Page 10 of Toward Immortal Ruin

Eden was trying—and failing—tostop staring at the man who’d saved her last night. Somehow, Nero even made eating a scone look sexy. By all accounts, she was a mess. Scone crumbles had tumbled onto the table, and she was fairly certain some cream had been smeared on the corner of her mouth before she remembered her napkin.

“So, Nero, tell me why an architect would be running around Chicago with an axe last night.”

Her savior choked on his scone.

“It seems highly unlikely that you’d just happen to have an axe in your car, and that you just so happened to be in the neighborhood when a freak zoo accident took place.”

“You just cut straight to the point, don’t you?”

“It’s a personality flaw,” she said. “I’m working on it.”

Nero’s eyes tightened microscopically before his voice dropped. “I’m going to level with you. It wasn’t an accident. It’s related to a domestic terrorism group that’s been attempting to cause civilian casualties. We were there to clean up the mess.”

Eden sat back in her seat, disturbed by the weight of the reveal. To know that it’d happened in her city, and she’d been a partial victim of the attack, only made the churning sensation in her gut worse. Frowning, she scrutinized the man sitting in front of her.

“So you’re … what? Paramilitary? Part of a private militia? I thought you were an architect.”

“By trade, I am,” he replied, keeping his voice low, “but I’m involved in a counterterrorism group run by a private corporation. We were tipped off.”

“So that’s why you were dressed up like Blade.”

He snorted. “A perfect resemblance.”

“Uncanny.”

She winked at him, still trying to process the explanation. The fact that he’d been truthful, even with such a sensitive subject, made her breathe a little easier.

He’d arrived at her lecture to ensure she was unharmed, been completely engaged, then plucked her book off a shelf and started reading while she’d looked for the text she’d been searching for. And it had done wonders for her ego that Nero had seemed legitimately disheartened when she was ready to leave, and he had to put her book down. Even if his story did seem a bit shaky on the facts, the opportunity to spend time with the gorgeous man who saved her life and was interested in what she had to say didn’t come around often for Eden.

She asked the stereotypical question. “Do you have to kill me now that I know?”

“I think I can make an exception, just this once,” the paramilitary architect replied conspiratorially. “Besides, it’s generally frowned upon the off the person who just saved you.”

“Well, we saved each other, let’s leave the debate at that. Glad to know I’m safe, then.” She hummed a laugh. “Is that why you’re in Chicago, Nero? Or do you live here?”

“I actually live on Oahu. Came into town yesterday after we got the tip off earlier this week,” he replied. “Anything I should see while I’m here?”

“The Bean, for sure, and the Science and Technology Museum has an awesome exhibit on the fear response right now.” She bit her lip. “I may have been one of the consultants on that one.”

“Then I’m definitely going to see it.”

“If you’re going, I’m escorting you. Can’t have just any random guy coming in off the street without a proper guide.”

“Random guy, huh?”

“Well, I don’t really know anything about you, Nero. Other than the fact that you’ve developed a sudden interest in Gothic fiction, vampires, and lonely literature professors, we’re practically strangers. The only other fun fact I know about you is that you occasionally strut around Chicago with menacing-looking weapons as part of your vigilante architect organization.”

“That’s pretty much all there is. I’m architect Blade.” His imitation of a throaty superhero voice was spot on and much sexier than it had any right to be. “Together with my Avengers team of superhuman heroes, we keep humanity safe from danger. Sometimes I use an axe, other times a sword or a stake, hence the vampire interest. As for the lonely literature professors, it’s not my fault they’re so fascinating.”

The look he gave her dispelled any doubt that she might have had about him flirting with her.

“I wish I was that interesting. In reality, I live in Hawaii in a very tightly knit community, travel a bit for work, and dabble in all kinds of things to fill my free time.” He settled his chin on his fist. “I’d much rather hear about you, Eden Hawthorne. Tell me about yourself. Who you are. What you love. Where you’re going. How you generally feel about architects.”

There was a dreamy nature to his voice that made her heart flutter wildly in her chest. Nero was here, entirely focused on her, and he wanted to know everything about her. It was flattering, and something she’d rarely had before today.

Despite the nature of her condition, she could allow herself the pleasure of his company. Their relationship might go no further, but it wouldn’t stop her from appreciating today.Carpe diem.

Her gaze dipped as she sipped her cappuccino, and for the first time, she noticed something. Peeking out from above his collar was a geometric tattoo, a flowing symbol that hooked against the strong column of his neck. Even his hands were inked, but the patterns were lighter and blended more easily into his skin.

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