Keystone (Crossbreed #1)(75)
Christian played with a long silver chain around his neck. “Looks like you better sleep with one eye open from now on. If Vampires were that easy to kill, there’d be none of us left. Many Breeds fabricated myths among humans so they wouldn’t know truth from fiction. Crucifixes, silver, holy water—all the lies saved us from certain death.”
“As much as I’m sure you’d like to demonstrate this on me, it’s not going to happen.”
He chuckled and lifted his chin. “I was curious about how you fought in hand-to-hand combat, so I slipped in when you were wrestling Niko. Feck me, it’s a wonder you’re still alive with those amateur moves.”
“I wasn’t fighting Niko as I normally would,” I said, holding out my arms. “Besides, these aren’t my usual surroundings. Normally I lure them to a confined space, and most of them aren’t skilled ninjas like Niko. Half the time, I get them when they’re drunk, so their reflexes are impaired.”
Christian folded his arms. “So how do you take a man down?”
I shrugged. “Usually I do a scissor move with my legs and asphyxiate them.”
He lowered his arms and strolled around me. “So… you can put a man’s head between your legs until he passes out?” Christian leaned in close to my ear and lowered his voice. “That’s not something I’d brag about, lass.”
“I guess now I need to cut off their heads.” My stomach churned at the idea.
Christian pinched my chin and looked me sternly in the eyes. “Are you afflicted in some way? Because I’m not here to teach you how to kill your own kind. Yes, your own kind. You may not like what you are, but you can’t deny it. You can’t pretend it isn’t there. Your fangs came out last night because your Vampire nature was reacting to his insult. Vampire blood courses through your veins; it’s the very essence of who you are.” The sharp edge in his Irish accent softened, his words becoming tender. “You can’t deny your instincts. Kiss me.”
I drew forward as if pulled by invisible strings, wanting nothing more than his lips against mine, the feel of his arms encircling my midriff and pulling me in tight, his rough whiskers against my jaw as he kissed his way down to the base of my throat.
Our lips brushed together as I stood on my tiptoes, my palms on his chest, my lips parting.
Christian drew back and shook his head.
I blinked a few times, feeling a sudden disconnect. “Did you just charm me?”
He stuttered over his words. “I-I had to test you. If I’m going to scrub your memory in a week’s time, I need to make sure it works on you.”
A Vampire had once charmed me into a back room to make out with him, which I’d done. But they can only charm you into doing something you’re willing to do, even if only a small part of you wants it. At least that was what I’d heard. Unfortunately for him, an even larger part of me wanted him dead.
I pointed my finger at him. “Don’t do that again. If you want to know what I can do, then just ask me.”
“Well, I’m not here to train you how to fight,” he reiterated. “I’m too strong, and I’d break your bones. Vampires don’t need skill to win; only proximity.” He swaggered off and glanced over his shoulder. “Well, either stand there like a marble statue, or come walk with me.”
I fell in step beside him and we began to take laps around the room.
He put his hands in his pockets. “Someone put me in that coffin because I let my guard down. Never get too comfortable, no matter how safe you think you are. It’s the one mistake we all make, time and time again. I hope someday I run into that bag of shite so I can return the favor.”
“What’s your point?”
“No one’s perfect, and that includes Niko. We all have our weaknesses, not just personally, but because of what Breed we are. We also have our strengths—our gifts—and you need to embrace those, even if they’re a part of you that you despise. Vampires have unmatched hearing, but thank the heavenly angels we can tune out all the noise. How unfortunate you didn’t acquire our ears.” Christian stopped and placed his back against the wall, hands in his pockets, one knee bent and his foot flat on the wall. “How often do you use your Vampire eyes at night to see what’s around you? Do you ever taste information from the victims you drain?”
“That’s how I knew how evil they were.”
“Have you ever charmed anyone?”
“No. And I’ve stared into many people’s eyes and told them where they can go, and not one of them got out of their chair.”
Christian tossed his head back and laughed. Small lines appeared at the corner of his eyes, and his white teeth—absent of the hidden fangs—were attractive. Laughter changed the man—made him appear almost human. When he settled down, his wild hair fell across his forehead, a few wisps covering his left eye. “Come here, lass.”
I took a step forward and he seized my wrist, yanking me flush against him.
“Worry not,” he said, looking down at me. “You should at least try it once.”
“Charming?”
“Aye. Center your eyes on mine and reel me in.”
“I don’t know how to do that.”
“The magnetic draw is unmistakable, and it grows stronger with each passing second. You’ll know when you have it. Hold my gaze, Raven.”