Page 46 of Cruel Destinies

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Ten minutes later, I was back at Julian’s apartment. And I didn’t even need to use magic to get in this time, thanks to the key he’d given me.My key.The thought made me feel warm and rosy all over.

My coat, hat and gloves lay on the counter, while the book was resting on the blanket I’d left on the floor. He didn’t move it. Was that because he hadn’t been there, or because he wanted to keep that spot for me? I liked the idea of the latter one, no matter how far-fetched it might be.

I’d checked my text messages on the ride over. Caesar hadn’t sent anything else, no elaboration on his cryptic text. I decided there was no need to respond. If he was going to start being all weird and distant—like he promised he wouldn’t—then I wasn’t going to spend too much emotional effort on him.

The door banged open, and Julian stepped in. A large gray shorthair with a white stripe running from his snout down to his nether region was in Julian’s hand, gripped by the scruff of his neck. The cat was growling, a low, dark sound coming from its throat.

I gulped as I took in the sheer size of the feline. I’d told Julian I wanted a small one, right?

Julian hissed back, the gesture more animal than human. The prickle of fear at the sight of his bared fangs was accompanied by a very confusing jolt of desire. In that moment, the vampire was all predator, and on an instinctual level, I knew I was the prey. The cat probably felt a similar discomfort with the situation, as his eyes darted in every direction.

He closed the door with his foot, bringing the cat further in. “Sorry. It’s a rather annoying creature.”

“Are you really one to talk?” I asked, folding my arms to steady myself.

He laughed, the hearty, good-natured sound scattering the last vapors of my fear. “I suppose not. Come on. Let’s get started.” He twisted the cat’s neck so fast I didn’t have time to think.

I winced and turned away from the creature, unable to look at the odd angle of its neck without freaking out.

“A little warning next time!” I snapped, pulling my arm over my nose and breathing from my mouth.

“But look, no blood.” I didn’t have to look at him to hear the devilish smirk he must have been wearing.

“You know, you can be a real scary motherfucker sometimes,” I groused, shooting him a glare while avidly avoiding looking directly at the dead creature he still held aloft.

Yep, the bastard was smirking at me. “You do realize I’m a vampire, right?”

“Yeah, but you don’t have to go all ‘I vant to suck your—’” I snapped my jaw tightly shut before I could finish, the entire surface of my face burning.

Something dark and predatory twinkled in his eyes as they bore into me, making my pulse beat to a dangerous—yet yearning—tune.

In the blink of an eye—though I was too paralyzed by his intensity to dare close mine for even a second—he was in front of me.

My breaths came in such shallow, quick bursts that I could hardly breathe at all as I looked up at his deadly, beautiful face. And for so long that I lost track of the seconds or minutes, we just stared at each other, his body so close to mine we were almost touching. Almost.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, then he said in a low, husky voice, “I have never wanted to suck anyone’s blood…until you.”

My heart shot up into my throat, making it now impossible to breathe, let alone respond to such a thrilling and devastating statement.

I wanted him to do it again, so badly it scared me. I slowly angled my neck to the side, centimeter by centimeter, subconsciously inviting him to take what he wanted.

Then, just as suddenly, he was several steps away from me, his face an emotionless mask. “If it offends you, I’ll fetch a cover for it.”

My heart dislodged itself from my throat and descended back into my chest, allowing me to take a slow, steadying breath before he returned, an ominous bundle wrapped in what looked like a pillow case held in the crook of his arm like an infant.

“Th–thank you,” I practically croaked, my mouth was so dry.

I straightened my spine and made my way on shaky legs to the blanket. Afterthatdistraction, how the fuck was I going to be able to concentrate on this spell?

Pretend it didn’t happen. Pretend it didn’t happen. Hedid notjust say any of that.

I plopped down in front of the book, not allowing my gaze to wander to the lumpy fabric, and opened to the plant spell page. A loose leaf of bright white notebook paper stood stark against the time-worn pages, and I plucked it out with trembling fingers, reading back over my notes.

The wording had to be tweaked a little to affect a life with a soul. It had taken several tries, but I thought I finally had it. Maybe.

There was just one problem.

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