Even with Talon by her side, she worried they’d be attacked by someone stronger.
But in Khent’s arms, she knew only peace, her heart calming to match his heart’s steady beat.
Wait.Khent?
She blinked her eyes open and stared up at the vicious reaper, his gaze fixed on the darkened hallway of someone’s home.
“Khent?” she whispered.
“Shhh.” He didn’t look at her but continued to walk to a room and closed them inside it. Though dark, a few ambient lights along the base of the walls let her see a tastefully decorated bedroom done in shades of black with accents of red and gold. Far from being ostentatious, the colors blended into a regal mesh of sophistication and comfort—what she’d expect from a reaper with Khent’s attitude and bearing.
He sat her down on his bed, the sheets absurdly soft.
“Egyptian cotton?” she asked, staring into his dark eyes that flared with red.
A strange smile curled his full lips. “Of course.”
Too easily, she could envision humans worshipping the man in front of her, confusing him with some god. Too handsome, too powerful. She stared harder and saw radiating energy in a band of gold entwined with red surrounding him.
Tempted to lean in and share it, she did, taking Khent’s power as her own while giving him a taste of hers as well. She ran her hand down his arm to his palm, tracing the lines there. He curled her hand around hers.
His eyes narrowed, and he stared at their joined hands, his dwarfing hers.
She felt lightheaded, worn down by so much in so short a time. The drain of holding her dead back at the house, a sense of Grizz and Aisha waiting on her as well, ever-present.
Khent’s expression gentled as she sagged back into the comforter, unsure of when she’d lost her ability to sit upright.
“Easy, little human. You will rest here and await my return.”
“N-not safe.”
He scoffed. “This is theonlysafe place for you. Nothing can take what’s mine and live.” His eyes flashed with fire, and she swore she felt a spell settle over her and everything in his room.
A sense of belonging. To him? With him? She wanted to argue, but her eyelids grew too heavy.
“Sleep. I will return. And we’ll talk.”
“Talk. Yes.” Sluggish, she closed her eyes and felt someone tugging at her shoes, her clothes. A warm weight settled over her, tucking her into sheets that smelled of him. Safety, comfort, male vampire.
Val smiled and rolled into his pillow, taking the scent of him deep inside herself.
Determined not to let go.
Khent rubbed his chest,aware of an odd sense of comfort at seeing the female here, in his bed, in his room.His.
The notion he’d been waiting for just this moment, for this special woman, refused to leave him. And he didn’t know what to do with it.
For years he’d been focused on making his clan more powerful than any other in his tribe. The Sons of Osiris were close to knocking away the Tears of Bast for contention in leading their tribe. They’d even caught their Master vampire’s attention.
And then Hecate had ordered his father to hand him over, as if Khent were some goddess’s pet.
He’d burned with anger, a quiet, seething rage. Until she’d worked her magic and made him one with the idiots in their Night Bloode clan. An odd assortment of vampires from different tribes who felt closer than kin.
Fighting and competing started to feel normal. Mating with females and keeping them around was anything but. To add to that injury, they added Onvyr, strange animals, Mormo’s many visitors, and a dream god.
And now this.
Ahuman.The lowest of the low. Someone who should be beneath Khent’s notice.
