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Half an hour later she was scrubbed clean and dressed as she headed down the long flight of stairs. She wasn’t sure she’d managed to erase the smoldering desire or the nagging ache to rip off Valen’s expensive clothes and have her wicked way with him, but she’d managed to regain command of her composure. That’s all she could ask at this point.
Reaching the ground floor, Peri didn’t have to wonder where to find Gabriel. His power radiated through the mansion like the core of a nuclear reactor, pulsing with outrageous force.
With a grimace, Peri headed through a sunken living room and into a large library surrounded by towering bookshelves. Spending so much time with members of the Cabal was a grim reminder of where she stood on the evolutionary ladder. Any one of them could squash her like a bug.
She came to a halt in the center of the massive space, her gaze taking in the slender male who was seated at a heavy desk, concentrating on the computer screen. He had short, reddish-blond hair and eyes the color of minted gold. His green aura pulsed with fey magic, revealing the strength of his ancient blood.
His power, however, couldn’t compare to the male who was moving with fluid grace to stand directly in front of her.
Gabriel Lyon. The Cabal leader of the western Gyre. Peri had seen pictures of him, of course. At least the pictures that he’d allowed to be taken. Vampires could avoid being caught on camera if they wanted. Which was most of the time. But these days, the leeches needed the goodwill of the mortals, and while the humans didn’t realize Gabriel was a vampire, he was a wealthy entrepreneur who gave big, fat checks to local charities. It made him something of a celebrity.
Add in the fact he was gorgeous. With his long, dark hair threaded with silver framing his square, perfectly chiseled face and his heavily muscled body that filled out his polo shirt andgray slacks with a solid display of male strength, it ensured that he was prized material for the front pages of every newspaper in the country, as well as spotlight stories from national television.
It wasn’t until she was up close, however, that Peri could see that the hazel eyes were shadowed, as if he hid a terrible secret.
“Ms. Sanguis.” Gabriel offered a slow, dazzling smile that could melt the Arctic. “A pleasure.”
Peri might have fainted at the potent charm in that smile if she hadn’t spent time with Valen.
“Please, call me Peri.”
“Peri,” he readily agreed. “I’m Gabriel. I’m afraid Valen is dealing with a business matter. He’ll join us in a few minutes.”
Peri felt a nervous flutter in her stomach. She had many fine talents, but her repertoire didn’t include small talk with a vampire. At last she glanced toward the bookshelves that soared toward the open-beam ceiling.
“You have a beautiful home.”
Gabriel nodded, studying her with an unnerving intensity. “It suits my current taste.”
Peri turned to pace toward a bronze statue of a bucking bronco with a cowboy arched in an effort to stay in the saddle. Was that a real Frederic Remington?
“I would think it would suit anyone’s taste,” she muttered.
“You’re nervous.” The words came out as a soft purr. “Is it me?”
Peri swallowed the panicked laugh. Was he serious? “The Cabal makes most people nervous.”
“It was my understanding that you are fearless.”
She blinked, wondering if it’d been Valen who’d told him that particular lie. And why.
“I can be reckless,” she admitted, “but I try not to be foolish. At least most of the time.”
He folded his arms over his chest, a watchful stillness settling around his large form. Gabriel reminded her of a predatory cat. Patiently waiting for his moment to pounce.
All she could do was hope she wasn’t the mouse in this scenario.
“Valen was right.” He finally broke the awkward silence.
“He usually is. Or at least he assumes he is.” The words left her lips before she could consider that they might be an insult to another member of the Cabal. She licked her dry lips. “Right about what?”
“Your magic is exceptional.”
“I…” Peri hastily checked her shields. They were firmly in place, so how did he know about her magic?
Gabriel frowned. “Does it bother you?”
“Does what bother me?”
