fall," he said.
Nola raised her fist at him before glaring straight ahead.
"Ah, look at that. An Amazon who obeys a man's command without question. A novelty indeed," Layel said.
Delilah turned back to him, pulse jumping at the sound of his husky voice. Gods, he was beautiful. Striking and full of verve. A protector in a predator's skin. "Are all vampires angry, snarling beasts?"
He inclined his head. "Just me. Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"You're sure?"
"Look who's asking questions now," she told him smugly. A swift survey of the contestants had her noticing the other vampire's gaze was once more on her friend. "Your warrior watches my sister with dark intentions in his eyes, as though he wants her for dinner."
Layel's gaze slowly perused Delilah's face. "That displeases you, I see. Jealous?"
There was so much anger in the question, she was momentarily taken aback. And then, gods help her, she was smiling. "Are you?"
He didn't answer. He even looked away as if dismissing her. But he didn't dismiss. He merely said, "I am not jealous," his tone quiet, calm. "But I think I would kill even my own brother, if I had one, if you decided to take him as a lover."
Water splashed. There was a vile curse.
The other demon had fallen.
"How do you feel?" Layel asked before she could respond to his angry - wondrous - announcement.
Tired, weak, shaky. Unsure. "Fine."
His gaze slid back to her in another lingering perusal, hot, stopping in all the places she wanted his mouth to travel. He licked his lips as if remembering the taste of her. For once - twice? A third time? - nothing around her mattered but a man. Her weakness was forgotten. The game was forgotten. Consequences were forgotten. Only Layel existed.
"You never told me the worst thing you ever did."
A muscle ticked below his eye. "Why do you wish to have such information? What purpose could it possibly serve?" There was genuine perplexity in his voice.
"I want to know you better. That's all."
A warm blast of sea-kissed air blustered about them, whipping his hair around his face and causing her mouth to water. He didn't have a shirt on and his pants were ripped. Every hard rope of muscle and sinew he possessed was bared to her view. She couldn't help but marvel at the sight. I held this powerful man in my arms.
He didn't have any scars. She'd always thought she'd desire a man with scars - proof that he did not back down from a fight. Proof that he'd fight for her. Vorik had possessed many. But she wanted Layel far more than she'd ever wanted the dragon - who hadn't fought for her after all. The vampire's skin was velvet-covered steel, smooth and strong, and tempted her as nothing else ever had.
"Have you ever killed a woman?" she asked, inclining her head.
"Oh, yes." He didn't hesitate with his answer. "I held Marina, the former demon queen, in my arms and killed her the way I almost killed you. I drained the life out of her with my mouth. And I have never regretted it."
"I suppose she hurt you in some way." Had they been lovers? Delilah wondered, fists tightening. That small action upset her balance, and she swayed again.
Layel kicked out his leg, preventing her from toppling. The movement was as swift as a blink - gliding up, then back down - that no one could have noticed, but it saved her.
Her heart pounded in a staccato rhythm of gratitude and embarrassment. "Thank you," she muttered.
"I warned you. Pay attention. Next time, I may let you fall."
"My sweet hero." Feeling a hot gaze boring into her, she glanced around. Brand and Nola were staring straight ahead, Zane the vampire was watching Nola again and - Tagart. Damn. He was glaring at her.
"You have to stop helping me," she grumbled to Layel. "Saving me will only get you killed."
"At least you don't deny needing aid. And before you tell me that you wouldn't have needed aid had I kept my teeth to myself, I know. You are strong and capable when your veins are fully stocked."
He acknowledged her abilities as a warrior? Shock nearly felled her. One of the reasons the Amazons so often had to prove their abilities was that the men they fought so often lied, claiming victory they had not warranted, too embarrassed to admit they'd been defeated by mere women.
"Sometimes I feel weak around you," she admitted quietly, lowering her voice so only he