Page 27 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

My jaw clenched as I fought the urge to let him break down the walls I had so carefully constructed around myself. Maybe Augustus’ potion was messing with me. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s called the Moirai Mirror. Does that mean anything to you?”

“No.” For once, the ever-present smirk on his face faltered, a flicker of something darker passing behind his eyes as he turned his gaze to the fireplace. Themuscles in his jaw tightened, and the vein in his neck pulsed with barely contained emotion.

“Okay, I shared something with you. Let’s see if you’re as good as your word,” I said, my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my stomach. “Your turn.”

He met my penetrating gaze, his eyes blazing with intensity. “If you saw what Petar did to my brother, you’d understand why I hate him so,” he said, his voice low and bitter, tinged with a hint of barely restrained rage. “Dear old dad is all about power and playing on the winning side. He’ll do whatever it takes to come out on top, no matter who gets hurt in the process. That’s why he’s cozying up to your brother. My turn. Does he—your brother, that is—have other magical objects?”

I squirmed in my seat, my palms growing clammy as I debated whether to share more. But my mouth engaged before my brain could tell it not to. “Yes. Why?”

Dimitri clenched his jaw, his fingers tightening around the glass in his hand. “Petar…uses people to get what he wants. He toys with people like a cat with a mouse. You know how cats like to torture their food before they make the kill? That’s what he did to my brother before I stopped him.”

I frowned, a cold sense of dread settling in the pit of my stomach. “You’re saying he might turn on my brother? He wouldn’t dare.”

“So you say.” He took a swig of his drink, his eyes blazing with a fury so intense I could almost feel the heat on my skin. “Look, you’ll have to forgive me if I’m not exactly eager tosing his praises or trust in his loyalty. I’ve seen firsthand what happens to the people who make that mistake.”

The pit in my stomach doubled in size, pushing against my ribs. If his own son didn’t trust Petar, what did that mean for my brother’s alliance with him?

Dimitri pushed himself up from the loveseat, his movements fluid and predatory as he stalked closer to me. “The real question is, Gianna, what will you do when my sorry excuse for a father shows his true colors and you realize you and your brother have been played?”

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding as he loomed over me, his face mere inches from mine. “What I always do,” I managed, my voice coming out breathier than I intended. “I’ll fight.”

Dimitri’s lips curved into a dangerous smile, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker, more savage. “Really, Gianna?” he purred, his breath ghosting across my skin. “I look forward to seeing you in action.”

With that, he turned on his heel and sauntered away, leaving me breathless and unsettled. I sank back onto the couch with even more questions and doubts. What game was Dimitri playing? And more importantly, how far was I willing to go to uncover the truth about Petar and protect my brother?

I couldn’t afford to trust anyone, least of all Dimitri Dragan. He was dangerous, a wild card with his own agenda and a family history that raised more red flags than a group of bullfighters. And yet, as I sat there, acutelyaware of his presence beside me, I couldn’t deny the way my body responded to his proximity. It was like a magnetic pull, an animal instinct that overrode all logic and reason.

I shook my head, trying to clear the confusing thoughts from my mind. I had to focus on the task at hand, on unraveling the secrets that threatened to tear my world and my family apart. Even as I tried to harden my resolve, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Dimitri might just be the key to unlocking the truth.

My gaze drifted back to him, tracing the strong lines of his jaw, the curve of his lips that seemed permanently twisted into a smirk. He was a puzzle, a contradiction that both infuriated and intrigued me. I knew I should keep my distance, guard my heart against him, but a part of me longed to unravel the mystery that was Dimitri Dragan.

I sighed, tearing my eyes away from him and focusing once more on the dancing flames in the fireplace. One thing was certain: navigating this dangerous path of secrets and lies would be a lot more complicated if my traitorous heart decided to lead me astray.

My eyes closed and I drifted off, dreaming of a sweet talking devil…

Chapter Seventeen

Dimitri

The fire had long since died out, and the moon and stars were fading into oblivion as dawn began to take over. I sat there, watching Gianna as she slept, my eyes tracing the delicate features of her face. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she dreamed, and her soft snores were like a siren’s song, tempting me ever closer.

I tilted my head, my lips brushing against her forehead in a featherlight kiss. The scent of her skin filled my nostrils, a heady mixture of vanilla and something uniquely her. It took every ounce of my self-control not to bring my mouth down to her full, red lips and taste the forbidden fruit.

As I pulled away, my fingertips grazed her cheek, and a spark of electricity shot through me, stronger than when Ifirst touched her. It was like a bolt of lightning, igniting every nerve ending in my body and setting my blood on fire.

I shook my head, a wry chuckle escaping my lips. Gianna was definitely a dangerous distraction I could ill afford. She clearly had the power to lure me down a road I never thought possible and make me question everything I thought I knew about myself.

I stood up, circling the room like a caged animal. My mind raced with thoughts of her, of the way she made me feel. It was like she had cast a spell on me that I was powerless to resist.

But I had to resist. I had to stay focused on my mission. I couldn’t let myself be swayed by a pretty face and a siren’s call.

I glanced back at Gianna’s sleeping form, my heart wrenching in my chest. She was a complication I never saw coming, a temptation that could very well be my undoing. But as I stood there, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest, I knew one thing for certain: if I went down that road, I was in for one hell of a ride.

I got up and put my hand on the doorknob, but then froze as I smelled him. I hissed as anger surged through me. I yanked open the door to see my father.

I narrowed my eyes, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth as I met Petar’s gaze. “You thought I was ducking out? No, no, no. I was just getting some fresh air. You know, clearing my head of all the lies and manipulation. They’re making it a bit stuffy in there.”

Petar stepped closer, his eyes cold and calculating. “I am her bodyguard, Dimitri. You seem unable to grasp this basic concept.”

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