Page 62 of Burn for Her

“Vampires, werewolves, humans, we all like a lot of the same things, Lena. Vampires drink blood to survive. No one,” he said, pulling a saucepan out of a cupboard, “drinks hot chocolate to survive. We just like to indulge ourselves, am I right?”

For all the intense mess Dorian was, Lucian was the exact opposite. While Dorian oozed aggression, Lucian exuded controlled confidence. Dorian’s gaze was tempered and dark, Lucian’s was playful and curious. She suddenly wondered who would win a fight between them.

Lucian poured milk into the saucepan. His broad shoulders filled out his t-shirt nicely. His profile looked like cut perfection—slender nose, sharp jawline, plush mouth.

“We’re designed to lure you in,” he said in a deep, quiet voice. “If you catch yourself staring, don’t be ashamed. You’ll get used to our appearances eventually and pay us no mind.”

Lena looked away. The silence grew awkward and uncomfortable.

“What do you feel when you look at Dorian?” Lucian swirled the pot of simmering milk.

“I… I’m not sure exactly.”

“Yes, you are.” He turned off the burner.

“I just met him.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He grabbed chocolate from another cabinet and poured it in. Lazily, he swirled the pot with a wooden spoon. “What do you feel, Lena?”

She blew out a long exhale. “I feel safe.” That’s the worst part of this whole thing. She should feel the opposite of that with a train wreck like him, right? But she didn’t. Lena also felt somehow responsible for his current condition, which absolutely made no sense.

It was the way he’d screamed her name at the mansion earlier. That sound did something dangerous to her. It made her feel wanted and cherished. Needed.

Ugh, she was pathetic.

“You should feel safe with him.” Lucian licked the spoon before dropping it in the sink. “He’ll never hurt you. In fact, he’d raze this world if he thought that’s what it took to protect you.” He handed her a mug of hot chocolate. “No marshmallows, I’m afraid.”

Lena almost laughed. “I don’t like them anyways.”

“Neither does he.” Lucian took a sip from his mug and eyed her closely while she did the same. Then he dragged his tongue over the tip of one of his canines. “You didn’t seem too frightened when Malachi drank from me.”

She didn’t want to respond to that.

“We can smell you, Lena. Keep that in mind. Your mouth can lie, but your body can’t. We all smelled the lust in that room.”

“Oh Jesus Christ.” She turned away and sat her mug down, then braced herself against the counter.

“That’s a good thing,” Lucian leaned next to her, flashing his fangs with a big grin. “It means you’re accepting of how we are. A good deal of lust goes into a blood exchange like that.” He frowned and put his hand up, “Wait. I mean usually. The King and I aren’t like that.” He shivered and added, “Holy Hell, I wouldn’t want to be his bottom. He’d annihilate my ass. The King has a serious weapon of ass destruction, I can’t imagine what it would take to—”

Lena burst out laughing. “Wow. Do you say everything you think?”

“Try to.” He shrugged.

“No wonder Dorian likes you.” She crossed her arms and grinned. “You probably balance each other out. He seems a little closed off and you’re like a megaphone.”

“The yin to his yang.” Lucian bowed. “I’m the yin. Totally the yin.”

“Does it matter?”

“Only if one thinks it does.” He took another sip of his hot chocolate. “And Dorian’s an open book. Always has been. Ask him anything and he’ll tell you the truth. I don’t think he has the capacity to lie. He’s not built that way.” Leaning against the counter he crossed one foot over the other and stared at her for a long minute. His brow furrowed. “Help us save him, Lena.”

“I’m not even sure what you’re asking me to do. I don’t understand how I’m supposed to save someone I don’t even know.”

“Yes, you do. The King already told you. If Dorian doesn’t bond and mate with you, he will die. And… it’s going to happen soon.”

Her heart clogged her throat. “How do you know that for sure?”

“I’ve seen it,” he said quietly. “And I hope I never see it happen again. A vampire’s curse is the cruelest of them all. And Dorian’s got double the battle to fight because some piece of him believes he deserves this death… even though his soul cries out for you to save it.”