Forcing himself to ignore the unnerving sunlight, Uriel hurriedly followed behind her, nearly running her down when she came to an abrupt halt at the edge of a large glade.
Sensing her tension, he studied the meadow dotted with wildflowers and the shallow stream that wound a lazy path through the grass. So far as he could tell they were alone in the strange vision, but that didn’t mean there weren’t dangers lurking among the surrounding trees or the distant hills that were silhouetted against the horizon.
Even paradise had its serpent.
At his side, Kata gave a slow shake of her head, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief.
“No . . .” she breathed, “it can’t be.”
“Do you sense something?”
She shook her head, cautiously taking a step forward. “I know this place.”
Even knowing it was an illusion, Uriel had to battle his instinctive reluctance to step from the shade of the trees into the sundrenched glade.
“Careful, Kata.”
She tilted her head to meet his worried gaze, her skin brushed with golden sunlight and her dark curls spilling down her back in a glorious tangle.
“What is it?”
For a moment he was speechless. She was so . . . exquisite. But it wasn’t her beauty that held him captivated. Or at least, not entirely.
He’d known some of the most stunning women in the world over the years. Imps, fairies, humans, and vampires. But none of them stirred his hunger as this woman did.
Was it her earthy curves on full display beneath the nearly transparent nightgown? Or the passionate life that smoldered in the dark eyes? Or the fierce spirit that Marika and the damned mage hadn’t been able to crush despite their best efforts?
Whatever the cause, it was all he could do not to yank her against him and take her in a storm of raw need.