Page 14 of Malcolm

Releasing a curse, Malcolm ran out of the building to his car parked at the corner of the block. His noisy team members would be the death of him. Alek had better not touch a hair on her head, or he’d tear that damn bloodsucker apart.

Fateful Meeting

Eliza

Eliza wasn’t sure who’d welcomed the damn vampire in, but it appeared the man had no intention of leaving. He sat on the sofa across from her. She’d nearly had a heart attack when she’d awoken to find the men in her living room.

Okay, not her living room, but he’d been in the apartment, and she knew for a fact he wasn’t supposed to be there. When he’d first appeared, she hadn’t even seen him yet; she’d been lying across Malcolm’s bed reading from one of the books he’d piled on her bed. Two classics and the rest romance.

When she’d looked at him in surprise when he’d handed them to her. He’d looked away from her. “I don’t have much time for thick books, something quick and easy to read is good enough.”

She’d covered her mouth to keep from smiling at his embarrassment. “There's nothing bad about reading romance; at least you like to read,” she said, turning her attention to the books and sifting through them. “And it would seem you have good taste.”

He cleared his throat drawing her eyes back to his face, and she found him flushing at her words. 6’4 with chocolate hair, and he looked like he could bench press her, and the man was flushing at her teasing words.

That had been a pleasant start to her day, but now she was staring at a silvery-eyed vampire braiding his long platinum-blond hair into a ponytail.

“I will assume that your presence means that Malcolm has chosen you as his mate,” he said, his voice holding a slight accent that couldn’t be placed. She wanted to say Russian, but it was softer. “If that is true, then it explains his eagerness to take you to his motherland.”

She frowned, hearing this for the first time. “I think you’re misunderstanding something here. I’m not his mate. He saved me and let me stay with him for my safety. Nothing else.” She didn’t need to add that she was using him for her own plans.

The vampire gave her a condescending smile that made her want to leap across the space between them and punch him in the face, but she didn’t. She curled her fingers into her thighs instead. “Yes, well. If that is what you want to believe, then you may. At my age, I’m not too interested in the overly complicated relationships of others.”

“Then why did you come here instead of minding your own business?” she angrily snapped.

He tilted his head, removed his hand from his braid, and crossed his arms. “I don’t know. Maybe it stems from my interest in a certain witch…” he trailed off, a warm expression coming to his face. “She doesn’t much enjoy my company, but with her, I feel centuries less than my age.”

Eliza scoffed. “Are you saying you have a crush on a witch?”

“If a vampire takes an interest in someone, it’s far more than a crush,” he said, the tone of voice turned intense with a thread of madness.

Eliza swallowed; she prayed that whoever had garnered the attention of the male across from her was prepared. If his expression was anything to go by, a simple ‘no’ wouldn’t dissuade him. She’d never had a problem with the beings who’d come to the shade to enjoy the club or the wares on the higher floors, but vampires always had this edge of cruelty that turned her off.

Just as she was thinking of leaving her unwanted guest alone in the living room, the apartment door opened, and Malcolm stormed in. His eyes immediately went to her, and the worry in his eyes comforted her as she stood and walked over to him.

He met her halfway, immediately pulling her to his side. He glared at the vampire across from her. “Alek, what the hell, man? We’ve talked about this.”

“We have indeed, but I never agreed. You’ve just been too boring over these many years for me to bother to invade your space.” She turned her head so she could see this Alek person standing from the sofa. His movements were elegant and smooth.

The hand she had pressed on Malcolm's chest vibrated as he growled at Alek. “Enough. What are you planning? You wouldn’t invade my space for such a superficial reason.”

Alek shrugged; Eliza felt the man wasn’t the type to share his thoughts. “Nothing, really. I just wanted to ask you for a simple favor.”

“Nothing’s ever simple with you, Alek, out with it,” Malcolm nearly barked.

Alek smiled slowly; it stretched across his handsome features, turning malevolent as he straightened. “I have four sons, as you know, and one of them is interested in trading with the Wolven Territories. I, too, would enjoy seeing the family business grow, and it has come to my attention that if your people have no leader, then it would only be logical for my dear friend to take over.”

Eliza frowned. “Are you trying to use my presence here for blackmail?” She pulled away from Malcolm, glaring at Alek. “What makes you think I’ll let you?” she felt the buzz of the goddess under her skin.

He quirked a brow, looking from her to Malcolm. “Because if you don’t, it's nothing for me to alert Lanias that you’re here.”

Hearing that familiar name made Eliza flinch. “Wha—How do you know her?”

“Did I not explain it clearly enough,” he pursed his lips, “or maybe you’re not quick when it comes to these things. The witch I have an interest in is Lanias, and she’s been awfully invested in finding you, my dear. Well, not only her but all of them have been trying to find you.”

“Eliza?”

Malcolm called her name, but she was too in her head to hear him.

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