I stopped in front of my room. “The first killing is never easy.”
She lost some of her radiance. “I suppose even the second one.”
“You’ll get used to it.” I opened the door.
“I’d better sleep for a few hou?—”
A swish whispered, and golden light twinkled around her. The gown Darius had created vanished in a puff of stardust. She squealed as the dressing gown reappeared half open. Her chignon came undone, and her hair fell to her waist. The slippers vanished as well.
I didn’t complain. The dressing gown left plenty of creamy skin visible, and my imagination did what my lips couldn’t.
Right then, Darius ran towards us. “Irene! I forgot to tell you… Never mind.”
She clenched the lapels. “Darius!”
“I’m wonderful, I know.” The mage darted away, disappearing faster than when he used his magic.
Footsteps approached, and she flushed. “Open the door. I’m not going to stand here in my dressing gown.”
I was more than happy to let her into my bedroom.
She released the lapels. “Since I’m here, I think we should begin.”
“What?”
She sat with grace on the sofa in front of the fire. “I promised to help you overcome your fear.”
“All right.” A sudden spell of nervousness tightened my stomach.
She patted the sofa. “I don’t bite.”
I laughed, releasing some of the tension. I sat next to her, keeping only a few inches between us. The air was charged with energy, like before a storm. I hadn’t been so nervous since I’d tried and failed to invite my pretty neighbour Millie to the town hall ball when I was fourteen. It wasn’t a good sensation. But I’d touched Irene earlier. I should be able to do it again.
She edged closer, her shoulder almost brushing mine. “Is that uncomfortable?”
My mouth grew dry. A tremor threatened to start, but I forced it down. “It is, but it’s manageable.”
She remained still. “Did you want to become the duke?”
Focusing on something other than her closeness was a chore. A vein beating a steady pulse in her neck was another source of distraction. I wasn’t thirsty, but her creamy skin and the thick vein were a huge temptation.
I cleared my throat. “I did.” I scrubbed the back of my neck. “The former duke was ruthless and more interested in terrorising maidens than leading the court. He wasted money on balls and parties while kidnapping girls. He distracted the courtiers with gifts, so they wouldn’t pay attention to his crimes. I wanted to create a better place where supernatural beings weren’t a threat to humans.” Although I was a threat to humans.
“You did a wonderful thing.” She inched her hand closer to mine. Her fingertips were a feather away.
My heart gave a kick. I had only three heartbeats per minute, so an extra beat triggered hot turmoil.
She stared at the flames, and her hair sparked with the orange glow. “We can turn it into an exchange. You tell me something personal, and I’ll do the same.”
Our fingertips were almost touching. When I’d carried her in my arms, I’d been too busy keeping the disgust away to appreciate the contact.
But now, in the warm quiet of my room with the fire crackling and the shadows protecting me from the world, I wanted to touch her silky skin and enjoy it.
“The thirst terrified me.” I kept my gaze on our hands. “I didn’t want to become a slave to it. Darius read the story of a rogue who wiped out an entire village in a few hours. He spared no one. He sucked thousands of people dry before being killed. I’d rather die than lose my humanity. A new vampire in a crowded city will easily turn into a rogue without guidance and protection. I want the Dark Court to offer both to new supernatural beings who can’t control themselves.”
She brushed the back of my hand with a light finger.
The sensation bordered on pain, but there was a little flame of pleasure, not big or intense, but there. I shivered and fought the urge to withdraw. She stopped touching me, and a combination of longing and relief flooded through me.
