Page 6 of Rescued By the Vampire Rogue

Focus, Ivy, I reminded myself. You have to resist him. This is about survival, not desire.

"Where do we start?" I asked, trying to maintain a professional demeanor.

"Intel," he replied, his eyes boring into mine. He flicked his fingers at the screen and numerous reports and documents appeared.

"Very well." I nodded, swallowing hard. "Let's get to work."

Kael approached, his tall, dark presence both alluring and menacing.

I hesitated, my fingers trembling as a sudden question burned in my mind. "Kael... are you really as evil as your reputation claims?"

His dark eyes narrowed, and I sensed the danger lurking beneath his elegant demeanor. "Why does it matter to you, Ivy? What difference would it make?"

"Because," I spat out, my voice shaking, "if you're as monstrous as they say, I need to bide my time until I can escape. If not... then perhaps helping you isn't such a terrible idea."

"Helping me take out an enemy," he mused, his voice low and dangerous. "You think it's just two vampires fighting, do you?"

"Isn't it?" I challenged, even though fear laced my words. Kael's laugh was dark and chilling.

"Let me assure you, Ivy, I am every bit as evil as my reputation suggests. Worse, even." He began moving toward me, each step deliberate and predatory.

My heart raced as I backed away from him, the walls of the escape-proof room closing in around us. Kael's hands slammed into the wall on either side of my head, boxing me in. His heated breath washed over my face as he leaned down, his voice dripping with menace.

"I am an evil creature, Ivy. I never claimed to be otherwise. How can a cursed creature that defied the laws of humanity be anything other than evil? Part of it is my base nature, but the rest of it... that was my choice."

I couldn't help it; something about his power and intensity ignited a fire within me, even as he tried to intimidate me. It annoyed me to no end that I found myself drawn to him, despite the danger.

"Your fear excites me," he whispered, his nose running along my neck as he scented me. My pulse quickened, a mix of terror and desire coursing through my veins. He ran his fangs teasingly along my neck, licking the pulse point, and I shivered.

"Kael... please," I whispered, unsure whether I was pleading for him to stop or continue. He pulled back slightly, his eyes locked onto mine.

"Remember," he murmured, "you chose this. You knew who I was and what I've done."

And with those words, the reality of my situation slammed into me once more. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I knew that I had not only made a deal with the devil - I had become irrevocably entwined with him.

CHAPTER 4

KAEL

Enough dalliance. It wasn't seemly of me to play with my prey. "It's time to get to work if you ever want to see the light of day."

I motioned toward the vast wall screen that flickered to life with an array of documents, images, and correspondence—all tributaries leading back to Lucien, the one who'd betrayed me.

With a careless flick of my wrist, I summoned the data into focus, the web of information sprawling across the display like the intricate veins of a leaf. Dropping into a lounge chair, I draped one leg over its arm with deceptive ease. There was no comfort in it; my body was a coiled spring, every fiber straining towards the elusive prey that flitted just beyond my grasp. I watched Ivy as she approached the torrent of information, the set of her shoulders determined, her instincts honed from years of sifting for truths among lies.

She dove headfirst into the task, her fingers dancing across the interface with a journalist's precision and attention to detail. Every new page she flipped through, it was as if she peeled back another layer of the mystery that surrounded Lucien.

"This isn't going to work for me." Ivy stood with hands on hips as she glared at me.

I didn't bother to respond, just raised an eyebrow at her.

"I need to feel it. You need to print it all out."

With a quick text message off to John, I focused my attention on Ivy. "It will be delivered as soon as it's ready, but until then, use the screens."

Ivy sighed, but went back to sliding documents over the screens.

Focus, I silently chided to myself, dragging my gaze back to the screen instead of lingering on the curve of her neck as she leaned forward in concentration. The hunt was afoot, and I could not—would not—let anything jeopardize the chase. Not when I was this close. Not when Lucien's shadow loomed over everything I sought to protect and control.

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