Page 18 of The Way You Bite
A beautiful smile curved his lips, one more for those around them than her.
Dangerous waters, but there was no one better to ask. “What’s your impression of the wolves? If I am to believe those here, then they’re savage animals unworthy of anything other than death or—”
“Deserving only to become subservient to us again?” Ambrose interrupted quietly.
“I know your family has meetings with them over there in Europe.”
“We haven’t been in outright war with the wolves in Europe in a long time. I find they have evolved into an interesting species since we released them. Or, perhaps I should say since we stopped trying to enslave them. To the world they appear civilized and willing to let the past rest in peace.”
“I hear abutin your tone.”
“The older wolves remember the past. Long ago they were our pets. We trained them well in combat and used them to protect us. Most were loyal and dependable when treated properly. Sadly, many vampires did not treat them well. There was a lot of… Bad things happened. Things that are not worth repeating for your delicate ears. They were far too intelligent a species to remain in captivity forever.”
She wondered if she should press him further. Curiosity won. “What about their leader, their king? Have you met him before?”
“Yes, I know him. Not well, but we have met upon occasion. He lived through that time before the War. Sometimes I wonder if anyone could really forgive that kind of past. Even so, Aleksander—or Lexan, as he prefers to be called—is political enough to play the game of peace well.” Ambrose chuckled and smiled down at Vee. “That wolf is one you don’t want to meet. Women of all species seem unable to keep it together in his presence. I have seen even the haughtiest fall to pieces and beg for his attention when he but smiles.”
“You’re telling me,” Vee mumbled.
Ambrose stopped mid-turn, catching her to him before she tripped. All hint of good humor vanished.
Oops.
His eyes narrowed dangerously. “When?”
She shrugged.
He whirled her into a turn that took them through open terrace doors. With a push, he had her against the wall in what onlookers would perceive to be an intimate embrace.
“There’s no reason for you to ever meethim.” He touched both sides of her forehead and closed his eyes.
Oh no. Not this. She hated his mind-meld, memory-reading ability. Her mind screamedEscape!yet her body wouldn’t comply. She was drowsy, as if drugged and floating in a dream. Through a haze, the events of the evening slow-played in her mind, leading right up to the present.
Ambrose released her head but kept her in a tight hold. A rush of air past her ear whispered a single word: “Intriguing.”
“This might put a big kink in our plans.”
She caught his thought. There was more than the two of them going on here.
“What are you going to do?” she asked. Icy terror whipped through her body. How much had he picked up of her attraction to Lexan? Would he care? Aside from that, if he told Dominic about any of this or of her helping other wolves, she might be marked as a sympathizer and slated for punishment, maybe even death.
“You need to leave. Dominic plans to start the treatment tonight or keep you detained until tomorrow to start it,” Ambrose said.
“I’m not doing it. If you want an heir, then we can do it the old-fashioned way and get in a bed. Drug free.”
“An interesting proposition. I like you feisty, but Dominic won’t. He’s been consulting with my father. They want our families united and think an heir is the right solution.”
“Then why don’t they set a marriage date?”
Ambrose shrugged.
“You want to do it this way, too. Do this and I swear—”
“You will not threaten me.” He pressed her against the wall and wrapped a hand around her throat, one of his sharp nails digging deep into her neck. His eyes dilated and glowed, a signal of arousal. This was the only time he got even marginally interested in her—when she pushed him to violence. It did nothing for her other than make her want to fight harder and run away faster.
He said, “I’ve given you leeway to do whatever it is you do for human pets. We’ve put on a decent front to the world that we’re well on our way to marriage. It’s bloody humiliating to have my future wife working. Most think it’s some sort of modern male feminist crap. Interestingly, it’s playing fairly well among the female royals. You let slip a single word of my other life and I’ll make sure you don’t survive the treatment. Many don’t.” He smoothed her hair and traced a solitary finger over her lower lip, even though his grip on her neck didn’t ease. “You’re too smart not to see the utility of this method. I think it’s for the best, but I prefer it not start right now. I have affairs to attend to out West this week. The treatment must be scheduled at a time of better convenience. Tell me you understand the advantage of this.”
She nodded. She understood his point, not that she wanted any part of it. “Are you going to turn me in as a wolf sympathizer?”
