Page 57 of Burn for Her
No man had ever said her name so soulfully before. She closed the space between them and almost touched his shoulder but remembered him warning her about that. Instead, she ran her hand through his thick, curly hair and tipped his head back to inspect him. His eyes deadlocked on hers. His gaze begged her… cherished her.
Oh God, what was she going to do?
“Dorian, Lucian, get over here,” Malachi said from his chair.
If the king was pissed about Dorian’s outburst, it didn’t show. In fact, he seemed to have expected it. That set Lena off. Had Malachi done this to push Dorian’s buttons? Make him look weak? Make him unravel just so Lena could see it?
Now she wanted to throat-punch Malachi.
“I said get over here, Reaper.”
Dorian shook off whatever had been riding his system and staggered forward. Lena let him go and turned her gaze to Lucian. He stared at her with a mix of I’m sorry and please help. “Yes, my King?”
“Marius has demanded a bloodletting. Two from his House were attacked in the French Quarter.”
Should Lena be listening to any of this conversation? Maybe she should leave?
Lucian hissed angrily. “This is bullshit. He’s trying to stir drama up when there’s nothing.”
Dorian agreed. “He’s trying to prove this territory is no longer safe.”
“All so he can attain it himself and do better?” Lucian scowled. “Fuck that. This is a low blow, Malachi, even for Marius.”
“Some will stop at nothing to get what they want,” the king said.
Lena immediately looked over at Dorian. He was staring at her with a blank expression. “He likely paid for an attack, hired thugs to make it look like we aren’t patrolling and keeping the streets safe.”
“Most likely, yes.”
“Why?” Lena cringed the second she inserted herself into the conversation.
Malachi smiled but wasn’t looking at her. His gaze, just like earlier, remained fixed on the mirror behind her. What was it with all the damn mirrors? Weren’t vampires supposed to not see their reflections? Wasn’t that a rule or something?
“Marius wants this House,” Malachi explained calmly. “He wants the power that comes with it—and that includes our Dorian.”
Our Dorian…
“Why’s he so hellbent on targeting Dorian, Malachi?” Lucian fumed. “Marius’s fixation makes no sense.”
“It does when you understand Dorian.” The king grabbed his glass and took another sip. He cringed as he swallowed.
“Too old now?” Lucian asked in a low tone.
“I fear its potency is lacking.”
Lena tried hard to keep up, but it wasn’t going well anymore.
When Lucian said, “Dorian, grab your girl and hold her tight for a minute.” Lena had zero time to brace for impact. Dorian wrapped his arms around her like an anaconda and nuzzled his face into her neck. His entire body was hard, including the giant dick in his pants that now pressed against the top of her ass.
Heat radiated off his body, melting her into him.
But Lena wasn’t sidetracked by the dangerous man in possession of her. She was enthralled with the view up front. Lucian dropped down on one knee and rolled his sleeve up, presenting the king his forearm. “It would be an honor, sire.”
That’s all Lucian said. And all Malachi needed to hear.
The king’s mouth opened wide, and, like a viper striking, he bit down on Lucian’s wrist. Then he latched on and started swallowing.
Lena shuddered. Dorian’s grip tightened around her. Lucian’s gaze snapped to her and his nostrils flared. Malachi’s gaze drifted away from the mirror and locked onto her as he drank from Lucian.