Ever Night Read Free

Now he sighed and lowered his arm. “None, then. Too bad.” He unfolded from the chair, his form as dark as the sky outside and as menacing as a blade. “That would have made our next dealing more entertaining.”
    Oh, God.
“What are you going to do during our next dealing?”
    One step, two, he strode away from her. At the table, he poured crimson wine into a waiting glass. Rather than drink it, he stood there for a moment, his back to her, fingers drumming against the surface. Thinking of the best way to dispose of her?
    There was no better time to run. But yet again her brain issued the command, and yet again her muscles ignored it. Truly, what held her down? She wasn’t bound.
That you can see
 . . . She shuddered. If he really was responsible, that would mean he was powerful in a way she couldn’t comprehend. And maybe . . . maybe he had been telling the truth.
    Finally, he nodded, as if he’d just reached a decision, and returned to her, arm outstretched, eyes glittering. “Drink this.”
    Hell, no!
If he thought to poison her . . . “I’m not twenty-one.” The only excuse her frantic brain could come up with.
    â€œWell, I won’t tell if you won’t.”
    â€œNo, I—”
    â€œDrink.”
    Another steely command. With trembling fingers, she claimed the glass. She drained the contents before she could talk herself into defying him. And possibly getting herself killed “slowly and painfully.” The thick liquid burned her mouth, leaving a metallic taste, then scalded her throat before cooling in her stomach.
    After taking the cup from her and tossing it aside, he knelt in front of her, clasped her wrist—his skin, so warm, so calloused—and lifted. She was ashamed of herself for not trying to pull away. But how could she? Where he touched, the ache inside her finally subsided, offering her the slightest glimmer of relief.
    Gaze intense, he stared down at her open palm. And there in the center, her skin split. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t even raked a nail over her, yet blood welled. Her jaw dropped in shock. She’d felt no pain, then or now.
    Oh, yes. Powerful in a way she couldn’t comprehend. “What—”
    Without a word, he raised the wound to his mouth and licked.
    Her stomach quivered and she told herself it was in disgust. “That’s gross.”
Oops.
She’d sounded breathless rather than creeped out. “Why did you do that?” Still embarrassingly breathless.
    Another sweep of his tongue, and the skin wove back together. Rather than answer, he said, “Wherever I walk, so, too, shall you. Now you,” he prompted. He maintained a firm grip on her.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œSay those words. Only I want you to say them for yourself, not me.”
    Her brow furrowed in confusion. “‘Wherever you walk, so, too, shall I’? Like that?” What did that mean?
    â€œYes. Now, this next part might hurt a bit. Say my name.”
    â€œVasili.” A wave of heat suddenly slammed through her, burning her up, blistering her inside and out, and flaming her to ash. But before she could scream, cry, beg for mercy, those ashes began to rebuild, locking together, re-forming her into a new person. A person who hungered for the man in front of her. Desperately. The ache he’d assuaged? Once again caught fire and spread, leaving no part of her untouched. It was harsher now. Harder. More commanding and utterly consuming.
    What. The. Hell?
She tried to jerk free, but he held firm. “What did you do to me, you—”
    â€œHush. Vasili’s talking. I’ve decided I can use you after all. Tomorrow, you’ll wake up at home. I suggest you do whatever it takes to find out if there are others like you. Find out who they are and when they travel here.”
    â€œAnd if I don’t?” Breathless again, damn it. All that ferocity could be