Page 80 of Obsessed in Blood
Lyra said she was meant to come to them. To save them. He didn’t know what that meant or how Lyra would know such a thing. Perhaps it had been her own relationship with a dreamwalker. He’d spent decades searching every minuscule link to the fable of dreamwalkers, and now he found himself surrounded by them.
Had his father been the first step to the discovery of dreamwalkers? Was it House Trelane’s predetermined destiny to bring vampire society to the brink of civil war? Or would it be the dawning of an age of enlightenment for their species?
He brushed the strands of hair from Cressa’s face and listened to her soft breaths. If he removed all the reasons she was here—her Pandora persona as a tool for removing his censure and her dreamwalker species that could revolutionize the future of vampires—would she still hold such a vise grip over his heart?
He scooted closer until her body touched his, then he laid his head down and closed his eyes. What they had now was enough. She knew she belonged here, and through everything that was yet to come, he’d make sure she no longer questioned it.
“Hey. Wake up.”
Something nudged him, and he groaned, a pleasant dream slipping away too quickly to remember. Tendrils of soft hair fell across his bare chest. He didn’t recall taking his shirt off. Ah. Now he remembered. He’d wanted to feel the warmth of her skin against his.
“Why are you in my bed, vampire?” Her tone was light, and though he suspected she’d attempted a sultry voice, there was enough humor for him to understand the game.
He moved so fast, there was a quick intake of breath followed by a gasp as he rolled her over until he laid on top of her.
“I’m here to do your bidding. What would you ask of me?”
Her smile brightened the room, but then her lips turned to a pout. “If we only had the time. Sergi and Lucas are both looking for you, and it’s just a matter of time before they think to look here.”
He grinned, unable to pull away from dark amber eyes that sparkled with mischief. When he squeezed her butt, she rubbed against him.
“Okay. I give.” He rolled away and stood before it went any further and searched for his shirt.
She sat up and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, that was rather quick.”
He chuckled as he buttoned the shirt, then looked for his tie. “I am a vampire.”
“Yeah. But you could show a little respect. I did let you sleep with me.”
His brow lifted. Her lips twitched. “I believe the keyword there is sleep.”
She walked up to him, and this time her sultry was working just fine. She wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him down for what he hoped would be a kiss. Instead, she whispered in his ear.
“Let’s see if you can manage something a bit more than sleep next time.” Then she patted his backside and walked out the door.
He picked up his shoes and headed for his room, meeting Sergi as he bounded up the stairs. He fell in behind Devon, and when they reached his room, Sergi dropped into the chair at Devon’s writing desk.
“What is it?” Devon had to ask if he wanted the information now. Otherwise, Sergi would assume he was distracted, and he’d wait for what he considered the proper time to divulge whatever he had to share.
Today, he wasn’t in the mood.
Sergi leaned back and crossed a leg over his knee. A casual position that said there wasn’t anything critical to report. “I take it you know Lucas has returned.”
He nodded as he stripped off his shirt on his way to the bathroom. “Cressa told me.” He couldn’t see Sergi but pictured his brow lifting at that. “I don’t know whether she heard it from him or Ginger.” He took a quick rinse in the shower, ran his wet hands through his hair, then grabbed a towel.
Sergi waited until he was walking to his closet. “Remus has asked for a meeting.”
“Did he call or his beta?” Devon asked.
“His beta.”
Devon walked out of the closet in his brown-striped suit pants, his blue shirt still open, a tie and a pair of socks in one hand, shoes in another. “Ask Decker to set something up here at the manor. Have we had any visitors?” He sat down to put on his socks.
“A few drive-bys and a handful of discreet individuals roaming the neighborhood around the safe house.”
“What about Cressa’s condo?”
“Someone has posted three vampires around the building.”
