Page 44 of Viktor's Temptation
“This means our naughty vampire has transitioned a second victim,” Viktor growled, setting the papers aside. “It also gives us a third location to triangulate the bastard’s position.”
“I can organize the clan for patrol shifts tonight,” Trent offered. “We’ll cover the entire triangle and extend the radius around the dump sites. If we don’t find another pile of bodies, we might at least catch the bastard transporting his next set of victims.”
“Good,” Viktor said with a sharp nod. “And send out a clan-wide message about the number nine. Let’s see if anyone knows of its significance.”
As Trent stood to leave, Viktor turned back to Gracie. “Are you ready to overcome your fear of heights so you can join the group flying overhead tonight?”
Gracie hesitated, then squared her shoulders. “Absolutely. Let’s do it.”
Viktor’s grin was fierce, approval shining in his glowing eyes. “Excellent. Now, tell me what you found in your research.”
Gracie gathered her thoughts and began explaining what she’d learned, her voice steady as she spoke. The glow in Viktor’s eyes didn’t fade as he listened intently, his expression equal parts focus and pride.
Chapter 22
As she walked away, Gracie’s thoughts swirled with a mix of determination and longing. Learning to control her new skills wasn’t just about mastering her powers—it was about proving to herself that she could thrive in this new reality. It also meant she could potentially escape Viktor’s sphere of influence sooner. Not that shewantedto escape, she thought, her cheeks heating as vivid memories of the night before surfaced.
After last night’s marathon of passion, Viktor had shattered every preconceived notion she’d had about intimacy. He’d shown her pleasures she hadn’t even read about in her most indulgent romance novels. And it wasn’t just his prowess in bed that attracted her—it was his steadfast dedication to his clan, his humility in acknowledging a potential weakness in his leadership, and his willingness to adapt. Those qualities made him more than a powerful vampire lord; they made him a man of depth and empathy.
Gracie sighed as she pressed the elevator button, the cool metal grounding her for a moment.Who could resist a man like Viktor?she wondered. A man who was as incredible outside of the bedroom as he was within it. The idea of loving him both thrilled and terrified her.
She stepped into the gym, dressed in soft leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. The outfit was perfect for training—comfortably snug without being restrictive. The space was vast, with polished hardwood floors that gleamed under the gym's fluorescent lights. Mirrors lined one wall, reflecting the climbing ropes, weight racks, and mats stacked neatly in one corner. The air smelled faintly of fresh wood polish and cleanleather. Gracie walked across the pristine floor to one of the open mats, determination burning in her chest.
Standing in the middle of the mat, she closed her eyes and concentrated. She’d seen Viktor and others do it effortlessly—floating, flying, soaring with the grace of birds in an open sky. But when Gracie tried to focus her energy through her feet, her first attempt resulted in a clumsy hop that sent her tumbling to the floor with an unceremoniousthud.
“Ow,” she muttered, rubbing her bruised hip. But the pain was fleeting, and when she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, she saw the bruises already fading.No excuses now,she thought, grinning at the small victory.
Over the next several hours, the gym became a flurry of trial and error. Gracie pushed off with too much force and slammed into a padded wall, laughing breathlessly as she pushed herself off. Other times, she barely lifted an inch off the ground before wobbling and landing in an ungraceful heap. The bruises came and went like fleeting shadows, but with each attempt, she got closer to controlling the power surging within her.
At some point, she figured out the key:Think of your feet as a jet pack.That simple visualization changed everything. She focused her energy downward, imagining a steady stream of propulsion lifting her body off the ground. The wobbling persisted at first, but with practice, she began to glide smoothly across the gym.
The first time she hovered mid-air without crashing, Gracie let out a triumphant laugh that echoed in the empty room. The sensation was exhilarating—weightless and free, likethe world had opened up before her. After that, she carefully zipped across the gym, soaring higher with each pass. The fear of falling faded with every flight, replaced by a growing confidence that made her heart race.
She practiced turns, stops, and hovering in place, marveling at the ease that came with repetition. The hardwood floor beneath her became a distant concern; even the occasional crash was met with a lighthearted chuckle as her injuries healed almost instantly.
Gracie floated in the middle of the gym, her arms spread wide as she basked in the sensation of flying. The joy was intoxicating, but it wasn’t just the thrill of learning a new skill that filled her with pride—it was the thought of Viktor’s reaction. She wanted to see his approval, to hear his praise, to know she’d impressed him. The image of his glowing silver eyes watching her with pride sent a wave of warmth through her.
When she finally touched down, her chest was heaving, not from exhaustion but from exhilaration. She stood in the center of the gym, her feet firmly planted on the floor, and laughed softly to herself. “Take that, fear of heights,” she muttered, wiping a hand across her damp forehead.
The thrill of her newfound ability filled her with hope and excitement. Viktor would be proud—sheknewhe would. And the thought of showing him her progress, of standing tall and capable in front of him, filled her with a renewed sense of purpose.
Chapter 23
Dave stepped into the dealership kitchen, the dull murmur of conversation halting as his co-workers noticed his arrival. He smirked inwardly at their reactions, masking his amusement behind a casual sip of the coffee he didn’t even like.
“Did you hear about the serial killer?” Laura’s voice cut through the silence as she leaned against the counter, her posture commanding attention. She cradled a coffee mug in one hand, stirring in cream with the other. The move was casual, but Laura wasn’t one for coincidences; she knew exactly how the men in the room responded to her figure-hugging red dress.
Dave allowed himself a glance at her, noting the curve of her lips as she turned toward him. “Nope,” he replied lazily, leaning back in his chair until it balanced on two legs. “I’ve been on vacation the past couple of weeks.”
Laura tilted her head, her dark hair spilling over one shoulder. “I wondered if you were the killer,” she quipped, her tone teasing but carrying just enough of an edge to make the comment linger.
“Oh?” Dave asked, his voice light, though his eyes glittered with dark amusement. “And why’s that?”
Her smile widened, the kind that lit up her eyes and sent every man in the room into a quiet frenzy. “Because the killings started the day after you left for vacation.” She took a sip of her coffee, savoring the moment. “Guess I was wrong.”
Dave chuckled, letting the chair drop back to the floor with a deliberatethud.He met her gaze, his eyes trailing over herin a way that would have made anyone else blush or recoil. But Laura held her ground, confident in her allure. She didn’t know how close she was to becoming his next victim.
For a fleeting moment, Dave considered it—imagining Laura shackled, her screams echoing off cold cinderblock walls. The thought sent a twisted thrill through him. But no, she wasn’t worth the trouble. Laura was too clever, too loud. If she survived the transition, she’d become an obstacle rather than a pawn. Dave had no time for obstacles.
