Page 37 of Bewitched By a Vampire

And not only because she couldn’t risk provoking him into biting her.

She wanted to curse the heat that rolled through her in response to his gaze drilling into her neck, and the deep yearning to know the feel of his bite and whether he would be tender with her or rough, and whether it would give her pleasure or pain. Dangerous.

She cleared her throat and turned away from him. “It was a silly question. I have other chores to do. Ellen is a bitch when it comes to dividing up the workload. If you’re going to make me stay in my room, could you at least tell her I can’t work? She thinks I’m slacking off.”

Her poor attempt to change the subject didn’t work.

Night didn’t stop staring at her neck.

“Blood tastes different from different sources.” His voice had gone deeper again, an almost distant quality to it now, as if he was lost in his thoughts. “Some are sweeter. Some faintly spiced. Some are sharper. There is weak blood and then there is that which gives me a boost in strength. Everyone’s blood tastes different.” His voice went husky, and far too thrilling, as he murmured, “I wonder what you would taste like, Lilian.”

She stiffened and her hand flew to her neck, covering the spot he was staring at.

Night’s crimson gaze leaped up to meet hers and then he slammed the canister down on the tabletop, startling her and making her jump, and was around the table and by the door inhumanly fast.

He paused there, his back to her. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.”

He was gone in a flash.

Before the reckless part of her could tell him that he didn’t need to apologise to her because that side of her wanted to know the feel of his fangs in her throat as he held her in his arms and what she would taste like to him.

Even when she knew it would be his death.

Chapter 10

Night was doing his damnedest to avoid Lilian. Four days had passed since Grave had visited and so far she had shown no inclination to leave. He wasn’t sure what to make of that. She had settled into working around the house.

Avoiding him too.

He knew she was doing it on purpose, working hard to make sure their paths didn’t cross. Several times, he had sensed her ahead of him and felt her change course and hurry away as soon as she had spotted him. He rubbed the back of his neck. Perhaps he should apologise to her again.

Staring at her neck and wondering aloud what her blood would taste like had been a foolish move, one he had known would frighten her, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself.

Night finished styling his hair and padded barefoot into his bedroom, a sigh escaping him as he glanced at the window to his left. He couldn’t blame her for staying away from him. She wasn’t the only one actively avoiding him either.

He picked up his phone from the mahogany nightstand and checked it, bringing up a stream of one-sided messages to Bastian. Night had been sending them regularly since Grave and Snow had left, and there was still no response. The little check mark next to the messages said his brother had received them, so why the hell hadn’t he come home?

He was starting to worry about him. He was worried about Grave too. Were his brothers all right? He needed to know.

He also needed to take measures to protect Bastian’s staff.

And Lilian.

If Bastian wasn’t going to return, then it was down to him to do it. Grave wasn’t one to exaggerate an enemy. If he thought the demon prince was a threat to all of them, then he was. Night had waited long enough. He had given Bastian a chance to do the right thing and return to the mansion to deal with his staff. He couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to put his plan in motion, only he couldn’t shake the need to find Bastian.

He dressed quickly, donning black trousers and a dark plum shirt, and slipping his black leather shoes on. He didn’t bother with his jacket this time. The tight material was restrictive and there was a chance he was going to need to fight. He couldn’t risk it hindering his movements.

He left his room and went to Lilian’s, only she wasn’t there. Damn it.

Night checked his phone again, willing his brother to respond this time as he fired off another message, this one far sterner than the previous had been. Talking down to his older brother might provoke a reaction. Bastian hated anyone acting as if they were higher up the family hierarchy than he was.

He ignored Ellen as he passed her near the staircase and hurried down it, reaching out with his senses as he pocketed his phone. Lilian was to his right. He headed in that direction, narrowing down her location, and willing her to stay put this time. He wasn’t in the mood to chase her around the house.

Night pinpointed her in the library.

The door was already ajar, so he eased it open and slipped inside, using stealth to his advantage.

She stood with her back to him, facing one of the sets of shelves that lined all the walls in the room, a book in her hand and a feather duster on the shelf beside her. Her delicate scent swirled around him and had him slipping into hunting her. All of his focus narrowed on her, the rest of the world falling away, and he eased to a halt at a distance where she wouldn’t notice him. She hummed to herself, the melody soft as she leafed through the book. Her dark hair fell away from her left shoulder as she canted her head, angling it and the book at the same time, and she fell silent.

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