Page 77 of King of Night
“Very well.”
“So the body…it’s taken care of?No one will find it?”
“You act as if I’ve been drinking animal blood my whole afterlife.”
“Fine.I get it.You’ve done this before and know what you’re doing.”She takes a few seconds to collect herself, to try and conceal what she’s feeling from me—she isn’t.“And thank you.”
“You can thank me by letting me take you out to dinner.”
She goes to the steps and hesitates.“I think I’d like to go, but it’s just, uh, it’s been a long night.”
“I suppose being attacked by a demon is tiring.”
“Nah, that’s more annoying than anything else.Mostly because he killed himself before I could kill him.”
I look up at her, once again taken aback by this woman.She’s so fucking incredible.The black cat she called Mr.Prickle Paws follows her, winding between her feet as she walks.It’s a wonder he doesn’t trip her, though I’m sure they’re so bonded it hasn’t and won’t ever happen.
Callie moves onto the first step.“Want to walk with me?It’s the last day of the full moon phase and something about the moonlight always calms me.”She comes down the rest of the stairs, stopping at my side.She swallows hard and looks up, meeting my eyes.
A warm feeling grows inside me, and I don’t know how she does it.How she makes me feel like this by just standing next to me.I slowly move my head up and down and we turn, not talking as we walk toward the woods.
I go down the rest of the stairs, stopping right beside Lucas.I look into his eyes, heart hammering away in my chest.This time, I don’t care if he hears it.[HW14]
“What else happened to make this night a long night?”I ask.
“Somebody is hunting witches,” she says as a breeze blows her hair around her face.
“That’s a pity.Can’t imagine why someone would want to do that,” I say sarcastically.
“How do I know it’s not you?”she asks with a pointed glare.
“You don’t.But I have no reason to kill witches.”
“Really?An old vampire like you has no reason to kill witches?”
I rush forward, pressing Callie against a tree, pinning her there with my own body.“How old do you think I am?”
“Twelve hundred,” she says and pushes against me.She can’t physically overpower me and she knows that.
“I’m older than that.”
“Thirteen hundred?”
“Older,” I say and Callie puts her hands on my chest, giving me another shove.“Keep squirming, I like it.”
She does too, I can sense it coming off her in waves.She knows she shouldn’t and is resisting.It would be much more fun if she just gave in.Parting my lips, I tip my head down to hers.Then I grab her wrists and bring them over her head.
She could conjure an energy ball.Burn me and break away.We’re on a level playing field, and I fucking love it.
“Sixteen hundred,” she breathes.
“Bingo.”
Her mouth falls open as her eyes shut for a moment.Her body relaxes just a bit.She should be doing the opposite after finding out how old I am.
“You,” she pants and twists her wrists.I let go, missing the feel of her skin against mine the second she’s out of my grasp.“You lived through the War of Light and Dark.”
“I did, but I was not part of it.”I lower my head, looking deep into her eyes.They’re emerald green, lined with a ring of a dark, hunter green.She’s so beautiful, and I want so badly to bring my lips to hers.
