Page 73 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

“Tea?” Darius poured me a cup. “How’s Cara?”

“Sad. Angry. She thinks you’re an ambitious, hungry-for-power mage who doesn’t care about anyone.”

“That’s outrageous.” He scowled. “I do care about myself.”

I laughed, and he winked.

“I do have ambitions, of course, as does everyone.” He flipped through the pages of his magic book. “But I’m already the most powerful mage in the kingdom. What could I possibly want more?”

Alex shot his gaze towards the ceiling.

“Have you found anything useful about the fog in your book?” Suddenly ravenous, I took a stuffed chair and devoured the bread.

“I don’t think we should get rid of it.” He chewed on a bite of salted meat.

“Excuse me?” Alex stood next to me like a bodyguard.

He wolfed down a chocolate bonbon. Apparently, he didn’t mind mixing savoury food with sweets. “It can be a useful protection around the mansion, and modifying it is easier than getting rid of it. It would help if we had to lock up the strongest vampire in the world and prevent him from escaping.”

“What about Cara?” I asked. “Will she regain her powers?”

He lifted his shoulders. “If I were her, I would learn how to do everything like a normal human. Depressing, I know.”

“She’s terribly miserable,” I said. “I know she treated us badly, but I feel sorry for her. She cast the last spell to help the poor princess. She regrets her actions, and the failure broke her.”

Alex stroked my shoulder and brushed a curl of hair from my cheek. “I’m not fond of her, but I’m not going to abandon her.”

I put my hand over his, enjoying the fluttery, warm feeling in my chest.

The new Duke of the Dark Court was going to bring happiness and harmony.

27

WHAT WE SHARE

Alex

Irene’s bedroom was finally warm after I’d applied my expertise to starting a fire as quickly as possible. Her room had been particularly cold and damp, and even the logs were humid.

She stretched out her hands towards the flames. “That’s lovely.” She wriggled her fingers and giggled, a lovely, intoxicating sound.

Growing up on the streets had cured me of my shyness and scruples. There was no room for insecurity in the life of a street thief. But as I was about to ask her if I could drink from her again, I became as shy as a debutante at her first ball.

The fog and the reversed spell had drained me, but my own desire to taste her delicious blood again was another reason to feed.

“We can dance together now.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, and not an ounce of pain bothered me. “We’re going to give so many balls you’ll grow tired of them.”

“I don’t know how to dance.” I stroked her back.

“Never mind. I’ll teach you.”

She reclined her head and arched her back as I spun with her in my arms.

“I love it when you’re happy and laugh.” I caressed her silky hair.

Her gown left her neck bare, and desire stirred in my veins. She must have sensed my thoughts because she tilted her head to the side, exposing the main vein in her neck. My gums tingled.

The hunger roared, sudden and unbidden, but it wasn’t simply that. I wanted more than just to satisfy the thirst. I wanted to make her happy and to hear her free laughter again. I wanted to hear her sigh with pleasure and feel her tremble with my kisses and writhe underneath me.