Page 32 of The Incubus and the Bodyguard

“I think we can take that as a yes,” Vlad said drily. He ignored the prickle of awareness coursing down his spine at her steady gaze. “I’m making chicken and bacon Caesar salad. You want some?”

Delphine cut her eyes to the island where he was setting stuff up, interest sparking in her eyes. “I never say no to food.”

Vlad couldn’t help smiling at that.

Delphine cocked an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing.” He stepped over to the refrigerator and took out a couple of items for the salad. “It’s just that I know someone who has an endless void for a stomach.”

“Is it Mae Jin?”

The question made his pulse jump. Vlad’s fingers clenched on the refrigerator door for a second before he closed it.

Delphine didn’t miss the movement.

He kept his tone deliberately light. “Why do you say that?”

“Your voice changes when you talk about her.”

Surprise jolted Vlad once more. No one had ever told him that before.

A sudden stillness came over Delphine. “Are you expecting a visitor?”

Vlad stared, confused by the shift in the conversation. “No.”

A gun appeared in her hand faster than he could blink. “Someone’s in the elevator.”

She moved out into the main corridor, the weapon leveled at his front door in a double-handed grip.

Vlad’s heartbeat accelerated. He snatched the handgun secured underneath the island and joined her.

“You can hear the elevator from here?” he said dubiously.

“I have superhuman hearing.” Delphine cut her eyes to him. “What are you doing?”

“Helping.”

Her eyes narrowed fractionally. “In case you didn’t notice, you’re the one they’re after. Now get behind me.”

Vlad’s face tightened. “What?”

Delphine’s expression grew flinty. “I’m not going to repeat myself, Vlad. Either get behind me or I’ll shoot you in the leg.”

Vlad’s mouth pressed to a thin line. “Is that what a bodyguard is supposed to say to their client?”

“It’s what a super soldier says,” Delphine retorted coolly. A frown wrinkled her brow. She lowered her gun and slipped it back into the holster at her back. “I don’t think it’s the enemy.” She jerked her chin.

He turned.

Tarang had come out of the kitchen and was sitting in the foyer, his tail sweeping the floor as he faced the door. An impatient sound left the tiger.

Vlad clenched his jaw. Had his incubus powers and their bond been intact, he would have felt his familiar’s emotions.

Delphine pulled her cellphone out and tapped the screen a couple of times.

“It’s your friend from last night.”

Surprise jolted Vlad when she showed him the display. It was live footage from the camera on the landing.

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