Page 90 of You Only Love Twice
"And this is definitely the right situation," she breathed back, wriggling her bottom a little, as if to confirm he was indeed erect.
That was the problem with beingdhampir. Or perhaps it was merely Gemma. "It's always the right situation."
The hunger never truly went away anymore, but he'd thought he'd had a leash on it untilshewalked back into his life.
"There is a young woman missing. And one of your brethren took her." Her eyes flashed murder as she turned around, her hand laid flatly against his chest. "Please tell me your companionisn'tthe goddamn Chameleon."
"He isn't the Chameleon."
The pistol wavered against his chest, and he saw indecision flood through her. "You know who it is."
"Gemma...."
"Don't you lie to me."
"Fine." His expression tightened. "I won't lie. But this is one fight you are better off staying out of."
"I have to stop him," she said.
"Nyet. If you walk out there, you'll die."
"If I don't, then Miss Hamilton will die."
"Better her than you," he said.
Shouts echoed.
Tension slid through him as he turned toward the mouth of the catacombs.
"No," Gemma blurted, slamming her hand to his chest and forcing him back against the wall. "They're my friends."
Yesterday swam between them.
It was the exact same thing she'd said then, and he'd thought she'd chosen them.
Until she stepped between Malloryn's gun and his fallen body.
He looked down at her. Black curls danced around her defiant face, and something long dormant warmed within his frozen chest. Gemma would defy the world for those she loved, no matter what it cost her. And somehow, she'd decided he was important enough to be protected.
If her friends were out there, then so was Silas....
How the hell was he going to get Gemma away from here? She wore that mulish expression he knew so well. If he tried to throw her over his shoulder again, he had a feeling she'd try and castrate him.
"You're not prepared to face Silas," he told her. "He's not like me, Gemma. He won't spare your life. Your friends are here. Let them rescue—"
"I'm sorry," Gemma whispered.
"For what?"
A sudden sharp, lancing pain went through his side. Obsidian grabbed her arm, but a wave of weakness went through him. She'd stabbed him just under the ribs with a tiny dart she'd pulled from her bracelet.
"Just a little hemlock," she murmured, bracing his weight against her body. "You'll be able to move again in a couple of minutes."
"Gemma!" His legs weren't working, a chill spreading out from the area she'd injured. As the poison worked through his system, it took his strength with it. "Damn it."
Obsidian went down on one knee, barely able to twitch his toes. His fingers curved around her arm, locking tight, but she pried them off.
"Well, what do you know?" Gemma whispered, catching him under the arms and hauling him into the darkness of the catacombs. "It seems all a blue bloods strengths—and weaknesses—are exacerbated when one is made into adhampir. I'm sorry. But I can't let him kill an innocent girl."
