Page 27 of The Vampire's Mercy

I watched him approach, stakeblade waiting in the wings.

What about the crystal blade? Hopefully it’d show up to help with the killing.

“Foolish executioner,” he said, tone oozing with dark promise.

My blood went chilly for a moment.

No going back now. He knew who I was, my intentions, and now it all came down to either him or me.

He kept moving closer, snaring me in his gaze. My heartbeat tripled, adrenaline a flood, fueling my steely, murderous determination. I balled my hands into fists, assessing his slow steps and reading him for ticks, twitches, any signs of attack.

He gave nothing away.

“Did you really think it would be that easy?” he asked, coming to a stop about ten feet away from me.

“What gave me away?” I countered.

“The murder in your eyes,” he said.

“Really? It’s that obvious?”

He didn’t answer, staying stone still.

“So, what happens now?”

No response.

Like hell would I launch myself at him first. Nope. Never make the first move unless you have to.

The sounds of the city aside, things were strangely quiet on the rooftop. A place for him and me to throw down.

“Did you plan on getting me into bed before sticking the knife in my back?” He finally spoke, still not moving.

Ripples of seductive energy came at me, trying to worm its way inside me. I swatted it away, stronger now. More prepared.

“Stakeblade, not a knife,” I clapped back.

“Of course. Silly me.” He cocked his head to the side. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Did you plan on fucking me?”

I made sure he saw the disgust twist my face. “I’d rather stick my dick in a wasp’s nest.”

He smiled with dark delight. “Is that so?”

Wow, his teeth were so pearly white and straight. “Disappointed?”

The wind stirred in his hair, upping his sex appeal. “I enjoyed watching your resistance.” Damn, he said the last word as if it were the hottest word in the dictionary.

Nope. You’re not getting to me.

And what sort of answer was that? “Uh-huh.”

“You’re not the first executioner to try this,” he answered. “And I’m sure you won’t be the last.”

A thought hit me. “Did you kill Glenda Green?”