Page 33 of The Vampire's Hunter

His friend didn’t say anything more, before Corbin sat across from him on the sofa, nicking one of his cigarettes from the open box upon the table. He grabbed Kharis’ lighter, the one he’d given him several holidays ago as a gift, flicking it open and lighting up, before he took a long drag of his own.

“Did you turn her?” Kharis asked.

“No.” Corbin leaned forward, flicking his ashes into a waiting crystal dish. “No, not yet.”

“Mmm,” Kharis hummed. “Is the delay for her benefit or for yours?”

Corbin crossed his legs, leaning his arms back onto the couch as he took a long drag in answer.

“If that’s how it’s to be, I suppose.” Kharis stubbed his cigarette butt into the waiting tray. “Lucien’s already reached out to his other contacts. To the Morettis and Tedescos, hoping they’ll back him.”

Corbin lifted a brow, blowing out smoke. “And will they?”

“That remains to be seen.” Kharis leaned back, looking at him once more. “This is bad, Corbin. As bad as it’s ever been.”

Corbin nodded. “I know.”

“And was it worth it? Choosing her over your own?”

Corbin stubbed out the remainder of his cigarette and rose. “Ask me in a few days’ time.”

“You still truly believe you can pull this off, don’t you?” Kharis said over his shoulder.

“That you can somehow find a way out of this?”

“There’s always a way, Kharis. There’s always a way for men who are desperate.” Corbin paused.

“That’s the problem. Based on the last few hours, I’m not certain you’re desperateenough,” Kharis spat.

Corbin’s voice remained as calm as it was cold. “Lucien has already taken everything from me once before,” he said. “I won’t allow him to do so again.”

Corbin returned to his room then, leaving Kharis alone to sulk.

Dani was just rousing from her sleep as he entered.

“Corbin?” she whispered through the dark, blue eyes searching.

“Right here, darling. I didn’t leave you for long.”

He joined her in his bed then, pulling her against him. In a single night, they’d made love nearly a dozen times or more, and still, he wasn’t satiated, wasn’t satisfied.

When would it be enough?

He traced his hand over the smooth skin of her neck, the puncture wounds he’d left there.

“What shall I do now, Dani?” he mused. “What would you have me do?”

“Turn me,” she whispered, confirming his greatest fear. “Turn me. Make me well and truly yours.”

Corbin couldn’t bring himself to move. “I can’t,” he breathed. “Forgive me, darling, but I won’t.”

She twisted toward him then, staring up at him through the dark as if his expression contained all the world’s greatest mysteries, until finally, she whispered, “I understand.” The hurt in her eyes killed him a little. It was like she was destroying him from the inside out.

Bit by bit. Piece by piece.

She sat up, moving to the edge of the bed. “And what of Lucien? What of him?”

“I made you a promise, and I intend to keep it.”

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