Page 89 of After Darkness Falls

"I keep the interesting artifacts under key, though, if you're curious."

Bat scratched his head. "Sorry, mate. We weren't snooping, we were looking for the kitchen."

"Ah, yes. This way."

Chloe remained in the armory, forcing herself to stay put.

Her desire for hot chocolate was long gone. Right now, she didn't need to ask any questions about bloodlust. She needed to bring her teeth to his vein and plunge them in deep.

He smelled of sweat and blood. She'd never encountered such a delicious combination. And the fact that it was delicious was screwing with her head.

She saw him glance at her before exiting the armory with Bat, Gwen, and Blair. And the asshole smiled, as if he knew just what she was going through.

He probably did.

Damn him.

Chloe's mind was easier to distract now than before her change. She looked at the weapons. Every now and then, she'd take one and twirl it around. She had no clue how to use them.

Muscle memory will help. More than you know. It's a wondrous thing. One day, you’ll wake up and know all these moves. You’ll know how to block, fight, lunge faster. You’ll be able to anticipate your adversary's next move with just one hint.

Had he told her that just a week ago? Levi knew exactly what he was doing. The moves she'd learned over the last week had come to her naturally after her change. They were second nature, as if she'd practiced them all her life. But she'd never learned anything about weapons, so she'd have to do that from scratch.

Part of her wished she'd taken up fighting when she'd first arrived at the Institute.

"No hot chocolate for you, then?"

He was back.

39

Dominion

Levi shut the door behind him. The gentle click of the lock sounded like thunder in the silent weapons hall.

He brought his attention to the volatile newborn vampire who was glaring like she wanted a piece of him.

First things first. "Do you want a report on today's events before we discuss the rest?"

Her jaw was tight. "Would you give me a full report if I asked?"

Fair. He deserved that. "I see no point in deception now. You're considerably more durable."

Still glowering, she nodded.

"The casualties aretwo huntsmen—one, now that you've healed Bash." He frowned, still confused. "Did I hear that your blood was the cure?"

Chloe nodded. "Eirikr told me our blood was different, as his—my—family has drunk vampire blood for generations."

Fascinating.

She’d talked to Eirikr himself. He’d guessed as much, because she was standing, and in one piece; as Tom was in India, based on his last phone call, he’d gleaned she’d somehow convinced their volatile ancestor to help her.

Levi was acutely curious about the other elder, but he was practically salivating to ask for a few drops of her blood to study—and synthesize. But he had a feeling that request wouldn't be well received at the moment. She had questions of her own, and many reasons to be furious with him.

His deception.

His killing her.

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