“So my witch has finally come to her senses.” Renault hummed with pleasure as he approached, his lecherous gaze raking her from head to toe. Stopping just before her, he smiled and said, “Hello, Jacinda. So lovely to see you again.”
Jaci lowered her gaze to the floor and hunched her shoulders, a tiny whimper escaping her lips.
Renault hummed again.
Jaci kept her smile at bay.
And the award for Most Convincing Performance in a Vampire Takedown goes to…
“You… you too, Renault,” she said softly, forcing a tremble into her voice.
Unlike the panther she’d mouthed off to, her former master required a different approach. One she’d honed over her years of working as his bonded witch, perfecting her technique until the witch she became forhimwas so different from the witch she trulywas, she no longer recognized herself.
It was Gabriel who’d brought her back. Gabriel who saw therealJacinda hiding inside. The one who fought hard and loved harder, who always spoke her mind, who never let her enemies get the better of her—even the enemy she’d fallen in love with.
Again, her smile threatened to break free.
Again, she buried it.
Renault took a step closer. Fingered a lock of her hair. Licked his greasy lips.
Certain he was close enough to scent her blood, Jaci flipped through her memories of hell, calling up a couple of the most terrifying—she and her father trying to outrun a dozen fanged hellbeasts in the volcanic region of Jenspar. Viansa dousing her in gasoline and locking her in a coffin for three days, flicking lit cigarettes at her until she’d grown bored of the game.
No, it wasn’ttruefear that soured her blood now—just an echo triggered by those dark memories—but the effect would be the same.
She knew it the moment Renault scented it. He perked up immediately. Leaned in close. Dragged his nose along the side of her neck and sniffed as if she were a fine wine.
“Beautiful,” he whispered. And this time, Jaci didn’t have to fake her shiver. His touch was as repulsive as his face.
“Careful, boss.” The handsy panther held up the stakes he’d taken out of her pants. “Bitch was packing.”
“Jacinda. Really?” Renault released her hair and drew back. With a quick stomp of his boot, he obliterated the weapons. “And here I thought this was a happy reunion.”
“I… I didn’t mean… I’m sorry,” she stammered, forcing herself to meet his gaze. Calling up a few tears and another bad memory, she dropped her voice to a whisper and said, “I was… I’m… I’m just scared.”
Disgust flooded his eyes, but desire quickly followed, just as she’d known it would. Below his beltline, his pants tented out.
He reached for her once more. Brushed his knuckles along her jaw. “Youshouldbe scared. You know I don’t like to be threatened.”
Jaci’s eyes widened in feigned horror.
Renault smiled again.
The fucker never could resist a damsel in distress.
But unlike her vampire prince, Renault wasn’t interested in saving anyone.
Only in dominating. Only in hurting. Only in feeding.
Showtime.
“Please!” Jaci wrapped her arms around her chest and stepped backward, eyes darting everywhere, lip trembling, looking every bit the vulnerable prey Renault wanted to see.
The prey sheneededhim to see.
“I swear,” she continued, fake tears rolling down her face. “I swear I wasn’t going to stake you, Renault. I’ll… I’ll do anything you want. Just… please. Please don’t hurt me.”
“I only hurt those who hurt me, Jacinda.” Another grin, a flash of fang, and the monster was on her, hauling her against his chest and sinking his fangs deep into her neck.
