Page 78 of Stalked By Seduction and Shadows

“Thank you for taking care of me last night and bringing me back to my body,” I whispered. “I’m ready to stay here now.”

Let it go, I silently begged, as dull gray and burnt red began to creep up on the edges of my vision. The smell of rain and dirt assailed my nostrils. I saw the rabid craze of the vampire in bloodlust, and I shut my eyes tight as my heart sped up. Just let it go.

He resumed his soft touches. “Okay, Little Flame.”

My heart slowed back down to its normal cadence. I exhaled, turning in his arms to face him.

His eyes ensnared mine. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Like, here? With you?”

Rune laughed, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed that sound until it was vibrating through me and drawing out a smile from my lips.

“Yes, if you’ll have my company, princess.”

“I suppose I could tolerate your presence if breakfast food was involved. No preference. I’m sure I could find more than enough to eat in your castle.”

“It’s a small castle,” he said, nearly defensively.

Strange. My brows lifted. “Okay, Rune. Your small, tasteful castle. A true man of the people.”

His eyes darkened, though amusement twisted the corners of his lips.

“I am no man.”

I sat up and pinned him with hooded eyes and a soft smirk.

He sat up too, holding my stare, his eyes shifting to my lips just as mine drifted to his bare chest. And lower, to the trail of dark hair leading underneath his waistband.

He grabbed my face, forcing me to look back into his eyes. “Do not do that.”

“Do what?”

Rune shook his head as I smiled, enjoying the way his shadows thrummed with power at my provocation.

“Come on, then. You and your fragile human body need sustenance.”

The amusement in his features only grew when I glowered at him.

“What?” he asked. When his fingers trailed down my cheek, I shivered. His lips slowly curved. “Are you going to deny being my delicate little plaything?”

I rolled my eyes, suddenly motivated to get out of his bed. As I swung my legs over the side, I heard him laugh dangerously.

I didn’t even hear him move. In a rush of wind and shadow, I was pinned up against the wall, encased by his body and his hand resting at the base of my throat.

“Roll your eyes at me again.”

When I smiled at him, his eyes darkened. “Oh, Little Flame.” He shook his head and sighed, his eyes skimming over my bare legs, up his oversized shirt to my face again. “You won’t be safe for much longer.”

Then his gaze snagged on my arm, and when I followed his eyes to the puncture marks and bruises, I quickly looked away.

“I had the blood witch bring some potions,” Rune said. “After breakfast, I’m going to apply them to your marks.” He reeled me into his intense gaze, leaving no room for uncertainty or worry. “They’ll be gone by nightfall.”

I nodded, relieved beyond measure. “Thank you.”

“I will always take care of what’s mine.”

I opened my mouth to tell him I still didn’t belong to anyone, but he put a finger on my lips.

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