss me a clue instead.
No. Bane as my true mate is onlyonepossibility, one terrifying, insane possibility. Another possibility is that the potion revealed an attraction to Bane that I hadn’t fully realized or focused on.
“Fielding,” Elias snaps, “are we boring you?”
I jump in my seat when the older wolf barks at me, and the apologies come spilling out. “Sorry, no, of course not! Sorry. I was just thinking, um, thinking about how to do what you’re asking.”
“Good. Because I don’t have to give you a chance to clean up the mess you made. I could skip straight to being upset.”
He sounds so calm but even Bane flinches at that offer.
“No!” I shout. “Uh, sorry. I’m glad we can fix this…”Gladis nowhere close to what I’m feeling.
“We’ll get this done,” Bane finishes for me.
Bane and I broke the potion. Why or whose fault it was doesn’t matter now. Elias is holding us both responsible. We must accomplish what the potion was supposed to before I’m free to run far away and never look back.
After what I saw, the last thing I need is spending more time with Bane. But we’re stuck together until we clean up our mess.
5.Battling Bloodsuckers
Josh
If someone told me I’d be getting a private ride in Bane Blackwood’s convertible late at night, I would have asked them to share whatever they were smoking.
Yet here we are.
The white lines on the road rush past the window, blurring into streaks in the dark. Going by fast. Too fast.
“Slow down!”
“Relax, Josh.”
“I will if youslow down.”
How is this my life? Countless men and women have probably been in my seat, treated to a private ride with this gorgeous wolf, and they loved every second.
For romantic evenings, the alpha probably cranks up his date music playlist, drops the top on the car, and flashes that irresistible smile. I can picture the exact flirty grin he employs to melt his dates and lead them to abandon their better judgment, even though I’ve never witnessed that smile firsthand.
Instead of charming smiles, we’re much closer to killing each other than kissing.
“Slow. Down.”
“No,” he grunts. “Finishing this is the only way to get rid of you.”
Well, when he puts it that way… “What are you waiting for? Drive faster!”
The alpha jams his foot on the gas with a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel.
