Page 39 of Burn for Her

She was so in the right place. Winding the ribbons around her palms brought her a little more confidence because it was similar to when she wrapped her hands before a fight.

“Good girl,” he purred. “Enjoy The Wicked Garden, Cherry. Your host will be arriving soon.”

Lena bit her bottom lip and waited for her host to walk through the door.

Chapter 14

Dorian was too late. She walked into The Wicked Garden just as he parked the car.

Damnit!

The only reason he didn’t kick the door down and snatch her was because his protective nature had taken over his possessive one. He’d likely kill everyone who stood between him and her, as well as anyone within sight just for being in his goddamn way.

There were vampires in there. Innocents too.

So, like a rabid dog chained to a light post, he was forced to remain at a safe distance until he could think straight again.

Fate really hated him. That’s the only reason she would somehow be in his territory—among his kind—just after he came to terms with the fact that he couldn’t have her as a mate. He’d been desperate to save her from this world and what had she done? Walked right into it, dressed for supper.

He shook with unholy rage. His fangs had a fucking pulse to them.

Pacing his breathing, he stalked up the steps and didn’t knock. He glared at the security camera hidden discreetly to the left and the doors opened immediately.

Victoria, of all vampires, was the one to greet him. Perhaps that, too, was a joke made by fate. That bitch was going to witness Dorian lose his shit over a woman. And enjoy every second of it too.

“Dorian, what are you doing here?”

He pushed past her and picked up Lena’s scent immediately. Following it through the mansion, his vision reddened as blood rushed to his ears. Climbing the steps, he was vaguely aware of the movement around him. Reys passed by, his eyes widening with terror. Dorian shoved a finger in his face but didn’t say a word. His glare said it all. If anyone tried to stop him, he’d eat their face off.

Lena. All he cared about was getting to Lena and dismembering any vampire foolish enough to try and touch her.

His heart slammed in his chest, raging. His veins burned with poisonous fire. He had tunnel vision. The door ahead of him was all he could see.

Dorian was vaguely aware security had gone on high alert. He also didn’t give a rat’s ass. Victoria and the others were most likely trying to protect those in this building from Dorian’s wrath, and they were right to do so. But—so help him—if one of these vampires tried to lay a hand on him right now, he’d kill them. Friend or not, if they tried to stop him from going through that door and reaching his mate, they were fucking dead.

His hand landed on the doorknob. With a twist and shove, he swung that heavy door open wide.

The world fell off its axis. His lungs slammed down and tightened.

Lena stood on a dais in the center of the bedroom, still dressed. Her back was to him, her toned arms raised above her head and hands wrapped around red satin ribbons strung from the ceiling.

A fierce need to possess every inch of her ripped through Dorian. He stepped into the room and shut the door.

By some miracle, no one interfered.

Damn, look at her. His mouth parted as he tried to suck in more air. Panting, his chest was too tight, his muscles too tense. He was going to snap in half. The only thing keeping him from jumping her was the fact that Lena’s scent had changed.

There was a slight tang to it now…. Fear.

He couldn’t bear the thought of her being afraid of him—even if she very well should be. No woman in her right mind would volunteer to be locked in a room with an animal like him. But there was no stopping this now. If fate wanted something to happen, it happened.

Dorian’s fate was literally wrapped in red and tied with a bow.

She was a gift.

He could only hope he didn’t break it.

Lena had tensed when she heard a sudden burst of commotion outside her room about thirty seconds ago. It sounded like people shouting but she couldn’t hear what they were saying. Then her bedroom door opened, a rush of energy blasted in, then the door clicked shut again, silencing the outside noise. Now all she could hear was her heart pounding in her ears.

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