Page 23

No, not sympathy. Pity. How humiliating.

“I’m afraid not,” he said softly, afraid becoming afreed. “But it’s my hope you’ll consider Scotland your home.”

His deep, musical voice did weird things to my stomach. I shivered—and found myself swaying toward him.

He smiled.

I jerked backwards, breaking the spell. “You can’t keep me here. I’ll escape.”

“Unlikely,” he said, his dimple deepening along with his smile.

More words tripped from my mouth before I could stop them. “I’ll run the first chance I get.”

“Fair enough.” He leaned in like he was imparting a juicy secret. “But I should warn you, dragons love chasing things.”

I drew a deep breath, and my lungs filled with the scent of evergreen and cinnamon. His eyes gleamed with humor and unmistakable interest as he gazed down at me.

And he was much too close. Close enough for me to see the individual hairs in his day beard—or night beard, as it were. My palm tingled, and I found myself wondering if the golden shadow was bristly or soft.

Then I noticed the thick vein throbbing in his neck. Instantly, hunger twisted deep in my gut. Anxiety rushed hot on its heels as the sound of his heartbeat filled my head. I hadn’t fed in days…

“Do you want to see the library?” he asked suddenly.

“Wh-What?” My fangs ached. The hunger sank its claws deeper.

“I came to ask if you’d like to see the library. It’s one of the biggest in Scotland.” He leaned against the door jamb, and his body was so big I had to step back to avoid brushing against him. “It’s probably not polite to brag about the size, but some females like big—”

I swallowed.

“—books,” he finished softly.

I barely heard him over the sound of his heartbeat, which banged like a drum in my ears. I tore my gaze from his neck, and my voice shook as I stumbled back. “Um, no. N-Not today. And don’t come in my room while I’m sleeping!”

He’d straightened from the jamb, a frown between his brows. “Halina—”

I’d shut the door in his face, then leaned against it and waited for him to force it open.

But he hadn’t. And he hadn’t mentioned my rudeness when he returned the following evening, or the next. If anything, he’d acted like nothing happened. He’d brought meals and clothing, and each night he’d invited me to a different part of the castle.

I’d turned him down every time.

And I’d do the same tonight, I thought, my gaze going to the door.

Except I wasn’t sure how long I could hold out. At some point, the hunger would overwhelm me, and I’d lapse into a paralyzed state vampires called “the living death.” I would retain consciousness, but I’d lose the ability to move or speak.

Leaving me even more vulnerable to Bram and Fergus than I already was.

A knock rang out.

Speak of the dragon.

It was pointless to ignore him. When I’d tried before, he just continued knocking until I answered. “Coming!” I called out as I crossed the room. Pausing at the threshold, I stuffed the hunger down as deeply as possible. Then I drew a shaky breath and opened the door.

“Come swimming with me,” he said at once.

Immediately, the scent of cinnamon and evergreen assailed me. He smelled good enough to eat.

To drink.