Page 30 of The Star's Sword

On the other half of the room, there was a huge four poster bed made of heavy wood that looked big enough for a monster to sleep in. There was a sitting area between the bed area and the place where I was currently pinned, which looked like an adjoining study or some kind of office.

Maybe this whole room was Mark’s main living space.

Mark kept his foot on me, staring at me as I grabbed at it, wondering if I should throw him off.

I knew I could do anything, but this was a high-ranking member of the vampire court.

Strong enough to fight but also smooth enough to rule.

I let go of his foot and just stared up at him flatly. “Look, you didn’t have to kidnap me. Just tell me what you want, and let me up.” I scowled. “Before my incubus comes looking for me.”

Mark’s smile spread cockily. “I’m not afraid of your ninth-realm boyfriend. He’s half-demon.”

“That wouldn’t save you,” I said.

Mark cracked his knuckles and pushed his huge fists together. He was wearing fingerless leather gloves that I had to admit were badass. “Been a while since I had a challenging fight. Perhaps I should keep you down there. Or?”

He removed his boot but in a flash of a second, far faster than anyone his size should be able to move, he was straddling me, his huge arms over me, his hands holding mine down on either side of my head.

His head was beside mine, and on my neck, I could feel hot breath. And the light, sharp press of a fang, not piercing, just poking me.

I sucked in a breath, wondering if this was really about to happen.

“Don’t,” I breathed. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

“How?” he asked, keeping his fangs close. “What would you do to stop me, if you were the Morningstar?”

I turned my head to the side, trying to avoid his fang. “I’m not trying to start trouble or kill anyone I don’t have to. But I can kill anyone.”

“Even if you had a weapon, you couldn’t reach it now.” His hands tightened on mine. “There’s nothing you could do to me. Just admit you aren’t the Morningstar and go home before you get hurt, little human.”

“I’m not human,” I said.

“You are a wolf shifter, which is a human with extra celestial blood and magic, but human all the same. I can smell it.”

I focused on the burning fire in my chest and let my inner demon rise.

I felt his smile in his tone and against my neck.

“Interesting. I have no problem feeding on demon blood, as long as it isn’t pure.” His fang teased my neck again. “Come on, just feed me a little. It’ll prove what you are.”

I swallowed, thinking hard about my next move. “I have a bond with my mate,” I said. “I can call him here in a minute.”

“Then why don’t you?” Mark asked.

I thought for a moment, figuring that out myself. “Because I’ll get in trouble for even leaving my guard down and getting caught,” I said honestly.

He chuckled, sitting back on me, so huge it was hard not to feel like I was being topped by a giant rock. “Well, you were easy to catch, sleeping out in the open. I thought, she either has to be very powerful or very stupid.”

I shrugged as much as I could with my hands pinned. “Probably both.”

Finally, he released my hands, but stayed straddled over me, his knees on the ground on either side of my hips. He leaned forward and began to shake slightly, and I realized with surprise he was actually laughing.

He stood up smoothly and extended a hand to me, presumably to help me up.

I scowled at him and did a move Cayne had taught me, where I brought my legs up and then down quickly to get back to a standing position without my hands.

Mark looked mildly impressed, but my hand was on my sheath in a second, and I was already deciding it was probably worth showing my sword to defend myself when he put up a hand.

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