Seduce the Darkness (Alien Huntress #4)(36)
Author: Gena Showalter

What would he have to do to engage her interest fully?

God, I’m a mess. Devyn lifted the beer he’d stolen from Dallas’s fridge and drained half the contents in a single gulp. Dallas. The perfect friend. Only Dallas knew what he’d done, what he planned to do, but Dallas wouldn’t rat him out. Rather, Dallas was going to help him.

They’d spent an hour talking and gazing at the holographic images the sketch artist had rendered of Devyn’s supposed murderers. Only one face had been familiar to him, and it had indeed been a McKell vampire. The McKell vampire, in fact. The leader of the whole bloodsucking army.

Which meant, if Dallas’s vision was correct—and they always were—the McKells were going to come for Bride. Probably sneak her underground. And they were definitely going to try and kill Devyn.

Was she someone’s bride, and just didn’t know it? Was that the reason for her name? If so, why had the husband let her get away? Why hadn’t he searched the ends of the earth for her? Too late now, Devyn thought darkly. At the moment, she was not up for grabs.

His murder, he wasn’t worried about. Now that he knew an attempt was coming, he’d always be on his guard. No one would get the better of him. Besides, there’d been other attempts—royals were always targets, and playboy royals who broke hearts like others broke bread most of all—but he’d always come out ahead. It was the idea of Bride returning to the underground, forever out of his reach, that disturbed him.

Infiltrating that dark, gloomy world without permission would be impossible. They had a millennia of security down there, and they’d never grant him permission to steal one of their own—even if he swore to bring her back when he was done with her. Therefore, he had to keep her aboveground.

He should have taken her tonight, should have scratched his itch sooner rather than later, instead of trying to prolong the enjoyment and make her crave him the way he craved her. Stupid—and a mistake he wouldn’t make again. Or rather, for a third time. When they were next together, he would take her. Finally sate himself.

The thought made him grin. Just a few more hours, lovely Bride, and you’ll be mine.

CHAPTER 11

This place is a dump. Sure she’s got him here?"

Devyn flicked Dallas an irritated glance. He was in front of Bride’s door, disabling the ID scan, twisting wires and realigning them. "As if I’m ever wrong." At least, that’s what he told himself he was irritated about. The affront to his tracking skills, and not the fact that his friend had insulted Bride’s living space. Not everyone could afford luxury. "Now, keep your voice down."

"You’re already in control of her body."

"Yes, but she’s sleeping." All that sparkling energy was static. "I don’t want you to wake her." She would be frightened, and too easily Devyn remembered the fear she projected while standing on that street, knowing slavers were after her. The green in her eyes had dulled, and her skin had turned so pallid he’d seen the blue of her veins. And then she’d trembled. When that woman trembled, it should be in pleasure. Only ever in pleasure.

"By the way, this place is not a dump." Damn it! Why had he added that?

"I just … I guess when you told me vampires were real, I assumed they lived in eerie castles and stole their victims’ money so they’d never have to work. Does she even have a job?"

"I’m not sure." And he didn’t like that he didn’t know. Didn’t like that he wanted to know. Why did he need to know? What value would it have?

Footsteps suddenly pounded, a body turning a corner.

There was a rustle of clothing and a breeze of stale beer and sweat. A pause, a muffled curse. "What’cha doing trying to get inside Amy’s apartment?" The human had stopped and now stood at the end of the hall, beefy arms crossed over a protruding middle. His expression was suspicious.

Dallas flashed his AIR badge. "Amy, you say?"

"A common name to help her blend," Devyn muttered. Oh, yes. She was a smart girl. His admiration spiked. Yet again.

"She done something wrong? Or are you guys ex-boyfriends wanting a tag team?" The newcomer was sneering as if the thought both disgusted and titillated him. "Well, good luck. She don’t give it away to nobody."

"Back away and forget you saw us, understand? And take a shower, for Christ’s sake. You could clear a sewer."

"No. You will stay," Devyn commanded, and the man obeyed, helpless to do otherwise because Devyn had mentally locked on his energy.

Dallas groaned. "We don’t have time for this."

Devyn ignored him, pivoting and moving away from the doorway and toward the human. "The fact that you know she won’t give it away leads me to believe you’ve tried to get some from her."

Fright filled the man’s beady eyes. If he’d had control of himself, he would have run. Or fainted. "I —I never hurt her."

But he’d put his greedy fingers on her, Devyn was sure. Why hadn’t she compelled him away with The Voice? Why hadn’t she drained him dry? Not for one moment did Devyn think she harbored an attraction for the tag-teaming moron. Which meant there were only two possibilities. Either she was too kindhearted to hurt him or too unsure of her powers. Again, the fact that he didn’t know her enough to figure her out irritated him.

"I’d be doing the world a favor if I killed you," he said.

The fear sparked into panic, but the panic didn’t last long. It was soon replaced by bravado. "You’re a damn dirty alien. You can’t hurt me without AIR jumping all over your ass."

"AIR’s behind me. You saw the badge. And the only thing I’m likely to get for my next action is a pat on the back." With that, Devyn reached a mental hand inside the man’s chest and squeezed his heart.

Pain contorted his pudgy features, and he gasped. His cheeks burned a bright red, and his eyes clouded over. Devyn enjoyed the sight, more so than usual, and he couldn’t deny it.

"St-stop. Please, stop."

"Dev," Dallas said.

Fine. When Devyn released his hold, the human sank to the floor, clutching his chest.

"Enjoy your heart attack," he said, and then, because he hadn’t wanted to leave the guy alive but was doing so for Dallas, he punted the little shit in the stomach. Air whooshed, and blood even gurgled. "Have a friend call you a paramedic. And if you ever touch Br—Amy again or suggest such a thing to someone else, or hell, even breathe in her direction, I will return and finish what I’ve started."

No response. But then, he hadn’t expected one. Devyn spun on his heel.

Dallas had his arms crossed over his chest.

"What?" Devyn said, all innocence. "He annoyed me.”