Page 12 of Halfblood Deceived

“Yes.”

Katy placed their drinks on the counter.

Aella downed the martini in two gulps. People drank to ease their nerves, right?

She expected a magical reaction, some loosening of her stomach, a boost of confidence, and, if not sensuality, at least less awkwardness, but none came.

“Thirsty?” Zeydan asked, gesturing to Katy to make another martini.

Aella grabbed the stick with the olives before Katy replaced her drink and ate them in one gulp. “And hungry,” she admitted, stunned at her honesty again.

As if on cue, her stomach rumbled.

She winced inwardly. Micah hated hearing her stomach grumble.

Zeydan’s black eyebrows shot up as he looked down at her abdomen. “Impressive.”

Aella remembered she was supposed to be sitting straight and tucking in her gut. She did so at once. “I, um, have food in my apartment?”

Zeydan arched a brow, a curious mix of suspicion and amusement flashing in his eyes.

Her heart hammered impossibly harder. Stupid. She had done no seduction and jumped into the ‘come with me’ part, and now she had messed up. She had ruined the mission, and Micah would be disappointed, and so would Father Israel. But at least she had a better chance of not becoming vampire food if she failed. And she was going to puke the olives.

“Straight to the point, eh?” Zeydan asked. His voice was teasing but not mocking, and how could someone’s eyes be so green and pretty if said someone was the evil descendant of the spawn of Lilith?

“Is that a no?” Aella dared to ask.

Zeydan chuckled, his eyes taking her in from her head to her toes with open appreciation, but it was bizarrely not disgusting. Perhaps because there was something like delight and interest in his gaze instead of cold appraisal or disappointment.

He stood. “Let’s go then.”

Aella hastened to follow him, forgetting the cumbersome heels and tripping.

Zeydan grabbed her by the elbow, effortlessly stabilizing her. Aella froze. She expected pain. Whenever Micah grabbed her by the elbow, it hurt.

Pain didn’t come.

Warmth did.

And not only because Zeydan’s palm and fingers were hot on her skin—and why was he hot if he was a living dead monster?—but because a current of flashing heat sparked from his touch to every single cell in her body.

Zeydan released her as soon as she found her footing and led her outside through the back door without touching her.

Aella’s stomach plummeted, even though she knew Micah, and the others were covering every angle.

In the alley, a handsome blond man was leaning against a black sedan until he saw Zeydan and Aella and opened the door for them.

Aella’s skin prickled, and she had the certainty the man was not a man but a male of some other species.

Zeydan waved a hand, indicating Aella should get inside first, and she did, sitting as close to the door as she could. Her legs moved of their own volition and she gripped her small purse so hard her knuckles turned white.

Zeydan allowed her the few inches of distance the car’s back seat offered, which was strange. Weren’t males usually all over females they were attracted to? And God in Heaven, how terrifying would it be if Zeydan were attracted to her?

If he tried to kiss her neck, she might scream, faint, freeze, or stab him. She wasn’t sure which. She remembered the necklace then and realized he’d burn his mouth if he tried to kiss her neck, and felt both relieved and terrified.

Relieved because he’d burn his perverted vampire mouth.

Horrified because he would know something was wrong and kill her.

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