A Den of Tricks (A Shade of Vampire #54)(60)

Oh, man, I’m in for quite the ride, no matter what he says…

Of course, there was a third option, in which I could keep my mouth shut and just ignore everything between us. But who was I kidding? With every minute spent in Heron’s presence, it became more and more difficult for me to just hold it in.

I’ll revisit this tomorrow, with a clear, rested head.

For the time being, I figured I was better off just letting it go. Just for the night, while I was still gradually melting in his arms, while he kept me close enough for his heartbeat to echo in my chest. His breathing was even, his face hidden in my hair.

He moved in his sleep, and his lips found the back of my neck. My entire body bucked, my eyes nearly popping out of their orbits, and my skin tingled all over. He didn’t do anything, but his lips settled against my neck, and that generated thousands of tiny explosions through every fiber of my body.

Oh, who the hell am I kidding?

I am falling so hard and so fast, I can’t even keep up with my own body anymore…

There was plenty to love about Heron, though. Beneath his boyish charm and playful smirk, he carried years of experience, of rough living and scars of war. He was strong and determined, and downright ruthless when those he cared for were in danger. His sense of duty was out of this world—Heron knew how to obey orders but was perfectly capable of challenging them, if they interfered with his ethical code, his desire to improve the world around him.

I had a feeling that, deep down, Heron wanted to love and be loved—more than anything. It was why our unintended Pyrope had had such an impact on him. He’d thought about it. Maybe he’d even dreamed about the day he’d meet his soulmate and taste her blood on his lips.

I closed my eyes, trying to put myself back to sleep. It would take a while. His hard body against mine and his sleepy lips on my skin were making it very difficult for me to fully relax.

So I drifted for a while, simply enjoying the moment.

Simply enjoying Heron’s arms around me.





Fiona





(Daughter of Benedict & Yelena)





I came to after what felt like a second. It wasn’t. Zane had carried me up to my room and put me in my bed. My dress was still on, but he’d removed my shoes, as evidenced by my toes wiggling freely.

Son of a…

How did he keep fooling me with that damn yellow powder? I need to get better at this…

The lights were dim, and I could hear the fire crackling in the fireplace. Oh great, he lit a fire, too. Making sure I’m comfortable in my defeat. I groaned as I stretched my arms out, cursing under my breath and lifting my head off the pillow.

My heart jumped at the sight of Zane sitting in a chair that was too small for him. He was quiet, a dark look in his red eyes as he watched me.

“As if you couldn’t get any creepier!” I spat, sitting up and scowling at him. “Now you’re watching me sleep, too?”

“I was just waiting for you to wake up.” He shrugged, shifting his weight in the visibly uncomfortable chair. The wood creaked as he supported part of his weight on one of the armrests. “Just being respectful here. I figured it would be rude to just plop you in here without saying a proper ‘Good night!’, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Oh, now you’re being respectful! After you knocked me out for… what, the fourth time? I’m losing track here!” I scoffed.

“I assumed you were into Vincent because of his manners,” he replied matter-of-factly, “and probably his fashion sense, too. The latter I can do nothing about, but I can try to be a little bit more gentile. As much as I like the way you crinkle your nose when you’re angry, I prefer you when you’re smiling.”

It took me a few seconds to register the compliment, but it didn’t make me feel better. If anything, it confused me even more. What was his end game? What did he want from me?

“You could start by not blowing yellow dust in my face whenever I ask you uncomfortable questions,” I shot back. “I’d classify it as more important than bidding an appropriate farewell.”

“Duly noted.” He nodded, then smiled. “You should get some sleep. I think you’ll have a very busy day ahead of you tomorrow.”

I moved to get out of bed, but stilled as I captured the hidden meaning of his words.

“What do you mean? What’s happening tomorrow?” I asked, my tone flat.

“How am I supposed to know?” He raised an eyebrow, as if daring me to get all riled up.

“You just said… Ugh, never mind.” I shook my head and decided to sulk, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re all cryptic and full of smoke, as usual. Completely useless.”

“I wouldn’t say completely useless.” He leaned forward, his gaze drilling into me. “I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“You still haven’t told me where you got the swamp witch magic from,” I retorted, attempting a different angle. Maybe persistence could be the key to my success. Zane didn’t seem like he was going anywhere, and he’d specifically admitted that he couldn’t stay away. Perhaps I could use that to my advantage.

Worth a shot…

He rolled his eyes and leaned against the back of the chair, generating another round of loud creaks. I was expecting to see that thing give way under his massive frame any minute now.