Page 15 of The Vampire's Hunter

And I will do everything within my power to keep you safe.

He didn’t say the words and yet, she heard them all the same, as if she’d wished them into existence. All she had to do was agree.

She repeated the phrase in her mind, mulling the words over.

Until this is over.

Which meant…

Which meant this really wasn’t permanent. It was still for show. A fake. Exactly as he’d told her before, and as for what happened between them…

It truly had been a one-time occurrence. Nothing more.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit…put out by that.

“And what do you get out of this? What do you gain by helping me?”

“The pleasure of your company for an evening, nothing more,” he answered.

She wanted to believe him, but she couldn’t help but feel as if there were something he wasn’t saying.

“Do we have an agreement?” Corbin prompted.

“Yes,” she said, unable to say anything more.

Corbin had helped her, protected her, so why couldn’t she shake the feeling that she’d just made a deal with devil?

“Good. Come.” Corbin beckoned her forward, drawing her thoughts to a close.

Dani accepted the reprieve, following him further into the penthouse and through a short series of halls and doors, until finally, he stopped at the farthest end of the row. A room tucked away like secret. Corbin turned the handle, holding open the door like any human gentleman, though they both knew he was something more.

More dangerous, more beautiful. Just more.

Dani stepped inside, taking in the sight of the immaculate bedroom. The soft down of the bed, the marbled floors, and a fireplace that in the winter she would have loved to read by to keep warm, all working together to paint a portrait of comfort and luxury.

“You’ll sleep here.” Corbin turned to leave then, moving to close the door.

“What about Lucien?” she said, placing her hand against it.

Corbin lifted a brow at where her hand stayed his movement.

Instantly, she dropped it to her side again, eyes falling low, as an embarrassed blush filled her cheeks. “What I mean is…without information to give to Quinn, I…I won’t be safe,” she clarified. “Not in the long-term.”

Corbin’s gaze fell to the blush on her cheeks, and had she not kept her eyes low, she might have missed the subtle writhe of the muscles at his throat, despite that his expression remained unmoving, disinterested.

Perhaps hedidwant her. Or a taste of her at least.

So, what game was he playing at?

“Lucien’s hosting a party at his home tomorrow. Play your role, and you’ll have your revenge. Leave the details to me.” Corbin turned to leave then, but she stopped him once more.

This time, with a gentle hand on his arm.

“Corbin, I…I’m not certain I can face him again. The last time I saw Lucien, he—”

Corbin’s dark gaze pierced through her. “The shame is his. Not yours.” He captured her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Don’t forget that.” He let her go.

Dani swallowed, trying and failing to rid the tears that gathered at the edge of her eyes.

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