A Valley of Darkness (A Shade of Vampire #52)(32)

I knew he was trouble, and yet I wanted more. Was that what others were experiencing, too?

“You did very well tonight, by the way,” he muttered, his lips still dangerously close to mine.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “You too. That mind-bending skill you have is out of this world. I wish I could do what you do.”

“That’s funny, because I find it completely useless right now.”

“What do you mean? Because of Arrah? That’s not your fault. She’s obviously an anomaly.”

“No, I meant it’s useless because I can’t mind-bend you.” He sighed.

I took a deep breath and recognized the chemicals in his natural scent. The sweet spices of arousal, with a lemony hint of fear.

No, anxiousness… He’s nervous about something…

“Why would you want to mind-bend me, you weirdo?” I chuckled, feeling the conversation taking a serious turn. I didn’t know how to react. I was nervous, too.

He stared at me for a while, his gaze softening as it found my lips. I instinctively parted them in response, and his eyes clouded as a result. His scent invaded my nostrils, and that friendzone seemed more distant and barren with every second that passed.

“I’m just being very, very… very selfish right now,” he whispered.

He tried to conquer the inch left between us, and I completely forgot where I was, quietly anticipating the feel of his lips on mine, when Hansa’s voice violently dragged me back to reality.

“Time to go,” she said, suddenly standing next to us.

We both stilled, but didn’t immediately break eye contact. I felt his chest deflate, then quietly watched as he stepped back, glanced at Hansa, and nodded.

I realized that the rest of the team was standing behind us, and Fiona’s grin told me she’d seen what had almost happened between Heron and me. After a second scan of our group, I saw that Harper and Caia were holding back smirks. Scarlett wasn’t there, so I figured she’d gone ahead to see Patrik—I knew she had a thing for him, but we’d yet to talk about it. Blaze was busy stealing a glance at Caia, and Jax had a dark and menacing glare fixed on Heron, while Hansa seemed not to be in the mood for anything other than maybe a hot bath.

I took a whiff of her scent and identified grief, arousal, and anger. I glanced at Jax, and noticed the way he stole glimpses of her when she wasn’t looking. He’d pissed her off with something, for sure.

Someone needs to lock you two in a room…

“Regrouping at the infirmary, right?” I asked, trying to shove what had almost just happened aside to regain my focus on the mission at hand.

“Yep,” Hansa replied bluntly, then walked over to the main reception hall.

We all followed quietly, and I felt Heron’s hand brush against mine. He gave me an unreadable sideways glance, then moved forward, joining his brother’s side. I walked behind with Fiona and the others.

He looked even taller from behind, his broad shoulders making my fingers twitch with the memory of holding him as we danced and put the whole world aside for a few blissful minutes. I then remembered what a philanderer he was, and how easily I could end up getting my heart broken if I gave in to his charms.

But charms he had aplenty…





Scarlett





(Daughter of Jeramiah & Pippa)





We’d all agreed before the Spring Ball that we’d meet at the infirmary before midnight. I left the party earlier, quietly rushing down the stairs in my champagne-pink ballgown, my heels clicking down the cobblestone pavement.

There were barely any Maras in the streets, as most had gathered in the Kifo mansion, and Emilian had just announced they’d opened his villa as well, to accommodate the increasing number of guests. Apparently, they’d been surprised by the high volume of attendees—higher than usual. It turned out that nothing made the Exiled Maras thirstier for a fancy ball than the threat of being abducted from their own city.

I spotted half a dozen Imen slowly walking up and down the alleys, retreating to their homes, and I walked behind a group of three girls. They were weirdly silent for the five minutes I spent in their vicinity, until the one in the middle suddenly collapsed. The others fell to their knees, trying to get her back up.

I rushed over to check on the fallen girl. She looked pale, with dark circles around her eyes. She blinked slowly, limp in her friends’ arms.

“Come on, Akila!” one of them whispered. “We need to get home!”

“What’s wrong with her?” I asked. “Is she ill?”

The girls gave me frightened looks, as if I were the last creature they wanted to see.

“She’s fine,” the other friend retorted.

I helped them pull the girl back up to her feet. Akila took a few deep breaths. She seemed drowsy and confused.

“Are you okay?” I touched her forehead to check her temperature, but her friends pulled her back and frowned at me.

“I told you, she’s fine!”

“We need to go,” the other said.

They walked away, headed down a side street and holding Akila up. She occasionally glanced over her shoulder to get a better look at me.

I was baffled.

“I was only trying to help,” I muttered, then watched them for another minute, until they disappeared into one of the houses at the end of the narrow street.