Page 2 of Rescued By the Vampire Rogue

"Disappearances," I stammered, trying to sound braver than I felt. "People have been vanishing, and... and I received an anonymous tip that led me to you."

"An anonymous tip?" He raised a brow, seeming more intrigued than angry. "And you believed it?"

"Isn't it true?" I countered, my curiosity getting the better of me. "The creatures in your club... they're not human, are they? What are they? What are you?"

"Things you should never have seen," he replied, his voice dark and foreboding. "And now that you have, you're no longer safe."

"Safe?" My fear turned to anger as I gritted out, "You think this is about safety? I want answers, Dusken."

"Be careful what you wish for." Kael's eyes flashed with a hint of menace, but there was something else lurking beneath the surface… An intoxicating allure I couldn't quite define.

"Fine. I accept that I'm in danger," I snapped, folding my arms across my chest. "Now tell me what you are. Tell me what the hell just happened."

"You witnessed a turf war, Ms. Monroe. My enemies won't stop until they kill you."

"Then let me go!" I shot back, trying to keep my voice steady. "I can handle myself."

"Can you?" He raised an eyebrow, a sardonic smile playing on his lips. "Do you truly believe you can take on the creatures you saw tonight?"

My annoyance flared, but I knew that angering Kael Dusken would be just as foolish as facing those monstrous beings alone. Instead, I swallowed my pride and asked the question that had been gnawing at me since the moment I saw something that wasn't human. "What were they?"

"Those creatures are the stuff of nightmares," he answered cryptically. "The supernatural world is vast, and not all of its inhabitants are friendly."

"Are you one of them?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Perhaps," he said, his eyes boring into mine. "But for now, your concern should be surviving this ordeal."

"Fine," I muttered, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Just promise me one thing."

"Name your price," he replied, a dangerous glint in his eyes. The black of his suit contrasted with the cream colors that filled the elegant suite he'd brought me to. His hard lines didn't seem right with all the plush pillows and furniture. Pastel colors filled the space, looking warm and inviting. Kael violated the space with his dark, dangerous aura.

"Tell me the truth," I said, staring at him intently. "I want to know what's really going on here, and what role you play in it."

"Very well," he agreed, his voice softening ever so slightly. "But be warned, Ms. Monroe: the truth is not always kind."

"Neither is ignorance," I retorted, my resolve strengthened by his words.

"Indeed," he acknowledged, a hint of admiration in his gaze. "Remember that, little mouse."

"I'm not going to stop asking questions."

A shiver of anticipation ran down my spine as he closed the distance between us, his footsteps silent on the plush, off-white carpet. I felt the heat radiating off his body, and it took every ounce of willpower not to flinch when his long, elegant fingers reached out to gently lift my chin. The sudden pulse between my legs caught me off guard, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from his as they bored into mine with an intensity that was both thrilling and terrifying.

"Have you ever heard of the boogeyman?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that sent delicious shivers down my spine. My breath hitched, but I couldn't find any words to reply. Before I even had a chance to process what was happening, he flashed fangs that hadn't been there a moment ago.

"Because, little mouse," he continued, his voice taking on a dangerous edge, "I am what goes bump in the night."

My heart slammed against my ribcage, a confusing mix of attraction and fear surging through me. I tried to ignore the way my body responded to him. This was no time for distractions. Swallowing hard, I managed to find my voice. "What are you?"

His glare bore into me, feeling like ice and fire all at once. The silence stretched on, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. And then, without another word, he turned and left the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click that echoed in the sudden quiet.

As I stood there, the reality of my situation finally hit me. I was in over my head, trapped in a cage with a man - or creature - I barely understood. But despite the overwhelming fear, a stubborn spark of determination ignited within me. I had to survive this, to uncover the truth behind the missing people and the supernatural world that had been hidden right under my nose.

That determination would be my lifeline, the one thing that kept me grounded as I navigated the treacherous world of Kael Dusken. And no matter what happened, I would not let my body's reaction to him distract me.

CHAPTER 2

KAEL

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