Chapter 2

The mere thought of teeth sent an instinctive rush of adrenaline through my body, setting my fingers tingling. Suddenly all I could think was, Get out of this cell NOW.

Yeah, if I could.

But my legs wouldn’t let me. I was just standing there. Shackled and frozen in place.

When his power washed over me, not to hurt me but needing to connect, my skin buzzed with electricity. The hybrid predator inside me came alive, recognising its peer and its king. Every cell in me was infused with the thrill of the hunt, my hunger and misery forgotten.

I sighed. Okay, I need to play nice; pretend that I’m not scared before I become his meal.

“Took you long enough, Mr. kind sir,” I purred, the words slipping from my lips with a teasing edge, but in reality, I'm trembling. “I mean, King…?” I squeaked it out before the words caught in the back of my throat, and I quieted the urge to run screaming toward the exit even though there was no exit from this formidable place.

He stepped over the dented iron door he’d effortlessly taken down, his movements assured and deliberate. There was a menacing energy that radiated from him, a palpable aura of danger that made it clear he was not to be trifled with. Anyone foolish enough to stand between him and me at that moment would likely find themselves torn apart, their fate sealed by his bare hands.

A formidable, furious expression settled on his face, and I couldn’t help but hope it wouldn’t become a permanent fixture for his own sake. That scowl of his could frighten away any woman who dared approach him, leaving him alone and unapproachable. And then where would that leave me? Stuck with a man whose fury was matched only by his undeniable allure.

“I was detained,” he replied, his angelic voice sharp as a blade, brittle like the first ice of winter. Each word was crisp and cold, cutting through the tension that hung in the air. His gaze shifted from my eyes to my throat.

Before I could even blink, he squatted down beside me instead of positioning himself directly in front of me, instinctively placing himself in a position that allowed for quick reactions without blocking any potential escape routes. I admired his street smarts, the way he assessed the situation, always prepared for whatever might come our way. But I wasn’t quite ready to overlook the deep scowl still etched across his features.

So, with a playful flick, I pressed a button on his long trench coat, relishing the annoyance it would surely cause him. The soft click echoed in the quiet space, and I couldn’t help but smile, a mischievous glint in my eyes. It was a small act of rebellion against the weight of the moment, a reminder that even in the face of danger, I wouldn’t be intimidated.

As the silence stretched between us, I studied his expression, curious to see how long he could hold onto that scowl before cracking. It was a game, one I relished playing, and the stakes had never been higher. Would he let my lightheartedness in, or would he remain ensconced in his brooding demeanor? Either way, I was determined to keep the atmosphere charged, balancing on the fine line between tension and teasing, all while we waited for the storm to break.

“Um, you’ve broken my door,” I grumbled, fake irritation tingling my voice.

He shot me another piercing look; his eyes narrowed with a blend of annoyance and resolve. “It couldn’t be avoided,” he replied curtly, as if the matter were as simple as that.

“The shifters are going to send you a bill for this,” I countered, crossing my arms defiantly, unwilling to let him off the hook so easily.

“They're also welcome to sue me, little one,” he retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Fucking dogs,” he continued in an oddly accented voice. It was mostly Oxbridge but had a touch of softness that I couldn’t place. His eyes, which never left my face, were not actually dark at all, I discovered, but dominated by dilated pupils bordered with a grey-green sliver of iris. Their pull was insistent, and I found myself unable to look away.

The vampire’s mouth was moving again. “I have a team of the finest attorneys on the continent who are currently twiddling their thumbs. They’d be thrilled to jump back into action, assuming the dogs who locked you up can even find me to serve the court summons.”

“Good to know you’ve got everything figured out.”

“I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time,” he said, his expression turning serious.

“You mean you’ve just been biding your time, waiting for me to get thrown in jail so you could swoop in and rescue me?” I shot back, half-teasing, half-curious about the truth behind his intentions.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn’t a lewd inspection, yet the air between us crackled with a palpable attraction, making it hard to ignore the magnetic energy that surrounded him. I felt an urge to breathe deeper, to absorb more of his presence, but I knew that would only leave me vulnerable to the power he exuded.

Jesus, this man could wet any girl's underwear without even touching them.

It felt almost unnatural, this overwhelming reaction I had to him; every part of me responded as if he were a force of nature. To stave off any unwanted consequences, I instinctively held my breath, focussing on the moment while trying to maintain a sense of control. The tension hung thick in the air, charged with unspoken words and complex emotions, and I was acutely aware that I was playing with fire. Would I manage to keep my composure, or would I succumb to the powerful allure he represented?

Either way, I'll be his meal.

“Good thing you aren’t injured,” he muttered. “Or at least you’ve healed already.”

I grinned at him. “I appreciate your power of keen observation.”

I was stalling as I gathered my strength. It was an effort to even sit up straight, so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to stand up and not bump my head into his hard chest and thus embarrass myself.

So, I pretended to admire his hard-edged, icy beauty. Well, it wasn’t all pretending.

This male was just as I remembered in my erotic dream. Only in the flesh, he was even more alluring with a strong face that was definitely a ten. His deep sapphire eyes held an aeon of dark secrets, though they stared at me with displeasure. I didn’t blame him, as I didn’t smell that great after being left to rot here.

I'm not dead yet, so I’m not complaining though.

I frowned again as my gaze traced along his aristocratic nose to his sensual mouth that women must fantasise over, imagining what it could do to fulfil their wicked desires.

I studied him carefully.

Okay, hunger could do that to a shy girl. If I hadn’t felt so weak, I’d have whistled to show my appreciation of such a specimen in front of me. But when he didn’t drop his glower, I smirked at him in a lopsided way, knowing well that few men liked my type of smirk.

Jehg frowned upon my smirk and had told me more than a few times to wipe it off my face. Even my dear friend Patrick often suspected that I was up to no good when I had my signature grin.

“You’re starving,” the vampire said, his anger evident in the throbbing of his temples.

“It’s not my fault,” I replied. “But don’t worry.” I flashed him a bright, reassuring smile; I needed him to stay on my side. “I used to look better. Just give me a couple of days and a good meal, and I’ll be back to normal.”

“You’re weak,” Jason, the vampire king, noted, studying me closely. “You can hardly stand.”

I rolled my eyes at him, “I can prove you wrong.” I insisted. “I was just giving you a moment to take it all in. But you can’t keep staring at me in this cell. You came to rescue me, right? Why else would you be here? Let’s get out of here.”

I attempted to stand, but dizziness hit me hard. I stumbled forward and bumped my forehead against the vampire’s cheekbone.

Ouch!

But he caught me, holding me steady with a firm grip.