Page 13 of Lured

“Look at her, she is adorable and hot and she's clearly come here looking to be an enthralled.” I smiled as if this was all obvious and I was trying to stake my claim on her.

“She acted like she had no idea what a vampire was,” Ludis replied.

I glanced at her and fought back any hint of emotion at hearing this. She had just made everything far, far harder. I didn't know what she was, but she had some idea of what she was doing and some element of this was a lie. If she had made the situation untenable, I might have no choice but to snack on her myself and act as if she was nothing to me.

“Is this one of those blood cult things?” she asked, seeming to decide to play along finally. “This guy and I were talking and well, not gonna lie, I was flirting quite a bit, but he started to worry me a little. I mean this in the nicest way, but I'm a simple person. I really don't want any trouble.”

As she spoke, I relaxed and noticed that Ludis was growing more impatient with having to have this conversation at all then actually interested in coming to any sort of conclusion.

“We were flirting and I came on a bit strong. Let me take her inside again and we can carry on our little conversation and give her a chance to get to know me a little better.”

She frowned, not appearing to like where this was going. “I'm not sure I understand and I really would appreciate it if you'd get your friend to let go of me.” She motioned to her arm and the hand clamped tightly around her. If the vampires let her go, there was a chance she would dive towards Ludis.

I did the only thing I could think of and hurried over to her, taking a look at her as I walked. While I did this, I considered how likely I was to get stabbed. She was very focused on Ludis and it made me wonder if the guild she must answer to had put a bounty out on his head. It would be yet another sign that the vampire was up to something and needed to be stopped. Just not yet and not by her.

“I'm sorry I scared you, but I really think that you'd like what we're offering.” I gently reached out and took her other arm. At the same time, I gave her a look that I hoped she would understand. This was clearly a lie on both our parts and I desperately needed her to play along.

Despite me having hold of her arm, Ludis didn't have his man let go of her other. For now she was caught in between us both and she almost instantly pulled back and glared at me. No matter what I said or did, I didn't appear to be getting through to her.

Ludis chuckled. “I'm not sure she wants to go with you, brother.”

She looked between us and I could hear and feel her heart rate go up. Whatever she was trying to do, she was aware this was likely to get her killed and somehow she was doing it anyway. What kind of situation had she got herself into so badly that she thought this was the only way?

“I really can offer you a better life path,” I said, hoping beyond all hope that she would get the double meaning to my words.

“Most people who say that are trying to scam people,” she shot back. This amused Ludis even more and he began to laugh.

“My man, you are crashing and burning on this one. She's not buying it. Maybe we can have some fun with her after all.”

All of the vampires started to laugh and chuckle at this and one of them even licked his lips. The girl looked right past me and straight at Ludis. “You want some fun with me. What is it with all of you lot wanting to have fun? You seem like the kind of guy who doesn't let those around you have first go with something you want.”

“I'm not,” Ludis replied, stepping closer, his eyes now fixed on her.

I frowned, knowing that she was good at this if nothing else. Shehadto be a vampire hunter. There was no way a woman surrounded by so many men suggesting to have fun with her goaded the main one. And that made her my adversary right now as well. If I'd had a moment to talk to her, or sheen the threat she was from the beginning then I might have had a chance to work with her.

Right now, I needed to stop her and then I needed to stop him.

“Come on, Ludis. I swear, I claimed her. She was going to be my enthralled.” I folded my arms.

“I don't know what one of those is.” She looked at me like I'd grown two heads and was scaring her. It was a good act, but I knew that I needed to somehow take control of this again and fix it.

After leaning in, I grabbed her arm and pulled her in close to whisper right in her ear. “I'm trying to save your life, you idiot.”

The entire group reacted, no doubt assuming that I was biting her. To my surprise she leaned into me, her body heating as her heart pounded even harder. I could hear her blood racing through her body as she grew aroused. It was obvious in her scent and her posture.

“I don't want to hurt you, no matter how it seems, but I know what you are,” I added before I shifted and kissed her. She didn't pull back from that as well, her lips firm against mine.

When I finally pulled back, she stared at me, her mouth slightly parted and her eyes wide.

“See, she's mine,” I growled as I looked toward Ludis again. I kept my arm around her this time, holding her body close to mine.

“That I believe a little more, but she's still not acting right. And that was more than a kiss. Areyouup to something?” Ludis asked. “I still think she might be a hunter.”

“If she was a hunter, I'd be dead.” I smiled as if that was obvious and thanked the stars that I wasn't yet. I could feel the blade strapped to her thigh underneath her dress and knew that she had to be a hunter.

Ludis frowned and looked between us. She started to relax, calming even if she must have been very confused by this whole interaction. I would have felt cold to her and she'd know I was a vampire at this point.

“She's clearly been lying about something. She's not reacting to being close to you. Not in the way we'd expect from someone who doesn't know about our kind.”

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