“You bastard.” Without thought she launched herself toward the aggravating vampire, wildly pounding her fists on his solid chest. “I have sacrificed everything to keep my daughter safe. Everything.”
Uriel hastily sheathed his sword, wrapping his arms around her trembling body and pulling her close.
“Easy, Kata.”
She tilted back her head to stab him with a warning glare. “Don’t ever say I would try to harm her again.”
“Fine.” He lifted a hand to gently smooth her hair from her face, his expression guarded. “If this isn’t a trap, then why are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Maybe I don’t like you,” she muttered.
His eyes flared with a heat that could rival the lava that spilled over the cliff just a few feet away.
“I could change that if I wanted to,” he husked.
And he could.
She might not want to acknowledge the poignant awareness that swirled between them. Or the peculiar sense that she’d been waiting for this particular man to crash into her life since she’d been a simple gypsy maiden. But ignoring the dangerous sensations didn’t make them go away.
“Please, Uriel . . .” she whispered, acutely aware of the soft stroke of his thumb over her cheek.
“Tell me why you’re trying to get rid of me.”
She heaved a resigned sigh. Stubborn demon.
“It was my demented sister who is responsible for sending us here and there’s no reason for both of us to suffer.”
His lips twisted. “And you think splitting up will end my suffering?”