Page 136 of Barbi and the Villain

“Did you read my mind?”

He shakes his head.

“I do not have that ability, unfortunately.”

“Then how did you know I was craving chocolate?” I ask as I inhale the delicious aroma of the truffles.

My mouth waters and I lick my lips as I stare at them longingly.

“You said you liked chocolate a while back. It merely took me a little longer than expected to get them.” He smiles ruefully.

“Yes, but how did you get them? They don’t have any around here.”

“I might have spoken with Elijah to allow me to temporarily leave the Sanctuary. I got them from a city called Antwerp in your world. I am told it is the best chocolate available.”

I stare at him in wonder.

“You went to my world to get them? But… How if you cannot access the portal?”

“You forget that I have been there before. That allows me to teleport without the use of a portal.”

“Oh. So technically you could take me back too if you wanted, no?”

He raises a brow at me.

“If I wanted,” he replies.

My cheeks heat up and I look away. Since his apology, he’s been the consummate gentleman, always looking out for my needs and being there for me to vent if something bothers me. And though I haven’t verbally accepted his apology, his behavior has shown me that he is earnest, and that warms my heart.

“Have you heard more about Damien and Jocelyn? What if they follow you here?” I inquire, the pain from my dream still vivid.

“Elijah assured me they will not be able to cross their barriers. The High Priestess herself built them thousands of years ago and so far no one has been able to cross over without an invitation.”

I nod slowly, though there is a part of me that is still wary. Damien wouldn’t have gone through all the trouble to kidnap Nykander and torture his mind just to give up now. He doesn’t strike me as the type to easily accept defeat.

“But what if they find this place?”

“Nothing will happen, Barbi. Trust me. Damien was able to get me before because I was at my weakest. I will not make the same mistake again.”

“But he has your sire’s blood. Won’t that hurt you?”

“Do not worry about it. I will eventually confront Damien, but not here nor now. We are safe in the Sanctuary. And after I get the artifact, it will be even more unlikely that he will be able to defeat me,” he adds confidently.

I bite my nails as I consider his words. He knows best, of course. He has fought Damien in the past and he knows what to expect. But still…there is a niggling feeling deep inside me that will not let me be.

“Here,” he mentions, taking a truffle and feeding it to me.

I bite half of it, and he eats the other half.

This is just like in my dream…

He watches me intently as I chew, bringing his thumb over my lip and swiping the remaining cocoa from my mouth.

“You are so beautiful,” he murmurs in a low voice.

I tip my chin down, suddenly shy.

“This is the first time you’ve told me that.”

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