apprehension or fear, if a healthy dose of caution. There was even a challenging glint in them.
Then why did she need to put space between them?
He had a theory, of course.
To test it, he slowly reached out a hand toward her hair, slow enough that she could avoid his touch if she wished to.
Her entire body went statue still as she braced for contact, but she didn’t move away.
He barely grazed the backs of his fingers against her silky cheek as he drew a tendril of hair to hook behind her small, slightly pointed ear.
She shuddered delicately all over at the ephemeral touch, and Ramses watched in fascination as sparks crackled like tiny stars in the air.
Now that’s what one would call chemistry.
She wanted him.
Badly.
But it was clear that she didn’t like the feeling, given that her brows slammed down and her lips pressed together to settle in a mulish expression.
Which Ramses found strangely adorable.
“The alliance was between Jade Cicada and Queen Sophia,” he said, letting the import of his words sink in. “I have not declared my own views on the matter.”
He rubbed his thumb lightly along her jawline, watching her shiver with awareness.
More sparks. More crackles.
He’d never encountered a female who reacted to him the way she did, across the many millennia of his existence. He wondered if she noticed it too.
“You and I don’t know each other…intimately, little sprite,” he pointed out and deliberately called her the name she denied earlier, which predictably made her eyes sharpen in a glare.
“We are not friends.”
She didn’t contradict him this time, swallowing visibly at his softly spoken words. He could see the pulse in her throat flutter rapidly, like a hummingbird’s wings.
“If I choose to detain you, Eveline Marceau, there is nothing you can do to stop me.”
*** *** *** ***
Bollocks.
Eveline didn’t like where this conversation was headed one little bit.
Why was the Dark King being so difficult? He should be apologizing profusely by now for being party to her predicament.
Not that she imagined a male like him (even if he wasn’t the one and only Dark King, and the most powerful vampire ruler in the world at that) apologizing for anything.
But still.
The alliance between their Kinds, or at least the New England vampire hive and the Pure Ones, had to count for something, didn’t it? Unless he instigated this whole thing and was actually making an example of her.
True, she was a lesser known, hermit member of the Dozen, but she was still in the Pure Ones’ official records. If he wanted to make a clear declaration of where his alliances lay, or didn’t lie, as the case might be, she’d certainly suit his purposes.
But then why go to the trouble of stealing her away and bringing her to this remote location? Why not parade her as his Blood Slave publicly?
And why, oh why, did he have to be so…distracting?
His nearness, his body heat, his scent and voice, not to mention the strange… static electricity (yes, must be just the dryness in the air and on their skin) from his touch, made it very difficult for Eveline to concentrate on her logic and equanimity.
Verily, she wanted to leap upon him like a starving lioness, tear his clothes off and have him for breakfast, lunch and supper. Then tie him down while she indulged in dessert.
What in Goddess’s name was wrong with her?!
She squared her shoulders and put some metaphorical steel into her backbone, preparing to go to verbal war with this uncooperative male.
“True,” she allowed, “you can detain me if you so choose. You are bigger and stronger. I am smaller and weaker and bound besides. You can break the intent of the alliance between our Kinds, if not the specific laws, by continuing to hold me prisoner. You can be an ogre of a conquering male by keeping a helpless, defenseless female hostage against her will.”
He cocked his head at her when she paused for breath after that impassioned little speech.
“Are you trying to appeal to my honor and nobility with these words? Or shame me into compliance with your wishes?” he asked in that awfully seductive voice.
Why did his voice have to conjure writhing naked bodies in her mind? Why?!
“You will find that I have none to appeal to,” he stated almost regrettably.
“Not true,” Eveline rebutted, her brain admirably trying to engage while her libido threatened to take control.
“Jade would never recruit a Chosen warrior who isn’t honorable and trustworthy. Not only did she choose you to