“Explain.”
She lifted her hands in a pleading motion. “I don’t know how.”
“Try,” he snapped. “Try very, very hard.”
“The spell is designed to purge your identity,” she haltingly attempted to clarify. “You have no scent, no . . . presence. Others will know that you’re near, but unless they’re an extremely powerful demon they won’t be able to detect anything about you. Not even the fact you’re a vampire.”
It was exactly what he expected. So why did he feel as if he’d just been raped? He hissed, wishing he could at least have the satisfaction of killing the witch responsible for his sudden sense of loss.
“Gods.”
Easily sensing his desire for death, Sally inched her way along the wall. At last she reached the door and, never allowing her wary gaze to leave his grim expression, she shoved it open. “Go to your female,” she husked. “She’ll make you all better.”
His fury was abruptly forgotten.
Dara.
No. He gave a shake of his head. Not Dara. But a female who would ease his most pressing hungers. Surely he would feel better once he’d taken care of his needs?
Strolling toward the door, he paused long enough to whisper in Sally’s ear. “Someday soon, witch,” he warned.
He had the pleasure of watching her turn a sickly shade of gray before he was headed back down the hall and entering the lead-lined cell. Closing the door behind him, Gaius halted to savor the moment.
Was there anything sweeter than the rich scent of warm, female blood? Or the sight of his prey struggling in helpless terror?
A smile curved his lips as the female strained against the shackles chaining her to the wall. She turned her head from side to side, able to hear his arrival although the room was too dark for her human eyes to see him.
“Who’s there? What do you want with me?” she rasped, the frantic beat of her heart like a siren’s call to Gaius. “Talk to me, you perverted freak.”
Compelled forward by his sharp-edged hunger, Gaius used his powers to light the lone candle set on a stool in a far corner. The flickering flame was barely noticeable in the vast darkness, but it provided just enough of a glow for the female to see Gaius’s approach.
Her lips parted to scream, but cupping her face in his hands, Gaius peered deep into her wide eyes.
“Shhhh. Look at me,” he purred, capturing her gaze and easily ensnaring her mind. He wasn’t as talented as some vampires in enthralling humans, but the female readily succumbed to his power. In a heartbeat her face became slack and her muscles eased until her arms hung limply at her side, the heavy shackles forgotten.
“What is your name?” he asked softly.
“Farah.”
Her voice was too high with a harsh American accent instead of Dara’s husky, singsong voice, but Gaius grimly blocked out the reminders that this female could never fill the empty ache in the center of his heart.
“Pretty, but from this night forward you will be known as Dara.”
“Dara,” the female obediently parroted.
“Yes, and I am Gaius. The man of your deepest fantasy.”
Instantly, her eyes darkened with a mindless devotion, her lips parting on a soft sigh. “Gaius,” she breathed.
“Very good,” he commended, his hands tightening on her face as he guided her down to her knees. “Now you will demonstrate just how pleased you are to be reunited with your beloved mate.”
With the obvious skill of a professional, the female had his pants unzipped and her lips wrapped around his erection. Gaius groaned in approval, closing his eyes as he dredged up memories of his beautiful mate.
All too soon he was reaching an intense orgasm that had more to do with physical release than actual pleasure and, shoving one hand into her long hair, he yanked her upright. She made no move to fight him as he angled her head to the side and with one smooth strike had his fangs buried deep into the flesh of her neck.
He heard her low moan of arousal at his bite but, ignoring her writhing body, he drank deeply of her blood. He grimaced as the warm liquid slid down his throat. There was no taint of drugs and alcohol, thank the gods, but the taste was flat on his tongue.
Still, he drank deeply, only halting as he felt her heart flutter in warning. It had been too long since he’d enjoyed feeding straight from the vein and the sensation was intoxicating.