are quite skilled in that regard.” She smoothed the folds of her dress.
“Come.” He held his hand out. “Unless you wish to take me up on my offer.”
She placed her hand into his. “I think it best if I eat. I would not like to faint at an inappropriate time.”
“Hm. It might not stop me if you did.” He grinned wickedly and pulled her into him. With that, the world exploded into the weightless sensation of flying through the sky as a multitude of bats. It still made her ill, even if it did not frighten her anymore.
At least not terribly.
When she came back to herself, she was standing on the roof of the library. She gasped. The view was gorgeous, even if she did feel somewhat precarious standing on the copper sheets, even if this portion was perfectly flat.
A table was set up near them, using the beautiful view of Boston, cast in red light as it was, as the backdrop. Draped in a white cloth, a candelabra was burning in the center of it. The food was already set out and two glasses of red wine already poured.
It looked so wonderfully cliché that she had to laugh.
“What is funny?”
“You have outdone yourself.” She shook her head. “All we need now is some soft violin music and we would have the perfect date.”
“It can be arranged.”
“I am joking, you great oaf.” She turned to him and batted him playfully on the arm. “I am not going to make some pack of vampires sit up here and play in a chamber ensemble for our amusement.”
“For shame.” His smile revealed how much he seemed to enjoy their candor. “I suppose I shall have to tell them their evening is freed up. Now, whatever shall we do without the accompaniment? And here I had been looking forward to a dance. I suppose we must make do, regardless.” He offered her his hand, and she was struck by the image of it. It was not the first time had done such a thing, and she doubted it would be the last. She hoped not. She slipped her hand into his, and he brought her into the position for a waltz.
It seemed he was remembering how they met. He danced with her to a silent tune, careful to avoid the ledges of the roof.
Their first dance had been exhilarating, terrifying, and wonderful. She had so much enjoyed their debate, even if she had been an utter fool for not seeing his inhumanity hidden behind the façade of a living man.
Now, here they were. Together. She had been hunted by a monster, and now she willingly danced with him atop the library of a city he had ruined. “We have come a long way, Count.” For better or worse.
“So we have, Miss Parker. So we have.”
The dance ended when he drew her close to him and pressed his lips to hers. Cold but wonderfully inviting. She chased his lips as he pulled away, and she stole one more embrace from him before he finally drew back with a dusky growl. He laced his fingers through her hair, combing the strands with his sharp nails. His fingers wandered along her jawline, and he tiled her head back and let his thumb rest against the hollow beneath her lip. He watched her as if he would burn the image into his mind. Perhaps he was trying to do simply that.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I thought I would mourn the day you no longer feared me. But I find myself with the need to celebrate the occasion instead.”
“You will always scare me, Vampire King. You needn’t worry.” She took his hands. They were so different. Ashen and pale, not olive. Cold, not warm. The nails were long and pointed, dangerous and sharp. She lowered her head to kiss his palms one at a time. “I think have come to accept that I enjoy the fear.”
“Good.” He lifted his hands from hers to trail a sharp nail through her hair again, tucking a loose strand behind her ear. The feeling brought a shiver out of her, and a wicked grin ghosted across him. “Come. Dinner is growing cold.”
She followed him to the table and sat as he pulled out a chair for her. Steak—her favorite—prepared flawlessly. Yes, it would be a shame to let it go to waste. They ate in silence for a long time as she turned over her thoughts in her mind. She tried to keep