The thought sends my desire flaring, but I balk. I can’t. Her father betrayed me. He ruined my one chance this generation to find what I need. Briar is not mine to please and to coddle. She is mine to break. Lips only inches apart, her sweet breath on my face, I drop my lips to her neck. I bite her, careful not to dose her with my vampire venom. She gasps, back arching as my teeth lightly pierce her skin. Briar strains against me, and I close my eyes, relishing the moment before pulling away with a wicked grin.
“I win,” I purr.
Her eyes widen. She twists in my grasp until I release her and scrambles to her feet, hand on the bite wound. "Yes," she murmurs. She bites her lip and closes her eyes. For once, I can't feel what's going on in her head through the soulbond, and I frown. "You did."
Chapter 2
Briar
Kane's hands tighten around my wrists, and I feel a flash of pain shoot up my arms. I wince and rake my eyes over his bare chest. Poised over me as he is, his unbuttoned shirt hangs down loosely, exposing a broad swath of his chiseled chest. I swallow hard, throat bobbing, and my mouth is suddenly dry. There's an ache on the tips of my breasts and my face flushes in response. I run my tongue over my lips nervously and glance at Kane's eyes. The black orbs are always lit with fire, but now they're ablaze.
We breathe each other's air, staring in silence. I drink him in greedily, memorizing each of his sharp features. There's a twitch in his sharp jaw, and I follow it to his cupid's bow lips, pressed tight with restraint. I've never seen anyone as handsome as Kane, someone so unearthly beautiful. It makes me heady. My heart stutters in my chest, and I see his lips quirk into a wicked grin. Kane looms closer, and I can feel my fingers trembling with anticipation of his lips on mine. My thoughts turn to our first kiss – my first kiss – and I blush more fiercely. When he kissed me, it felt like my entire body was on fire and submerged in molten lava. I want that feeling again.
I’m hungry for her.
The thought makes my breath catch in my throat. It wasn't mine. My lips part in surprise and confusion as I study Kane more closely. It sounded like him. It felt like him. But maybe I'm only thinking what I hope he is. Kane's lips are only a breath from mine, and I want to scream out for him to close the distance, but I bite my tongue. That wicked grin of his is making me ache. I wonder if I move beneath him if it will make him kiss me. The promiscuous thought sparks a sense of shame in the back of my mind, but it's swallowed swiftly by the rumbling in his chest and the way it makes my body vibrate with want.
Suddenly, Kane straightens. I watch, lips parted in surprise, as he rises swiftly and brushes off his trousers as if the tension between us was only in my mind. I push myself onto my elbows, cheeks blushing scarlet. His dark eyes rake over me once more before settling on his cufflinks. Embarrassed, I crawl to my feet and retrieve my dagger.
“You did well,” Kane says, glancing up from fixing his cuffs.
I lift my brows, surprised by the compliment. I thought he was mad at me. “Thanks,” I say, a small smile on my lips. “Maybe we can spar again.”
“Perhaps.” He sounds disinterested. Kane turns towards the door after picking up his jacket. “I’ll be gone for a week, perhaps more. I trust you’ll stay in the castle.”
“Where are you going?” I start after him, emotions tumbling in my chest. I hide my hands behind my back so he can’t see me twisting them nervously.
“To the mortal realm,” Kane says simply.
I gape at him. My home, he’s going to my home. “Why?”
Kane looks at me impatiently and pauses at the door. “To find the Nephilim. We found a lead in Nordsk.”
“I want to come,” I blurt, closing the distance between us until I can smell the heady scent of his cologne.
“You?” Kane cocks a brow. He leans against the door and crosses his arms, amusement clear on his handsome face. I tear my eyes away from his long legs and nod. Kane snorts. “Briar, I’ll be spending days and nights hunting a Nephilim. It will be too exhausting for your mortal body. Not to mention, dangerous. Don’t forget, Nephilim enjoy mortal souls the most.”
“There are other mortals the Nephilim is already preying on,” I argue. “Maybe I could help.”
Kane shakes his head. “No, Briar. You’ll stay here.”
“You yourself said I shouldn’t be separated from you.” I take a hesitant step closer and see his nostrils flare. Suddenly, I feel a wave of frustration and want. I blink rapidly as the alien emotions assault me. Pressing a hand to my forehead, I wonder if I’m getting enough sleep.
“Are you alright?” Kane asks warily.
I meet his gaze, noting the worry in his dark eyes. "Fine, just dizzy," I lie. I chew the inside of my cheek and rest a tentative hand on his arm. His eyes flash, but he doesn't push me away. "Please, I know Nordsk. I know mortals. I can help."
Kane rubs his temples. “You aren’t going to
