Page 23 of Taste Me

It doesn’t change the facts,my logical brain argues.

Such as he’s a mercenary and I am his target.

“I already know you are here to assassinate me,” I tell him, not hiding the bite to my tone. “And that you have my tormentor’s magic in your veins.” I step closer, unafraid to tilt my chin to look up at him. “You rejected me after I said his name. Does that have something to do with your newfound truths?”

Perhaps he didn’t know if he was accepting Daithi’s magic, but hedidrespond to the name.

A strange sort of pain enters his eyes. “Something like that.” He sighs and sweeps his gaze over the ruined room. “Iwashere to assassinate you, but obviously I am not going through with that anymore. I was told lies about who and what you are. I have no reason to kill you anymore.”

“You don’t?” I hedge. Because as far as I’m concerned, the fated bond is the only reason he hasn’t tried to kill me. “You’re a mercenary, as you say. Payment is all a mercenary cares about, so the only thing that’s really changed is that you clearly want to fuck me.”

Wanting to get into my pants doesn’t qualify as a pious reason to show mercy.

His nostrils flare as if I’m testing his patience. “I’m a rogue mercenary because I don’t believe in the structure of the Houses, witchling. I use my own moral compass. From the information I was given, you were a witch unable to control her power. Unchecked power only causes problems in this fucked-up world.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Ican’tcontrol my power,” I point out. I’ve never been able to use my voice without summoning the deadly forces behind it, not once it fully manifested.

And it killed my family’s allies in the process, starting a chain of events that led to misery after misery for my twin and me.

He tilts his head, causing his brown hair to fall into his eyes. “No, but you controlyourself. And that is admirable.”

“So, a vampire with a moral compass.” I scoff. “Conveniently, that allows you to kill people, to judge when the death knell should ring and when it should remain silent.” I lean in closer. “It sounds like you’re just looking for a reason to get your dick hard.”

He growls in return, sending chills over my arms. “You don’t know me, witchling.”

“And you don’t know me,” I retort.

He was willing to kill me on second-hand information. He clearly has a lot to learn if he truly intends to be a moral force in this “fucked-up world,” as he called it.

He nods. “I don’t.”

“You don’t,” I agree. “So, what now, vigilante vampire?”

He sighs. “You don’t deserve to die. That much is clear. Knowing what I know now, it’s better if you stay hidden. The best thing would be to leave you and never return, for your own sake. But I’m afraid Ican’tleave you, witchling. If I don’t report back tonight with proof of your demise, another mercenary will be sent in my place and I will be presumed dead.”

“You expect me to run?” I challenge him.

He gives me a seductive smirk. “I expect you’re not one to run from your problems, no. You face them, fearless and unstoppable.”

He’s not wrong.

“I’m not one to run,” I agree. “But you don’t need to protect me. I can take care of myself.”

His fingers dance across my shoulder. I know it’s to stabilize him against the effects of my voice, but I hope it’s more than that, too.

I dare to hope he still wants this connection between us like I do.

I rejected him because I saw him accept Daithi’s magic. I thought he was complicit in the insanity that was the patriarchs.

But I sense there’s so much more at play.

And I’m eager to learn more about Jasper Justi, a vampire without a beating heart.

A vampire who shares a connection to the death plane, just like I do. His growl called forth the chill of souls, and while part of that might have been borrowed from me, it was only because we share this brand of death magic.

“I’m going to protect you, even if it’s from yourself,” he says, his words going low and husky. He grins again, showing off his lengthened fangs. It gives him a dangerous edge, one that I want to explore. “So why don’t you be a good little witchling and show me to your bedroom, where I can keep an eye on you?”

Spirits. This vampire is going to be the death of me.

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