Love Me to Death (Underveil, #1)(56)

Darvaak shoved his phone in his back pocket. “Three squads, one of tree elves, one of vampires, and one of shifters have attacked three of my properties. It appears your uncle has deduced my involvement with you.” He walked to the center of the room. “Which of you will teleport me to the scene of the king’s battle? It appears I need to evaluate it for my own interests. Four of my human employees were killed. One was a child. I will waive the fee. Take me there.”

Aleksandra strode to him. “There is a kill order on Niki. I’ll take you. Besides, he needs to smooth the feathers of his angry little ex-human.”

“I wish you luck,” he said to Nik. “You might be safer taking me, kill order or no. Elena’s very hurt. Be gentle. Think, Slayer. This may be your last chance with her. Cord or no cord, neither of you will fare well if it ends badly.”

Aleksi winked and put her hands on the Time Folder’s neck. “In other words, little brother, don’t f*ck it up.”



Elena splashed cold water on her face. The tear-induced splotchiness was even more dramatic than when she’d been human. “Oh, how lovely. Your hideous pink blotches bring out the creepy red hue of your eyes,” she said to her reflection.

Aleksandra was Nik’s sister. How had she missed that?

She hadn’t. There was no indication they were siblings. This wasn’t her fault. None of this was her fault. But in all fairness, it wasn’t his fault either. He had never said he and Aleksandra were lovers. She had jumped to that conclusion.

The knock on the door made her jump. She didn’t answer.

“Elena, please,” Nik said from the other side of the door.

No freaking way. She was not going to make this easy. She had missed him terribly and she wanted nothing more than to rip open that door, but he wasn’t going to get to rip open her heart again.

She teleported to the living room and leaned against the arm of the sofa to watch him through the open bedroom door.

He ran his hands through his hair. What would she not give to be able to do the same? “We need to talk. Things got all twisted around.”

Yeah, no kidding. Like the truth, maybe?

He placed his hands against the bathroom door. “Just give me five minutes.”

It probably wasn’t a good idea to watch him like this. Obviously, from the heat rushing through her, her body forgave much more easily than her mind…or her heart. Her heart might never recover.

He bumped his forehead against the door and sighed. “I screwed up. I treated you terribly.” He thumped his forehead against the door again “I need you, Elena. I’m sorry.” He had said it too low to be heard through the door, but she heard it from where she sat. Even though the words weren’t intended for her ears, he meant them. The fissure in her heart closed just a bit.

I’m sorry, too. She cleared her throat, and he turned and then smiled.

His eyes met hers, and the relief on his face sent a thrill up her spine. Then, a look far more predatory that made her toes curl crossed his features. “Clever girl.”

“You’ve no idea.”

He leaned against the door and crossed his arms over his chest. Big, sexy man. “Indeed, I do. You underestimate my estimation of you.”

She fought back a grin. “How Dr. Seuss.”

“I have no idea who that is, but playing doctor works for me.”

Her heart slammed into hyperdrive. Sexuality at warp speed. Whoa. Put the brakes on, her mind said. Captain, you’ve got the con, her body shouted, dumping adrenaline and sending pulses to all the right places. All those places he’d touched and filled so completely that now felt empty and screamed for attention.

He simply stood there and grinned, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking and feeling. And his grin was beautiful. Mmm. That mouth.

No! She shook her head to clear it. It had to be the blood mojo that was making her horny enough to rip her clothes off there and then.

“Stop it,” she said in an embarrassingly husky voice.

“Stop what?”

She gestured to him with one hand. “It.”

“I’m not doing anything. I’m just standing here. Do you want me to do something?”

Yes. “No.” Yes.

He walked toward her, and she held her breath. So hot. He was just so painfully hot and everything in her felt alive when he was near.

Stefan’s words ran through her head. You are separated from something you can’t live without. Maybe he’d been right. And perhaps he was right about setting the rules too.

“I’m not a possession,” she said as he stopped only inches away. “Or a subordinate you can order around.”

Saying nothing, he stared at her with those gold eyes as if he were seeing into her very soul.

She squirmed under his scrutiny.

Light as a feather’s touch, he ran his knuckles down her cheek. “You are so beautiful. Your skin, your new musculature, and especially your eyes.” He placed his hand on her neck. “I didn’t think it was possible you could be more appealing than you were when I met you, but you are.”

His words threw her. She had to get back to the topic and not be sidetracked by his flattery and her body’s impressive attempt to hijack her rule-setting agenda. “I don’t like it when you order me around. You don’t own me.”