With obvious relief at the distraction, Fallon was turning to hurry into the room across the hall.
“My magic has activated,” she said, moving to study the dozen bowls that had been arranged on the Persian carpet in the center of the floor.
Cyn halted near the doorway, studying the bowls with open suspicion. “Activated what?”
She turned to study his rigid posture. “Are you afraid of magic?”
Of course he was afraid. Magic was every vampire’s worst nightmare. Okay, not his worst nightmare.
That would be looking like chicken shit in front of a beautiful woman.
Which was why he was squaring his shoulders and forcing his reluctant feet to carry him toward the bowls that flickered with eerie images that were as creepy as hell.
“I fear nothing.”
Fallon smiled, not fooled for a second. “Such a big, bad vampire.”
“Again with the big,” he muttered. “Would you like me to show you—”
“Good, it appears that Siljar has called the Commission into session.” She interrupted his peevish provocation, bending over a bowl closest to the stained-glass window.
Cyn frowned, forgetting his fear as he watched her tiny shiver. Dammit. He needed to find some way to keep the massive castle warm.
“Why is that good?”
“I can lock on them all at once.”
Even without much knowledge of magic, Cyn recognized the amount of sheer talent, not to mention strength, it must take to keep a lock on a dozen of the world’s most powerful demons.
“How long can you maintain your connection?”
She shrugged. “As long as I want.”
Cyn felt an unexpected sense of pride spread through his heart as he moved to stand at her side, his fingers smoothing a stray curl behind her ear.
“No wonder Siljar was so anxious to get her hands on you.” His lips twisted in a rueful grin as he felt tiny sparks of pleasure shoot from the tips of his fingers directly to his groin. “I know the feeling.”
Instant arousal pulsed in the air, the scent of warm champagne making him hard with need.
His fingers drifted over the pale silk of her cheek, moving to outline the sweet temptation of her lips.
“Cyn,” she breathed.
His mind was filled with delicious images of her mouth wreaking havoc as it explored his naked body, eventually taking his aching erection between those lush lips and . . .
“Hmm?” he murmured.
“What are you doing?”
“The hell if I know.” His voice was a low growl.
“Your lover—”
“Lise is my most trusted lieutenant, not my lover,” he interrupted with a grimace. He’d been an idiot to ever have suggested there might be more between him and his clan mate.
“It doesn’t matter.” She licked her lips, the exotic emerald flecks in her amber eyes darkening with an unconscious invitation. “This isn’t happening.”
He slowly lowered his head, giving her plenty of opportunity to pull away.
“This?” He pressed a line of kisses down the length of her stubborn jaw. “Or this?” He gently bit her lower lip, allowing her to feel the razor-sharp points of his fangs.
Not a threat. A promise of the pleasure to be found in a vampire’s arms.
She released a shaky breath, her lashes sweeping down in a futile attempt to disguise her primitive reaction to his touch.
“Don’t mock me.”
He pressed his lips to the vulnerable curve of her throat. His fangs ached to slide into her tender flesh, drinking deep of her rich, decadent blood.
“We’re going to be trapped here together.”
“And?”
“And there’s no reason we can’t enjoy our captivity.”
For one delectable second he felt her melt beneath the soft exploration of his lips, her skin heating with an arousal she couldn’t disguise. Then, as if she’d been struck by a sudden, unwelcome thought, her hands lifted to press against his chest, her head tilting back to stab him with an accusing glare.
“You intend to make me an addition to your harem.”
Harem?
He was momentarily confused. Granted, he was a vampire who’d enjoyed his share of females. Sometimes more than one at a time. But his lovers had always been eager to be in his bed. He’d never kept a stable of women who felt compelled to offer him their bodies.
Then his fangs lengthened as he recalled why she would be so suspicious.
Dammit. How dare she compare him to her faithless fiancé who kept a herd of females rather than devoting himself to pleasing this exquisite, utterly captivating creature?
“I’m not Magnus. I would never parade a pack of concubines beneath the nose of the woman who was to become my mate.”
He instantly regretted the words as she paled, her eyes shadowed with a soul-deep pain.
“Don’t.”
“Hell, I’m sorry,” he rasped. What the hell was wrong with him? This beautiful fairy princess was truly screwing with his mind. With a jerky motion he was turning, heading for the door before he could make the situation even worse. “I left your food and clothes in the hallway.”
“Where are you going?”
His cowardly retreat never faltered. “To save the damn world.”
Chapter Six