Page 45 of Twice Bitten

“I would never.”

I rolled my eyes but retook my seat, pretending I didn’t notice Alric’s look of relief.

The third and fourth courses came back to back, and Alric was true to his word. He made no more requests and did not push for information.

Instead, he spoke about flowers and gardening and asked me questions about the practice of hedgewitchery. He was an intelligent and witty dinner companion, and I found myself charmed in spite of myself.

Several times during our conversation, I felt myself leaning in, listening a little harder, watching him a little closer. The Vampire Prime was a beautiful, articulate, and intelligent male. Why had I been so scared of him? My fingers itched to trace the sharp line of his jaw, down the column of his pale throat.

I clenched my fists in my lap, resisting the almost overwhelming urge to touch him. If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect he was weaving a spell on me. My fingers brushed one of the charms on the bracelet I wore. A soft pop of air and my thoughts suddenly went crystal clear. My stomach dropped to my feet at the realization of what had just happened.

Alric’s quiet laugh wove around me. “I would have liked it if you touched me,” he said softly.

I hurtled to my feet, my chair clattering to the floor. “You sonofabitch!”

Alric’s smirk made me want to haul myself across the table and wrap my hands around his neck.

“I wondered how long it would take you to notice. Not bad, little witch.”

“You and I are done.” I snatched my purse off the table and spun on my heel.

The bastard laughed. “Dinner isn’t finished!”

This time I didn’t pause. My heels clacked on the stone floor as I headed out the door. My face burned with embarrassment and fury. He knew I’d consumed his blood and hadproven his point by weaving a subtle spell of control around me, hoping to use it to force me to do his bidding, guessing his power would work on me regardless of my witch blood.

But what he didn’t realize was I always wore a failsafe to alert me to spells, and I hadn’t thought to test the possibility until I felt the almost overwhelming urge to touch him. I never wanted to touchanyone. I’d been such a fool to accept his invitation.

The sound of footsteps behind me didn’t make me slow my own steps until a soft feminine voice spoke.

“Alex. A moment if you will.”

I turned to see a woman walking toward me. She was tall and willowy, with olive-toned skin and dark hair. Her eyes were amber and somber as she came toward me.

“Do I know you?”

She shook her head. “No, but I know of you.”

I snorted. “I’m sure the Prime has told his entire Hive about the foolish witch coming to dinner tonight.”

The woman winced. “Actually, no.” She jerked her head to indicate a side alcove. “If you will. I’ll only take a moment of your time.”

My hands tightened around my purse. “I’m sorry. I was just on my way out. Maybe another time.”

The woman leaned closer. “I knew your mother,” she whispered in my ear. “A moment only. Then you can leave.”

My heart lurched. I did not know this woman. She’d never come to our house, and we’d never gone to hers. I’d be a fool to believe Mom did not have friends I hadn’t met, but she hated vampires and never made a secret about it. She’d warned me multiple times about getting entangled with one. Why then would Mom have a friend, or even an acquaintance, who worked for the Prime?

I hesitated. Was this another of Alric’s tricks?

“I’m only here to help,” the woman whispered. “I promise.”

Too many people had lied to me to truly believe her promises, but this person claimed to know my mother. How could I pass up the opportunity to learn more about the woman I’d lost far too soon? Against my better judgment, I allowed her to lead me inside the alcove. She pressed a space in the wall, the responding click revealing a sliver of light.

“Inside, if you will,” she said as she pulled open a stone door.

The woman didn’t seem dangerous, but I was inside the Prime’s Hive. Everyone here was dangerous.

“Please,” the woman whispered. “You are in no danger from me.”