Page 13 of Fangs for the Memories (Budapest Bites #1)

I can’t recall when I felt this way, or if I’ve ever felt this way. With Ferenc’s gaze on me, I could let him do anything if only I never lose this feeling.

It’s of being wanted, genuinely wanted and desired. His dark eyes are all consuming, the way he looks at me is like I am the only creature in the entire universe.

I can’t possibly believe it. After all, I’ve been virtually left at the altar by a man who supposedly wanted to marry me. I met Ferenc yesterday.

As treacherous as a heart can be, I do not accept it’s possible to feel anything now, in such a short time, or maybe forever. What Mark did to me has left a scar, no matter what I tell myself. Whatever this is with Ferenc, it isn’t anything at all. It can’t be.

“Just…don’t bite me,” I mumble, pulling my gaze from his and looking around the room we’ve been thrust into.

It’s rock, of course, but there’s a table in one corner with a bench, and in the other a small wooden bed with no mattress only bare springs. Above us, a small light, one I’m not entirely sure is electric, glows, shedding a weird white light.

I reach up and fumble at the strap on my helmet, releasing it and allowing the thing to slip off.

Bet I have helmet hair.

Once the thing is in my hands, I locate the off switch for the flashlight.

I’m covered in mud and yet Ferenc’s clothes seem to be mud free. At least I’m still wearing the boiler suit the cave trip organizer gave me, and it’s kept the worst of it from my clothing.

“Why did they put us in here?” I ask, smoothing my hair back from my face as I put the helmet down on the table. “Do you know?”

“It would seem that the king of the vampires isn’t here. Had he been, we have an understanding,” Ferenc says.

“You have an understanding ?” I attempt to stop the wobble in my voice but fail. “With vampires?”

Ferenc folds his arms, his legs apart. He looks imposing and dangerous.

“I am the alpha of pack Kóbor. Our pack has to exist in the same city as the vampires. We have an understanding.”

I stare at him, and the words of the blonde woman from breakfast, which seems like a lifetime ago, come back to me.

“Mr. Kóbor is Hungarian mafia.”

Hungarian werewolf mafia?

I sit down heavily on the bench and drop my head into my hands. There’s no way this is happening to me. And I’m absolutely not going to think about the kiss which nearly blew my socks off.

“And this understanding has us locked up in some sort of vampire prison…or is it a larder?” I say sarcastically.

“Vampires can’t drink werewolf blood,” Ferenc says.

“That doesn’t fill human me with confidence,” I respond.

Damn, Ferenc moves fast for such a huge guy. In a blink he’s next to me, his hands on the wooden tabletop as he glares at me.

“No one,” he growls, “nothing, nothing will ever touch a hair on your head, even a vampire. Especially a vampire,” he continues.

“Thanks…I think.” I spot the color of his hands. They are no longer clean, but instead are black with…something.

Ferenc’s entire body is shaking, and as I watch, huge claws sprout from the ends of his fingers and dig into the tabletop.

I can’t look away as the wood splinters. Then, as quickly as they appeared, the claws are gone, and his fingers are back to normal.

The gouges, however, remain. And they’re deep.

“This is not how I wanted things to be,” Ferenc says quietly.

“Oh, really? This is exactly how I thought my day would pan out,” I respond. “Breakfast, cave tour, being held captive with a werewolf by vampires.”

“I promised myself yesterday would be the last night you slept alone.” Ferenc looks over at the bed. “But this wasn’t what I had in mind.”

I look at him. He’s deadly serious.

Which is when I burst out laughing. Once I start, I’m honestly not sure I can stop. I’ve been locked in a room by vampires with an alpha mafia werewolf who bought the hotel I’m staying in so I don’t sleep alone?

The very idea sends me spiraling. At least until a pair of strong arms are wrapped around me and I’m inhaling a delicious citrus scent which can only be Ferenc.

He doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t initiate anything. He is simply there, warm, fragrant, solid.

Not a monster.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean to make fun of you. I’ve had a hard time lately.”

“You don’t say,” he rumbles quietly.

“My fiancé ran off with his secretary.” The words spill out of me like water from an overflowing jug. “A week before our wedding. This was supposed to be our honeymoon.”

Ferenc is quiet. My mind wanders back to our kiss. I’m absolutely certain I’ve blown any chance with him I might have had.

“And you came to my country anyway?” he says eventually. “Then perhaps it is fate.”

“I don’t believe in fate.”

“You should. Humans didn’t believe in monsters, but we exist.”

“I believe you make your own fate,” I say.

But I’m not sure I do anymore. I want to be in control of my destiny, but right now, there is no control, and I have no idea what’s going to happen next.

I certainly didn’t expect the door to our cell to explode inwards in a shower of splinters.