Page 12 of Crimson Shifter
“Nobles,” I cut her off before she could continue, stepping into her space and looking down at her. “Nobles can't seethrough your mask. Royals even. The pompous aristocratic vampires who you’ve spent so much of your time with. Now, I’m not saying fooling them is an easy feat, but this is something entirely different.Survivalis entirely different. So sure,” I continued. “Draw up whatever masks you need to, but apply them as if your life depends on it.”
A spike of fear tainted the scent of her blood, the smell slightly frigid. Well, at least she hadsomesurvival instincts left because for a few moments, I swore the female didn't care if she lived or died.
“I'm trying,” she admitted on a tight breath. “I promise. I'm trying.”
“You need to try harder,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. “I'm sure if this was a dance lesson you’d be passing it with flying colors.” I swung, and she managed to duck before I made connection.
She glared at me as she dodged three more attempts, and I gave her a nod of praise as I continued to attack and she continued to retreat.
“That's all that I am to you, isn't it?” She weaved in and out of my slowed-down hits, but made no attempt to hit me back. “A spoiled noble vampire? The vicious daughter of a traitor? Do you seriously think I'mtryingto piss you off?” she asked, lashing out with a hit that I blocked easily with one arm.
“Oh I think youliveto do that every single day,” I said.
“Outside of training,” she said, retreating some more. “Absolutely. But here? No. I don't actually like my ass being handed to me every single time we face off. Do you think I want to die? Especially because I was never taught to defend myself because all I was ever supposed to be was married off and bred like some broodmare?”
That gave me pause, and I slowed, my eyes raking over every delectable inch of her body. She wore modern yoga pants and asports bra, and both of our feet were bare against the rug. Her hair was tied back, allowing every delicate curve of her face to show. In my time, females were expected to do just as she said, but in the time she’d been born? It was an archaic notion, one of many that the Zorins clung to over the last two centuries.
A ribbon of empathy tightened in my chest, but I shook my head and furrowed my brow at her.
“If you don't want to die in the inevitable battle that’s to come, thenproveit.” I went on the attack, speeding up my movements just under my full capacity.
She blocked two attempts to grab her throat.
“Good,” I said, but spoke too soon because I landed a hit to her left side that she wasn’t able to dodge, pulling the punch so much that it was more a warning tap than anything. But she still groaned in frustration, switching over to her primal instincts and lashing out as she tried to shove me across the space.
Tried and failed.
I growled, irritation rippling up every inch of my body. Shehadto do better. She had to take this seriously or she was going to die. Her brother wouldn't hesitate to rip out her throat if he discovered her deception against their bloodline.
“You aren't using every weapon in your arsenal,” I said. “The only thing you're using right now is anger. It can be a useful tool but clearly it's not helping you when it comes to your enemy, which happens to bemeright now.”
“Right now?” She laughed sarcastically. “Try the moment you laid eyes on me. You've had it out for me since then, and I'm doing my best to prove to you, to everyone, that I amnotmy family. I am not the blood that runs in my veins.”
“It doesn't matter what I think,” I fired back. “Right now, I’m nothing more than a vampire that's trying to kill you. Stop. Me.” I emphasized the last two words.
“You’re a thousand-year-old hunter! If you wanted me dead, I'd be dead?—”
“Is that what you want? Would that make you happy? If I ended all of your suffering right now?”
“Did you seriously just ask if that would make mehappy?” she snapped back, throwing punch after punch that I easily deflected. “Unfortunately for you, I don't share the same fantasy of my blood drenching your hands.”
“Then beat me,” I said. “Use that brilliant mind of yours. The one I’ve seen strategize and utilize to save innocent humans.Beatme. Use all the weapons you have, your most effective one being your mind.Outthinkme.” I lashed out, and she was almost able to dodge, but was a half-second too late. My fingers wrapped around her delicate throat, and I took her to the ground again.
I pinned her with my body, her legs falling to either side of my hips, our eyes locked with my hand still on her throat, squeezing just enough that she knew she’d lost.
“You want me to use every weapon I can think of,” she said, something churning behind those brown eyes of hers.
“Yes,” I said. “I want you to?—”
Her mouth broke the distance between us, her silken, soft lips pressing against mine with a hunger that made desire flood my veins.
Her hands flew to my hair, tangling as she yanked my mouth harder against hers, eliciting a growl from my chest. Instinct took over, and I slanted my mouth over hers, licking into it and shuddering at how damngoodshe tasted. Her tongue danced against mine, claiming my mouth in a way that had me rock hard and aching to sink inside her.
Her thighs clenched around my hips, tightening in a way that had me thrusting against her heat, my fangs distending.
Bite. Fuck. Drink.
My instincts pulsed with the demand as I licked into her sweet mouth, needing more. In the back of my mind, I knew I shouldn't be doing this. She was the daughter of a traitor. A stunning creature waiting to strike. But her soft, warm body felt too damn good beneath mine, eliciting a craving that I hadn’t felt in over five hundred years.