Page 11 of Bitten By Desire

“You will not harm any of us,” I started. “Did you kill Gerard or my mother?”

“No,” he said.

“Do you know who did?”

“I do.”

“Who?” I pressed, but before he could speak, his eyes rolled back in his head and blood spurted from his throat, spraying the white room and my dress.

Julian dropped the convulsing fairy and zipped across the parlor only to return a moment later, holding the elderly butler, Tyler. The man clutched a pistol, smoke still issuing from its barrel.

“He’s dead,” I announced, after feeling for a pulse on the fairy. No heartbeat and no aura meant it was over.

“I think we have our killer,” Julian said, giving the butler a shake.

“Why, Tyler?” Lorraine cried.

“Why what, Ma’am? Please put me down, Sir. Why on earth am I holding a gun?” Tyler dropped the offensive object as he paled almost enough to match Julian’s pallor.

“I believe he’s been glamoured,” I said, watching the fear spike in his aura when it hadn’t moments ago, even when Julian had snatched him. “Who did that to you?” I asked, putting my magic into my question.

“I don’t know,” he replied, frightened.

Julian set him on his feet and stooped to pick up the gun. “There isn’t much that holds against your mind-bending,” he said quietly.

“Someone didn’t want him to reveal a name,” I agreed as my head began to ache.

“Mrs. Montague—Lorraine,” Julian said. “I believe it would be safest for you if we stayed the night until we can find an appropriate guard. It seems whoever killed your husband is not done here, and the Fae are clearly involved.”

The woman was crying again, but she agreed to Julian’s terms. “Tyler, you may leave.”

But the man refused to go until he cleaned up his mess, making me wonder if he’d been glamoured to do that as well.

“Charlotte and I will take your normal bedroom. You should sleep in a guest suite. That way, if someone attacks, they’ll find us instead. I will keep an ear out for intruders as I have no need to rest tonight.” Julian explained as he escorted her up the winding steps, a hand at the small of her back and me trailing behind in my blood-soaked gown.

When we stopped in front of the double doors that Lorraine identified as the master bedroom, she threw her arms around Julian and hugged him.

“Thank you,” she sobbed as he eased her off him and smiled.

“You’re welcome. Get some sleep if you can. We will look over your husband’s office in the morning.”

I followed Julian inside and waited until I heard another door open and close as Julian searched the room.

“You should get some sleep as well,” he said when he was satisfied with the surroundings. Then he sneered at my gown. “Perhaps something from Madame Montague’s closet would be more comfortable. Fairy blood smells disgusting.”

“Thanks,” I said and glared as I stripped naked. “Shouldn’t we move Mrs. Montague out of harm’s way?”

“I’d rather keep her here as bait. I will retrieve some of our own belongings from our hotel suite at the earliest convenience. But for the time being, we don’t know how the fairies tracked her, so we should stay within striking distance.” Julian’s gaze wandered down toward my bare breasts.

“Fine. Just keep an eye on the grieving widow. She has a thing for handsome vampires.”

Julian stalked toward me like a predator, a low growl emanating from deep in his chest.

“She is not the one I desire,” he purred, pulling me into his arms and tipping me into a dip. “It’s been too long, my love.”

“Thank you for being patient with me,” I said, sliding my hands up and around his neck. He’d toted me around the world, keeping me safe and taken care of while I was practically comatose with guilt and grief. Not once had he pressed me for anything. My heart swelled with love as he lowered his full lips to mine, softly, tenderly moving as though testing the waters.

I opened to him, urging him into the passionate exchange we both craved as tears swelled in my eyes.

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