Page 4 of Love, Rekindled

“Always.”

Clenching her muscles, she prepared to attack. It was now or never. “I love cutting an arrogant male down to size,” she murmured.

“Stop.” The voice echoed deep inside her, halting her mid-leap. This is not your fight,kiska. Return to your home.”

She clenched her teeth, fighting against the compulsion that held her prisoner. Most vampires could control humans and some lesser demons by seizing their minds. But only a rare few could compel a vampire. It was no wonder Azrael was such a successful mercenary. And why he’d allowed her to enter his lair so easily.

“No,” she hissed, her muscles trembling as she fought against the urgent need to obey his commands.

He frowned as if surprised by her stubborn resistance. “I don’t want to hurt you. Leave and don’t return.”

“I…can’t.” Calling on the skills she’d learned during her years of training, Jayla shattered his powerful grasp on her mind, calling on her secret power. The energy she released didn’t send the male reeling backwards or screaming in pain. Instead, Azrael stood in motionless silence, temporarily frozen in time.

Then, before she could consider the terrible consequences, she leaped forward, stabbing her cursed dagger into the center of his heart.

The blade slid deep as time lurched back into motion, and she jumped backward. Azrael’s eyes widened as if he belatedly realized precisely what had happened. But it was too late. The sword dropped from his hand, and he fell to the floor. Jayla swallowed a cry of dismay, the image of his golden perfection seared into her brain, even as she watched the darkness crawl over his body, turning him to ash.

Jayla prodded herself to leave. There were other guards in the lair. She could sense them. And, eventually, they would come in search of their master. Instead, she dropped to her knees. She’d done exactly what she had come to do: destroy the male who’d threatened her king.

The last thing she expected to feel was as if she’d stabbed the dagger into her own heart.

Reaching up, Jayla grabbed the jade pendant hanging around her neck. With a quick yank, she broke the golden chain. Then, pressing a kiss to the delicate talisman her maker had given to her the day she became a vampire, she laid it next to the sword.

“Forgive me…”

CHAPTER 1

HongKong

Present Day

Jayla’s penthouseoffice on the top of Dreamscape Resorts offered a number of perks. It was the size of most local apartments and furnished in brilliant shades of crimson and gold. Best of all, it had a glass wall that offered a stunning view of the city skyline and the nearby Victoria Harbour.

There had to be some payoff for the aggravation of managing a resort that catered to endless hordes of customers during the year and employed nearly a thousand workers—both human and demon. She loved the challenge, but she was in dire need ofme-timeeach evening to soothe her nerves.

Now, she sat next to the glass wall, a small lacquer table set in front of her. On the table was a tray, precisely arranged with her pink and green floral tea set. She’d just finished pouring hot water over the bone china, warming it in the traditional manner, before reaching for the canister of tea. She raised it to her nose to savor the rich scent before scooping it into the perfectly heated teapot. Allowing it to steep, she cleared her mind. This wasn’t time to dwell on problems or consider the future. It was an opportunity to savor her momentary peace. Once the tea was ready, Jayla poured the hot liquid into a snifter. Once again, she lifted it to appreciate the aroma before carefully pouring it into the teacup.

She’d just settled back in her soft leather chair to take a sip when the door to the office opened.

“Excuse me.”

A chill blasted through the air as she reluctantly turned her head to discover her assistant, Gideon, stepping into the room. The tall, slender vampire’s hair was a deep red and cut short, his eyes a bright hazel dusted with gold. His features were delicate but unmistakably male with a bold nose and square jaw. His smile, however, made him a favorite among the human guests. It was wide and welcoming without any hint of the torture he’d suffered in the slave pits of a brutal vampire who’d considered his clansmen to be nothing more than objects to be used and abused.

“Gideon.” Jayla slid a pointed glance over his tailored black suit paired with a crisp white shirt and gray silk tie.

Gideon stopped in the center of the room, his expression wary. “Yes?”

“Do you find me a demanding employer?” Her voice was so soft, the male was forced to lean forward as he strained to hear her.

He swallowed as if he had a lump in his throat. “No, mistress.”

“Do I have an excessive number of unreasonable rules?”

“No, mistress.”

She held the vampire’s gaze, her face carefully devoid of emotion. Unlike his previous master, she didn’t lead by fear or intimidation. She simply shared her expectations. Either the employee lived up to those expectations, or they found a new job.

Until this moment, Gideon had rarely disappointed her. That was one of the reasons he’d become her most trusted assistant. That, and his absolute, unshakable loyalty.

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