Bitten Beauty (The Deadly Beauties Live On 3)

“I’m one of you,” I whisper, now feeling a little desperate and hating it.

His eyes glow brighter as the predator inside him slowly tries to take control.

“You’re not,” he says harshly, shoving me against the wall before caging me in. “You can walk away. You’re still mortal and close enough to human. You’re just a mortal who can defend yourself. Go. Get out. Don’t keep tempting me, Leah. Because I will fucking take you if you do. And you’ll hate me for it.”

He pushes away, grabs the glass of blood from the dresser, and disappears from sight.

That didn’t go the way I wanted it to.

It takes a few minutes to breathe properly and make my legs work without turning to rubber. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m terrified or turned on when he’s pissed.

On unsteady legs, I make my way toward the bed and sit down, trying to wrap my mind around all that he said. I don’t even know why I want to be around him.

I’m too close to the situation to be rational. I need to be logical and look at this from an outside perspective. Like the good little research analyst I am, I silently start making a list of all the facts to draw the best conclusion I can.

I don’t know him.

He doesn’t want to know me.

Sure we had sex, but that’s not exactly a foundation for a blooming relationship.

He’s a freaking vampire.

I don’t have to be a part of this.

I can go back to my life.

This world will most likely turn me into a monster or leave me dead.

He’s a freaking vampire.

Zee wants me to be his vampire bitch. Well, Zee’s inner demon wants that. He wants me safe.

I don’t even like the sight of blood.

He’s a freaking vampire!

I don’t want to be a killer.

Blowing out a breath, I massage my temples. The creak of the door has me jerking my head up, and Ella walks in with a knowing look and a sad smile.

“He’s sending me away, right?”

She nods. “Kane—my dad—just spoke with Slade. Well, Slade actually contacted us, and Dad made the deal for you. He’ll leave you alone if you leave him alone. I guess he changed his mind.”

She studies me, but I don’t give her any expression to see.

“You’re sad,” she states matter-of-factly. “Your aura is buzzing with sad energy. It’s the first time I’ve seen any piece of your aura. I was starting to think you knew how to hide it.”

I don’t even know what the hell that means, and I don’t really care. I don’t know what I’m feeling, so I don’t know how she could know either.

“You’re saving him if you leave. Zee wants to change you. Needs to. The longer you’re around, the harder it is on him. You don’t want to be changed. Thad was willing to risk a century in prison to turn Roslyn without her knowledge. Time doesn’t matter to him anymore. But Zee? He’s not old enough to not feel time yet.”

Again, she’s talking gibberish. I just grab my bag and shove my things into it.

“Are you supposed to escort me out?”

“Out of town.” She frowns as I wipe away a tear I don’t fully understand. It’s just one tear, but I don’t know why it’s there. I’m not a crier; I’ve never once cried. That tear is almost a tease, because I don’t know how it got out.