Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
But I doubt it.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“You know what it is. You just said it. Heidi.”
I stare intently into her blue eyes. “What’s your name?”
“Heidi.”
My glamour isn’t affecting her. No glassy eyes. No sweat forming at her hairline. Funny I didn’t notice any of this the first time, but all I was thinking about was getting through her to get to Rogan.
“Is Mr. Rogan in his office?”
“I haven’t seen him,” Heidi says.
“Thanks.” I grin. “You’ve been a big help.”
A dazzling smile splits her face. “You’re very welcome. Have a wonderful day at The London.”
One demon accounted for.
I walk away from the high stakes area and toward the bar in the center of the casino where I ordered the glass of wine last night. The bartender—a hunky guy with a bald head and ripped shoulders and arms—isn’t there. Not surprising. He obviously works a night shift.
I’ll be back.
I head out of the casino to the concierge’s desk, but the young woman I spoke to earlier isn’t there.
I’ll be back.
I walk through the lobby and out the doors onto the strip. A few blocks later, I’m back in the alleyway where I was attacked. Time to take a closer look.
Except the scent of Rogan overwhelms me. Even though it’s been hours, his fragrance still lingers. I can’t help inhaling the piney musk of him. My gums begin to tingle. I have no need to feed. Not enough time has passed for the blood lust to consume me, but…
I lean against a building, rub my upper arms to stave off the impending hunger. I slide down, the brick snagging my tank top, until I’m sitting, my knees raised and touching my chin.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale again.
Slowly, the lust dissipates, though Rogan’s scent does not. Would it be this strong from last night?
Or has he been here more recently?
I blow out a breath. I didn’t come here to be self-indulgent. I came here to look for clues, and I won’t find them sitting with my chin on my knees while staving off my imagined hunger for Rogan’s blood.
I stand quickly and look around. Vampire night vision is good, but like anyone else, we see better during the day. I replay the fight in my mind—each punch, each kick—and scan the area for anything that looks out of place. A few drops of blood here and there, but nothing major. No one was badly injured.
Which in itself is odd, given it was three against one. I’m good, for sure, but against three men? One of whom I’m pretty sure is a demon?
Then I laugh.
I fucking laugh out loud like a maniac.
This was all a ruse. Put in place by Rogan himself.
He was testing me. Testing the vampire princess. He wanted to know what I was made of, what I could do.
She’s not worth the effort.
The words he said to Blaze.
I understand their meaning now.
And I’m fucking pissed.
Anger rises in me, triggering my canines. They descend quickly—more quickly than usual—and I cry out from the pain.
Victor Rogan is working me. Or trying to. This mate thing? It’s probably all part of it. My blood boils in my veins, and my heart beats like a jackhammer.
You won’t get away with this, Rogan.
I’m ready. Ready to face him and tell him I know what he’s up to. I turn to leave, and—
“Oh my God!”
16
“Looking for me, princess?”
Rogan. How did I miss him? He’s wearing different clothes from before. Dark jeans and black leather biker boots. A black V-neck T-shirt that form fits to his muscles. No wonder his scent was so strong. He was here, hiding from me.
I stumble slightly but catch myself. “No, I’m not, actually. I’m looking for demons.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Oh?”
I advance toward him, his fragrance growing stronger. I blow out a breath, will myself to maintain control.
“I’ve already found one. The cute little blonde manning the entry to the high stakes area.”
“Heidi?”
“Is that her real name?”
“It’s the name she gave me.”
I nod. “I see. I’m pretty sure one of the thugs you hired to clobber me last night is a demon as well. Care to tell me I’m right?”
He chuckles. “Why would I do that, when I’m having a blast watching you make a fool of yourself?”
“You son of a b—”
He’s on me in a flash, his lips devouring mine. Damn it, I hate this smug asshole. I hate him so much.
But not this kiss. God, no, I don’t hate this kiss. It’s like a fucking drug.
But no. No more of this “mate” bullshit.
I pull away, ripping our lips apart with a loud smack.
“You…” I inhale, trying to catch my breath. “You fucking set me up, Rogan. Blaze and the demons. You told them to jump me.”
“Really? And then I came to your rescue just in time?”
“Seems your timing was particularly uncanny.”
“So you’ve deduced, then, that I orchestrated the attack on you.”