Page 86 of Burn for Her
Annnnd caught him. That’s what she hadn’t tacked on. She chased after a vampire. What kind of person did that?
A fearless one.
Or a human with a death wish.
Dorian’s ears began ringing. He was going to pass out. Clamping down on his focus, he tried to hold his shit together for as long as possible. If he dusted right now, it would really piss him off.
“Fighting off an attack isn’t the same as what I do, Lena.”
“Yes, you also blow their brains out and turn them into sludge.”
She wasn’t taking this seriously. “I’m the House executioner. The Reaper. I torture for a living. Kill them slowly most times.” He canted forward and made sure his fangs showed as his confession dropped to a dangerous tone. “And I fucking like it.”
Lena leaned right back into him and didn’t skip a beat when matching his tone. “As well you should.”
He reared back. “You’re crazy.”
“Takes one to know one.” Lena glowered unapologetically. “So maybe you’re trying to cut and run, now, because you don’t want to be the one looking for an exit later. Maybe this I must die to save my mate from a lifetime of being with a monster is really the other way around. You’re trying to leave me now before you’re officially committed to eternity with my crazy ass.”
Dorian was flabbergasted. “Never,” his voice cracked. “I… no… that’s not it.”
“You know what Marie told me? She said you’ve spent your whole life protecting those you love. Even those in your House. She said the only ones you kill are sworn enemies and those so violent, they threaten the existence of Lycan and vampire. She said you’ve never laid an angry hand on an innocent. She said you keep to yourself and always come when one of the Lycan need you. Same for vampires.”
Dorian’s eyes narrowed. “Marie talks too much.”
Knowing her, Marie was probably concocting some crazy plan to force Dorian and Lena together one way or another. Damn, he loved the woman who stepped in and took over the role as his mother when the rest of his world turned dark. But he wasn’t happy that she went and told Lena as much as she had.
Then again, Lena should know all the good and the bad about Dorian, right? She needed to make her own decision based on all the facts before surrendering her mortality.
He ground his molars together while he came up with something else to say. “She makes me sound like a hero when I’m anything but.”
“Was she lying?”
“No.” The one-word truth flew out of his mouth before he had a chance to eat it. “But I assume she failed to tell you how depraved and violent I can be too.”
Lena swallowed hard. “I joined that underground fight ring looking for more than an adrenaline rush, and I came to New Orleans looking for something more than a hot fuck. I’ve searched in the darkest corners for something that could make me feel like I belong, because I know I’m not meant for sunshine and rainbows. I prefer violence and danger.”
He could relate.
“And now that I’ve found exactly what I’ve always wanted,” she said, her voice rose with her temper, “you’re denying me. For one who runs when someone needs them, Dorian, you’re doing the opposite with the only one who’s fated to matter to you. Some mate you’d make.” She turned to walk away from him.
Dorian snatched her by the waist and wheeled her around until her ass hit the dresser. His breath came out in punches. “You’re right,” he growled. “You’re fucking right.”
“Then don’t die,” she pleaded. “Give us a chance.”
“What if you hate me later for this? If I’m too much monster for you to suffer?”
“I’ll kill you myself.”
His heart clenched. That she said such a thing without hesitation did unspeakable things to him. “Holy Hell, this is so messed up.”
“That’s how I know it’s right.” Lena broke out of his hold again and gripped his face. “If I’m really your alakhai, Dorian, why deny us? Why walk away from something that could be glorious?”
His body trembled with emotions too strong to unleash. “What if—”
“No more what ifs,” she demanded. “I’m not saying I’m in love with you yet, but I’m willing to admit that I can’t pull myself away from you. When you came into my room at The Wicked Garden, I felt a thud in my chest.” She tapped her breastbone. “Then I heard your voice and it pounded even deeper within me. And when we fucked at your house, the only thing running through my head was for you to bite me, and it had nothing to do with a kink. It was something far more damning than that.”
Damning. What an accurate word for it.