Page 35 of Stalk the Dark
Ezekiel’s smile was a baring of teeth. “Or I could simply have you flayed and decipher the ingredients myself.”
Across from us, Hemlock went deathly still, but Ordell simply shrugged and replied, “Sounds a little too much like hard work to me.”
Ezekiel’s eyes narrowed, and a dangerous light flickered in their depth, the kind that said he was considering taking on thishard work.
I reached for the bread rolls. “Are we eating, or did you invite us here to exercise your bantering skills?” I added a roll to my plate then scooped on some stew. “This all looks and smells delicious.” I glanced at hisplate to see he’d added ham and some pastries. He followed my gaze with a knowing smirk.
“What? You didn’t think I survived solely on blood, did you?”
That’s exactly what I’d thought. “I don’t know what to think about you yet, Ezekiel.”
He smiled as if this pleased him. “Tell me about you. What wonderful protégé has the Order sent to watch over me this time? What special skills do you come with?”
My skin prickled where his gaze touched me, but I kept an unaffected air, acting as if I was pondering his question. “Let’s see, I can demolish a crossword puzzle in minutes, can spell just about any word, and I have the highest cold one termination rate in the Order to date.” I graced him with a kitten grin. “What about you?”
He arched a dark brow. “You want to know my special skills?”
“Why not? Aren’t we sharing?”
He took a sip from his goblet, lips stained crimson for a moment before he ran his tongue over them, wiping them clean. “I don’t share, Miss Lighthart. When I claim someone, they become mine and mine alone.”
Someone? Where had that come from? Just go with it, Orina. Keep him talking. Keep it light. “A little selfish, don’t you think?”
Ezekiel leaned forward in his seat, and even though there was plenty of distance between us, I tensed. “Not selfish, more…mindful. The people I claim crave nothing but me. My breath on their skin and my touch on their bodies.” His gaze bored into me, trapping me, drawing me in. Visions of naked bodies entwined filled my mind, along with the ache of pending release and the twist and throb of sexual desire. My pulse beat harder, faster, as if it was trying to break free of my skin. “Once they are mine, they yearn fornothingmore.”
Ordell coughed loudly, and the connection between Ezekiel and me snapped.
I sat back in my seat, hands balled into fists in my lap beneath the table. What the fuck had just happened? Again. Ordell reached for me beneath the table, gently coaxing my hand open to lace his fingers with mine, while across the table, Hemlock flipped his silver coin along his knuckles as if his life depended on it.
There was something in the air. Something put there by Ezekiel, and if we were going to leave this dinner with our faculties intact, then we needed to beware.
Ezekiel picked up a grape and popped it in his mouth, then chewed slowly. “Please, eat. I have some entertainment planned for dessert.” His tongue peeked out to lick at the corner of his mouth, and he winked.
He fucking winked.
Last night, I’d witnessed bloodlust and destruction,but the vampire seated at the head of this table seemed like an entirely different creature. Nothing like the journals, which meant that this was a game. A persona. He was playing the charming host, and the best way to keep him stuck in the role was to play along with it.
Hemlock barely touched his food,moving it around his plate, but Ordell ate everything on his platter, then loaded up with more, seemingly at ease. I had no idea how he managed it, because my stomach was in knots despite my outward bravado. Ezekiel seemed to watch my every move, his attention a weight that barely shifted off me.
“Have they told you about the Exciatio?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“You’ll accompany me,” he said. Beside me, Ordell tensed. But Ezekiel continued. “You will dress accordingly as my most personal guest.”
“That isn’t how it’s done,” Ordell said, his voice low. “The watcher attends in an official capacity along with a personal escort.”
“Oh, she will be official…Officiallyon my arm, andIwill be her personal escort.” Across the room, Hemlock’s coin flashed faster along his knuckles, but he kept his head bowed.
Ordell sat up straighter, ready to argue, no doubt,but I slipped my hand to his thigh and squeezed in warning.
“I’d be honored.” I smiled tightly. “Who better to enter a lion’s den with than the lion himself?”
His eyes flared.
Damn, I was good.
“Spare no expense as I will cover the cost.”
