Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 4)

“Thank God you’re finally here.” Cesar rolled his eyes again. “Her talking drove me nuts.”

“I need a moment alone with Maya,” Tim said without taking his eyes off her, “but stay close.”

Disapproval showed on Frida’s face. “Tim, are you sure—”

“Out.” Tim’s controlled voice sounded even more menacing than his angry one. “All of you.”

They obliged immediately, Cesar shutting the door behind them. Tim crossed the floor and stopped in front of her. His gaze traveled over her slowly.

Rubbing a strand of her hair between his fingers, he said, “You look amazing.” His eyes didn’t burn with the sensual look he sometimes gave her, but with the flames of a fire that consumed. “Did you do this for me?”

She nodded.

He threaded his fingers through the curls and tugged gently to tilt up her face. Her body responded to the caress, her breasts growing heavy and her nipples hard.

The heat in his eyes was possessive. “Tell me it was all for me.”

She’d been right. Tim was jealous of Ilano. “Just for you, Tim. All of it.”

She opened her legs and pulled him closer with a hand on his hard ass. With the other, she stroked the bulge in his pants. His cock twitched under her palm. When she applied more pressure, he moved out of her reach, but wound her hair twice around his hand and pulled her head down farther.

His voice was hoarse. “I love it, and I’m sorry I never got a chance to dance with you or to show the whole country to who you belong.”

“Tim?”

He blew out a breath. Letting go of her hair, he ran his fingers over her scalp and then sat down next to her. “We have to talk.”

She stared at him. Was this it? Was this the point where he pulled out a gun and put it against her head? She could overpower him. Alert, she waited for him to continue.

He took her hand and brushed his thumb over her wrist. “I prefer not to rush this, to give you the time I promised you, but tonight changed everything.”

“What changed? What don’t you want to rush?”

“There’s something about me you need to know. I wanted to ease you into this, but I’m afraid Ilano won’t allow me that luxury.”

He was finally going to confess his criminal activities. What was she supposed to say to that? She could never condone his role in the arms smuggling. So far, she’d only focused on her mission. This part, she hadn’t rehearsed.

“There’s no easy way of saying this. Here’s the thing…” He folded a broad palm around her throat. The touch was both gentle and dominating. “I’m a dhampir, Maya. I’m not human. At least, not entirely.”

She swallowed hard, feeling the movement against Tim’s palm. She tried hard not to show her shock.

“I can feel the dislike in your very skin.” He traced a thumb over the pulsing vein in her neck. “The emotional, selfish part of me wishes it weren’t so, while the rational part of me understands your repulsion. I’ll give you time to get used to it, as much as you need … after I’ve bitten you.”

She took a ragged breath and moistened her dry lips with her tongue. “Dhampir? I thought none existed.”

“Your disgust saddens me.”

It wasn’t what he thought. She wasn’t repulsed. It was just that she’d expected him to confess his illegal activities, not to being a dhampir. If anything, she understood. After all, she was a hydromancist in hiding. She knew what it was to live with a secret.

“I wish I weren’t a monster, but I can’t help what I am. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t mean to draw you into my fucked-up life.”

She laid her hand on his cheek. “You’re not a monster. I’m not repulsed, just surprised.”

He released her throat and pressed his face into her palm. “You must have questions. We’ll talk, as long as needed.” He took her hand and placed it in his lap. “Ask me anything.”

She had many questions, but none of them pertained to her mission. They were all about her feelings and her heart.

“I don’t understand, Tim. How could you have hidden this for so long from everyone?”

“Not everyone.”

His most trusted staff had to know. “Cesar? Lee and Frida?”

“And a few selected business associates.” His voice turned dark. “Such as Ilano.”

“Your mother…”

“My human mother was raped by a vampire. Together with her husband, they hid it from the world to protect my mother and later me, when I was born.”

“Is that why your parents lived in that secluded place? To hide from the world?”

“Mostly.”

“So, you need to ingest blood to survive.”

He nodded somberly. “I do.”

“How do you feed?”

“I have volunteer donors, although they have no recollection of my feedings. I can voluntarily administer a substance through my bite that makes them forget. It’s to protect my identity.”