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“Bitch,” he spit out, curling his hands into fists as he took a massive swing at her face.
Peri easily bent backward, avoiding the blow that would have fractured her jaw, and whispered the words to a spell. The magic tingled through her blood, warming her skin and heightening her senses to the edge of pain. It was intoxicating. She never felt so alive as she did when she called on her powers.
Of course, there was a downside, she acknowledged, wrinkling her nose as she caught the stench of sweat coating the guard’s face and a blast of garlic from his panting breaths.
Her bracelet glowed, and with the final word of power she sent the magic toward his feet, which were spread wide as he prepared to take another swing at her. The spell flowed through the air, creating a silvery web that laced over his feet and solidly glued his boots to the ground.
The guard was unable to see the spell, but he’d lived with a mage long enough to realize what had happened when he couldn’t move.
“You stupid witch,” he ground out, obviously aware that “witch” was the worst sort of insult to a mage. “I swear I’ll hunt you down and teach you what happens when you screw around with a real man. I’ll have you on your knees with my dick stuck so far down your throat—argh.”
The piercing scream echoed through the foothills as Peri calmly stepped forward and kicked the dick he was so proud of with enough force to make his eyes cross.
“I was going to walk away, but you threaten a woman again and I’ll shrink your balls so small you’ll need a microscope to find them.”
She didn’t bother to wait for his response. Honestly, it was probably going to be an hour or so before he could speak coherently. Instead she strolled toward the ancient pickup that was still parked next to the front steps, where a tall, slender male casually leaned against the front grill.
Peri’s heart lodged in her throat, but not from fear. It was raw female appreciation at the purity of the male’s flawless features, the shimmer of gold in hair that was as smooth as silk, and the sleek muscles beneath the tailored black slacks and soft cashmere sweater. He looked too perfect to be real. As if he was a fantasy created out of mist and moonlight.
But there was nothing mystical about the power that pounded against her with shattering force.
Peri hissed, refusing to allow her feet to falter as she crossed the driveway to stand directly in front of the vampire.
“Valen.”
The silver gaze made a slow inspection of her various scrapes and bruises before slicing toward the guard, who was bent over, throwing up whatever he’d had for dinner.
“Are you done playing?” he drawled.
Chapter 16
Valen watched Peri stride toward him, her chin held high despite the blood that dripped from several nasty wounds. Her hair was tangled and she had a small limp, revealing she’d been in more than one fight since he’d last seen her.
Clenching his fangs, he forced himself to remain leaning against the truck. Just as he’d forced himself to remain outside the castle and wait for Peri to appear. She’d gone to a great deal of effort to make sure that he wasn’t involved in her journey to this remote location. He assumed she had a legitimate reason.
At last reaching the vehicle she’d stolen from Gabriel, she sent him a wary glance.
“You could have helped, you know.”
Valen arched a brow. “Did you need my assistance?”
Her aggressive expression eased. Whether it was from his acceptance that she could take care of herself, or relief that he hadn’t read her the riot act for disappearing, was anyone’s guess.
“No.” She walked past him, her eyes widening at the sight of the three guards neatly piled near the steps leading to the front door. “Are those yours?”
“Yes.”
Valen slid into the passenger seat as Peri climbed behind the steering wheel and switched on the engine. The guards had been prowling the grounds when he’d first arrived. Sensing their demon blood, Valen decided that he didn’t want them challenging his right to wait for Peri and incapacitated them before they even realized they were in danger. They would survive, although it would be several hours before they woke.
“Impressive,” she murmured.
“Not really.” He kept his expression smooth, attempting to pretend he didn’t notice the warm surge of pleasure at the soft word. “I can be far more impressive.”
“How did you get here?”
“There’s a helicopter waiting just a few miles away.”
His gaze traced the pure lines of her profile as the dilapidated truck bounced and swayed up the cobblestone driveway before rattling over the lowered drawbridge.
