Page 9 of Viktor's Temptation
Her silver eyes met his, pleading for answers, for something to anchor her in this storm of confusion.
“Yes, Gracie,” he said, his tone solemn but certain. “You are a vampire. And I will ensure you learn exactly what that means—and that whoever did this to you answers for it.”
Chapter 6
Viktor watched her intently, unable to tear his gaze from the fascinating woman before him. She was beautiful, yes—but there was something more. Something about her vulnerability, her strength beneath the confusion, stirred a possessiveness in him that was both unexpected and deeply unsettling. He prided himself on his control, yet Gracie was unraveling it effortlessly.
The fact that she had no idea of the effect she had on him only deepened his irritation. She sat curled up on the sofa, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her brow furrowed as she tried to remember. Viktor wanted to reach out, to offer his strength, but he held back, unsure if his touch would soothe her or frighten her further.
Her denial of what had happened to her was frustrating, but he understood. The transition was painful and bewildering, especially when forced upon someone without consent. But Viktor suspected this transformation wasn’t random—it was connected to the bodies his men had found, the ones that had baffled both the police and his clan. The threads of the mystery were tangled, and Gracie held a key, even if she didn’t yet realize it.
“Please, tell me what happened,” he urged, his voice low and coaxing. “Go back to the last thing you remember.”
Gracie lowered her head, and Viktor’s gaze was drawn to the elegant curve of her neck. The sight of her long, delicate throat, with its pale skin and faint blue veins, sent a wave of longing through him. He clenched his jaw and forced himself to focus on her words as she struggled to answer.
“The last thing I remember is…” She bit her lower lip in thought, then yelped softly as her fangs punctured the skin. “Ouch!”
He smiled gently, pushing aside the desire to lean closer. “You’ll learn to control them,” he reassured her, an amused spark to his grey eyes.
“How?” she asked, her fingers brushing the tiny punctures, a drop of blood welling briefly before it disappeared.
“I’ll teach you,” he promised, waving her question aside for now. “But first, I need to know how you were transitioned.”
She dropped her head again, and Viktor’s eyes betrayed him, once more drawn to the vulnerable line of her neck. When she looked up again, her dark hair cascaded forward, shielding her throat from view, and he exhaled slowly, regaining his composure.
“What is today’s date?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Why?”
“Because I’m trying to think back,” she explained, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. “You asked me to tell you the last thing I remember.”
He nodded, watching as she closed her eyes, as though retreating inward to search for clarity.
“I remember being really tired from my job,” she began haltingly. “I am… Iwasa nurse. A surgical nurse.” Her voice cracked slightly, and she wiped at her eyes. “I loved my job. My patients. Taking care of them.”
“At which hospital do you work?” Viktor prompted, leaning forward.
“Memorial Hospital,” she replied, her voice a little steadier.
“Then you know Dr. Hurst?” he asked, his tone tightening.
Her face lit up briefly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Everyone knows Dr. Hurst. He’s the hospital stud.”
Viktor’s jaw tightened. His eyes darkened as a hot spike of jealousy coursed through him. “But of course, you have better judgment than most, don’t you?”
Gracie blinked at his tone, her smile fading as she caught the edge in his voice. “Dr. Hurst is an excellent surgeon,” she said carefully, shrugging. “But he’s a bit of a player. He prefers thin, attractive women. I’m just the invisible, dumpy nurse that hands him tools.”
His eyes narrowed, the intensity of his gaze making her squirm.
“You will avoid Hurst, Gracie,” he said firmly.
She tilted her head, startled by his bluntness. “Are you jealous, by any chance?”
“Yes,” he admitted without hesitation, his honesty hitting her like a physical blow.
Her lips parted in surprise, and she averted her gaze, staring down at her knees. “You… I… I don’t understand why,”she stammered. “I mean, I suspect you’re trying to flatter me, but…” Her voice trailed off, her confusion deepening.
“Tell me about the last day you remember,” Viktor said, steering her back to her memories, though his irritation over Hurst simmered beneath the surface.
