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skin.
The face was chiseled, the perfect man s face, but with a beauty that one often
finds in the female form. His brows, thin moustache, and goatee were dark and
reminded her of a Musketeer. His hair was almost to his shoulders in soft curls. It
tried to look relaxed, but she had the feeling that every hair was in its intended
place. He was enthralling.
Torin. Wil said with an abruptness that meant the man had taken him by
surprise, too. I thought perhaps you had decided not to show.
Never, my friend. I always honor my word. His voice carried the smallest
hint of an accent, though Aly wasn t sure what it was. He offered a hint of a smile
that seemed both warm and menacing, since his dark blue eyes never softened.
This must be our Alyson. He moved toward her and extended his hand to
reveal a true French cuff. On his finger was a wide band of silver that matched a
thick bracelet with ancient looking carvings.
Aly held out her hand and he took it and turned it palm down. He made an
elegant bow as he kissed it.
She looked at Wil and arched her brows, but his answer was an extravagant
roll of the eyes. When she glanced back, Torin s eyes locked on her face. His eyes
were deep blue, like two small oceans, and she felt herself falling forward into
them. What an odd trick.
It is my honor to meet you, Miss Wingate. Torin stood straight again and
released her hand. I am Torin.
The words rolled off his lips like lyrics and the voice was too perfectly
beautiful to be human. Even the sound of it felt like a lover s hands smoothing
over the curves of her body. She felt an urge to close the distance and wrap herself
in his arms. With Wil so close, she wondered if he could feel it, if he knew how
easily Torin swayed her. Wil had said to be careful, but she hadn t quite taken him
seriously.
Torin smiled as if he knew what she was thinking, then broke the gaze and
looked toward Wil. I am not using bloodmagic on her. I was simply offering a
warm welcome.
Did Wil say something? She looked at Wil and saw his arms folded across his
chest.
We don t have time for this. Are you sure it will work?
As I told you before, it will help. Much of it depends on her will and how well
our bond is forged. Nocturne is rising from a century s sleep. She is not at her full
strength or she would have already taken her prey. He looked at Aly again when
he said it. She seeks someone to strengthen her, and I believe she has found the
source. If all goes well, and Alyson is as stubborn as you say, I believe this will
hinder her plan.
All right, let s get this done. Wil s eyes narrowed and sweat gleamed above
his brow. We need to get to the docks.
William. One cannot rush the cicatrice. If she is not fully concentrated on me
when we attempt this, I may have to push too hard. We risk her becoming a slave
to my power.
Wil nodded, but Aly folded her arms across her waist and tried not to look at
Torin. He had too much control with those eyes, and even without the special
effects, he stirred her. She d never seen a man as completely and utterly sexy. It
practically oozed from him. Even standing two feet from him, she felt the pull of
his presence. If Wil was in the room when he bit her, and it had the affect she
thought it might, he might feel just how much her body responded to him.
She already feels apprehensive. Torin cut his eyes to her, made a tsk, tsk
sound and scratched his temple. I believe this will not work with you in the
room, ami.
Shit. She d pulled the walls back up tight. Still, it made her wonder if Torin
could read her actual thoughts, or just the emotions that went with them. She
didn t ask. Hell, she didn t really want to know.
Chris and Wil looked at each other, but Wil spoke. I think I ll stay in here.
He s right, Wil. I am nervous. She relaxed her hands down to her sides and
tried to look calm. I just need to do this without an audience. Just wait outside
the door. I ll scream if I need you. She smiled. You ll still be able to hear with
the door shut. Right?
Yeah. But I don t like this.
This was your idea. You said you trust him. Remember?
Wil looked at Torin, and his power followed, blanketing the room in warm
waves.
Another power pushed back at Wil s warmth, like cool rain falling from the
ceiling. Torin folded his arms in front of him and didn t look awed. I assure you,
I am not here to steal your love from you, simply to offer my help.
If you do anything to her that we haven t discussed, I ll rip your throat out.
Wil turned. Chris followed him and they moved onto the stairs. The door closed
behind them with a loud thud.
Aly felt strangely alone, as if the vampire at her side wasn t there at all. Torin
turned to her, and she averted her eyes to avoid the blissful fall.
You have quite an effect on the garoul. I cannot recall him ever losing his
temper over something as trite as this.
Aly didn t answer. What was there to say? It could have been her, and it
could ve just been the cloves. Who knew?
Did he explain what is to happen? Torin stepped closer, but she didn t move.
You re going to bite me.
In the crudest sense, yes.
She nodded.
Do you understand what this will mean?
That it will make me your slave and protect me from her.
I don t intend to make you my slave. He reached down and touched her
hand. This time, power arced between them. It started at their fingers as a cool
chill and crept up her arm, then over her chest until it wrapped her in a serene
flow. Most of my servants, even the least connected, feel a certain desire for my
presence and favor. If we meet again, you may feel it as well.
Aly nodded. Her heart went to a slow and surprisingly calm pace. As long as
you don t exploit it. I don t want to be a zombie or anything.
He laughed and the sound filled the room. I wouldn t dream of it. He
smoothed the top of her hand with his other, his fingers encasing hers. Do you
still want this? It is irreversible, unless I meet with ill fortune.
Yes. She nodded, but still didn t meet his gaze.
As you wish, but first, you must drop those clever defenses. I will use my
power to make this a pleasant experience, and if you struggle, it will only make
our tie stronger. He moved one hand to her shoulder and stepped closer until
their chests touched. And, you must look at me, dear.
She took an emboldening breath. When she looked up, his eyes were the same
crystalline blue as before, and she felt herself falling into him. She breathed again
and let his power swim through her until it threatened to drown her. She didn t
want to drown, she wanted to ride the waves of it, and fought to keep her mind
from sinking in the depths.
His eyes flared with blue light. His hand released hers to reach around her
back and pull her hair to one side. The side of her neck, opposite the other bite,
arched toward him. He breathed along her skin. Relax your mind. You must
allow it to consume you.
She steadied herself by placing her hands on his chest. A wave of what she
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