Page 138 of Halfblood Deceived

“He’s also a royal vampire with super-hearing and is heading toward us, so you weirdos should shut up,” Mac said in a world-weary, low tone.

Aella turned before the decision was fully formed, seeing Zeydan making his way straight toward her. And gods, Trinity was right. He was utterly beautiful.

Zeydan’s green eyes locked with hers. His lips tilted in a closed-lip smile that hid his double canines from any gawking human, and there certainly were a few.

Aella had somehow forgotten how mesmerizing Zeydan was. No, not forgotten, but her misery had been so raw weeks ago that she hadn’t truly taken him in since that fateful night when they met.

But now he was merely two feet away, tall enough that she had to crane her neck slightly to keep eye contact. His hair was slightly longer and looked as tempting as ever. His expression was kind and intense, his features angular and harmonious and perfect. He was wearing a long black coat open over a black suit with no tie and a gray scarf around his neck.

Aella inhaled deeper. Her heart thumped approvingly in her chest as that warmth Zeydan’s mere presence evoked wrapped all around her, untangling the lingering tension in her shoulders. His scent reached her nose—cypress, bamboo, tangerines, and light musk—and something agitated on the edges of her reason.

“Hello, Amazon,” Zeydan said. His deep, velvety voice made Aella feel almost languid.

Her smile was automatic. “Hello, vampire.”

A small gasp came from behind her.

That broke her daze.

She bit her lip and half turned, finding Trinity, Lupita, Mac, and Diana staring at both of them.

Zeydan recovered faster. “Good evening.”

“Hi,” Trinity chirped, shamelessly swooning.

“Hello,” Lupita said, amused but unaffected.

“Good evening,” Mac greeted Zeydan, but a table full of young college boys snagged her attention. She groaned. “Duty calls.”

Lupita granted Zeydan a smile before heading to take a woman’s order.

“Bye,” Trinity all but sighed as stepped away to attend to a vampire male.

“Duke Zeydan,” Diana greeted, strangely formal.

Zeydan lifted a hand. The cuff of his shirt rode up, revealing a watch that looked expensive. “Just Zeydan, please.”

Diana hummed. “Not fond of the title?”

“Really not fond of the title,” Zeydan confirmed.

Diana smiled. A patron drew her attention, and she reluctantly went back to her work.

Aella licked her suddenly dry lips and opened her mouth at the same time Zeydan did.

“You first,” he suggested.

“I can take my break right now.” Aella saw the time on Zeydan’s watch and wrinkled her nose. “Like an hour ago, actually. And I have something to tell you. Would you mind going outside with me for a bit?”

He smiled. “I would love to.”

Aella led the way toward the back exit. Zeydan kept a safe enough distance not to touch her, but she could feel his heat bleed into her, anyway.

She didn’t turn to face him until they were out in the chilly night. Zeydan closed the door behind him but stepped away from it, deliberately leaving Aella a clear path back inside if she wanted it.

“What are you doing here?” she asked just to stall a bit, but immediately cringed. “I mean, of course you can be here. It’s just you’ve never been around before and I was curious. Not that you have to tell me…”

“I came to make sure the shipment of my whiskey arrived safely,” Zeydan supplied, as usual, without a trace of mockery at Aella’s blabbing.

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