Taken by a Vampire (Vampire Queen) - By Joey W. Hill Page 0,170

wanted to serve with everything she was.

Evan was still holding her wrist. Slowly, she put pressure on his grip, reaching for his hand with straining fingers. When he loosened his grasp, she let out a tremulous breath, closed her fingers over his wrist, reversing their positions. Then, shifting her hold, she brought her face down to his hand, pressing her cheek into his palm, her lips. He allowed it. Allowed her to show her affection, her regret, and accepted it. Accepted her.

He cared about her. Not like a passing thought, a favorite toy. She, Alanna, had emotional value to him. Enough that putting herself in danger had enraged him, because she hadn’t been where he could protect her.

She had no words for how she was feeling, only that she was feeling so much, she had to press herself as hard as she could against that contact point. He gathered her in closer to him, so her face was between his palm and chest, her ear pressed over his heart when she heard him say something so remarkable—for a vampire—she thought she’d misheard it.

“I am sorry, Alanna. I shouldn’t have said what I said. It was cruel. I said it because I was furious, not because it was true. Brian said you were the best of your InhServ class, the example all others wished to follow. No, let me finish. I think that happened because you exceeded the program, representing the true spirit of it. InhServs should be assigned to vampires worth serving. Which is part of why you told the Council what Stephen had done. You served the well-being of all of us. You thought like a Council member, not a servant. Just the same way you did today.”

“It wasn’t that noble. My brother—”

“Was the catalyst,” he inserted. “Stephen was betraying his own people. When he showed such disregard for your brother’s death, and you knew he was planning Lord Daegan’s death, it helped you make the right decision, no matter the circumstances.”

She thought about that, her cheek still pressed to his chest. “You’re worth serving, Master.”

“Thank you for that, but I think you’ve always been meant for far bigger things than sorting slides and cutting our hair. Any vampire would be lucky to have you, Alanna.”

She liked sorting slides and cutting hair. She liked being with the two of them. But she was too drained to say that. Instead, she stayed silent. Content to just be here, in this moment.

He stroked her hair. “I will take you to your brother’s grave, let you put flowers on it. You can visit your family as well if you wish.”

She choked on another unexpected, overwhelming sob, and he tightened his arms around her. “It’s all right, motek. It’s all right.”

“I’m so sorry, Master. I didn’t intend to hurt you, or do the wrong thing. It tears my heart out, thinking I made you feel for one moment I thought any less of you. You’re the most wonderful vampire I’ve ever met.”

She flushed, realizing how simple she sounded, but he chuckled warmly, held her closer. “I think you should remember what Niall said, about even a pile of manure looking better than Stephen. But you’re forgiven, sweet girl. Totally forgiven, if you stop crying. You’ve made Niall a mess. Your bear is beside himself. He’s supposed to be packing up, but instead he’s lurking outside, sure I’m going to murder you.”

When he tipped her chin up, she saw his wry, tender look. It undid her. Though she’d sounded like a starstruck teenager, she’d meant it. And with or without the third mark, he was in her soul. They both were.

A muscle flexed in his jaw. Now you’re trying to do it to me. Jewish men are notoriously emotional, even the vampire ones.

It made her smile, even through the tears. “I’m glad you took off the contacts,” she said shyly.

Evan’s lips quirked. “The first time I used them at an event like this, Mistress Regina was quite taken with them. She tried to tie me up. Niall teased me tonight, said I wore them just to impress her. He knows that woman scares me to death.”

Alanna couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to cover up Evan’s gray eyes, the way they changed from storm clouds to a dove’s breast, to the hazy predawn sky when rain was promised. Realizing she was gazing up at them now, she blushed again, but Evan touched her face.

“You paint words in your mind beautifully, yekirati.” He kissed the salty tracks