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Definitely higher up than our floor. Maybe double it, given the size of the people on the street. Nothing more than specks from this height.
“Do you like the view?” he asks.
“Not really.” I step back and turn away, only to find him right in my face.
I hadn’t heard him move.
Dread ices my limbs.
“It’s interesting,” he says in a low voice, reaching out like he’s going to touch me. His index finger stops just short of my jaw. “Most witches don’t venture into cities at all, let alone mine.”
Vampire.
The word floats out of nowhere, bursting in front of my eyes like a strobe alarm.
I ball my fists and eye him with new interest. “I’ve never met a vampire before.”
It’s not quite a lie. Sonia was hybrid. Other, as Gage said.
His eyes light. “No? Pity—some say I’m the worst of them.”
“You’re not the first to say that to me. Just the first of your species.” I smile tightly and inch around him. I take a seat on the couch and cross my legs. Seems sensible, seeing as how my knees are threatening to give out on me anyway. “So this is your city, then?”
“I rule the most powerful clan in the city. In a way, it’s mine, yes.” He sits across from me. “I’ll admit, you’re not quite what I expected when I was informed a witch was gambling in my casino.”
“Is that a metaphorical possessive, or…?”
“No, this I own it outright.” He smirks. “And two others on the strip.”
“Hmm.” Of course it’s our luck that Kian chose this one. Guess our night will be cut short.
“Did you always go by Somnium?” He leans forward.
My brow furrows, and I find myself caught in his gaze. His eyes are light brown, the shade of honey in shadow. I mimic his body position and lean forward, too.
He asked me a question that I really need to answer.
“No,” I say. “My mother changed it after our coven was murdered.”
Why did I say that?
It’s fine. Just keep talking.
“Before, she went by…”
The bond between Kian and I flares up inside me. I gasp and touch my chest, like I can stop the sparking sensation. There’s a commotion down the hall, and Beau breaks our stare. I sag back against the couch. My heart is going a thousand miles a minute, my breathing heavy.
What the fuck just happened?
Beau’s office door smashes open, and Kian storms inside. He sees me sitting there, relatively unharmed, and then the vampire.
“Wolf,” Beau hisses, his upper lip curling. His fangs descend, and he leaps to his feet.
Holy shit.
I believed it, but I didn’t really believe it until right fucking now.
“Did you fucking touch her?” Kian growls. He doesn’t seem to be in complete control at the moment. His body vibrates, energy twitching his muscles. His eyes are a sharper blue, more his wolf’s than his.
