of revelation? No wonder he didn’t smile.
“Everything else is secondary. Families are bonded together due to our maker, but it’s the hunger that truly ties us.” His eyes darkened. Before I could take another breath, his hand was gripping my wrist, the fork bouncing into my salad bowl. “There are things I want, things I remember, but the hunger overtakes all other desires.”
Total appetite killer. Now instead of crispy vegetables I was thinking of death by exsanguination and Dario’s fingers digging into the skin of my wrist. I felt a warmth, a burning heat. The vampire grimaced but held on for a few seconds before letting go. I saw the blisters on his fingers, watched them heal before my eyes.
“It’s spelled,” I explained, fingering my cross tattoo. “Adrenaline activated.” Which didn’t normally do anything but make my wrist hot while in traffic or base jumping. What idiot thought this was a good idea I didn’t know, but I was rather appreciative for the spell at this particular moment.
He grimaced, shaking his fingers as if the healed wounds still pained him. “I’ll remember to grab your left wrist next time.”
“Or some other part of me,” I joked, picking up my fork again. Sheesh, even after our conversation I couldn’t help but tease this guy. I must truly have a death wish.
We ate in silence for a while. By the time our entrees had arrived I’d worked up the nerve to continue my interrogation.
“So, as you noticed, I’ve started my research on the symbol and it appears to be related to summoning dead spirits.”
That didn’t elicit any particular response from Dario, but given his normal lack of facial expressions, I wasn’t surprised.
He toyed with his ravioli before speaking. “Have you determined exactly what it does?”
I scarfed down a few bites of my Lobster Alfredo. It smelled amazing, and tasted even better. If only I could eat this every night. “No. But I’m curious to know why your Mistress is wanting information on a symbol used in necromantic magic.”
“Consider it a precautionary measure.”
I waited, taking the opportunity to eat more of my pasta, but Dario didn’t elaborate. “Why? Surely you guys don’t run around checking graffiti all over the city just in case it’s magical in nature. What happened for Leonora to think this symbol was so important that she needed to bring in a Templar?”
There was a moment of frosty silence before he replied. “You don’t need to know that. Tell us about the symbol and you get paid. That’s our deal.”
Suddenly my food tasted like sawdust. “But the background will help me in finding out the rest of the details on the symbol. If you want a thorough report, I really need to know.”
“It’s not your business.”
Stupid, stubborn vampire. “It is my business, and not just because I’m doing this job for you. If there’s something going down in my city involving necromancy, I need to know about it. How the heck did Leonora come across this symbol and why does she need to know about it?”
His fingers tightened on the fork. “Those would be a question for Leonora, not me.”
“She’s not here. You are. This is important and I need to know.”
His eyes darkened. Suddenly he wasn’t that cute vampire I’d been pestering with drinks and annoying questions anymore. He was a powerful being who could end me right here, or in the parking lot behind the restaurant.
“You will drop this line of questioning right now.”
I felt like all the blood had dropped right out of my body. I’d seen Dario emotionless. I’d seen him intense and sexy. I’d never seen him like this. What was this “date” about? I knew he wanted me, or at least my blood. Right now, he didn’t even seem interested in that.
“Why are we here?” I waved a hand to the side. “Here. In the restaurant together eating pasta and drinking wine?”
The vampire set down his fork and leaned back, his expression becoming distant once
“Everything else is secondary. Families are bonded together due to our maker, but it’s the hunger that truly ties us.” His eyes darkened. Before I could take another breath, his hand was gripping my wrist, the fork bouncing into my salad bowl. “There are things I want, things I remember, but the hunger overtakes all other desires.”
Total appetite killer. Now instead of crispy vegetables I was thinking of death by exsanguination and Dario’s fingers digging into the skin of my wrist. I felt a warmth, a burning heat. The vampire grimaced but held on for a few seconds before letting go. I saw the blisters on his fingers, watched them heal before my eyes.
“It’s spelled,” I explained, fingering my cross tattoo. “Adrenaline activated.” Which didn’t normally do anything but make my wrist hot while in traffic or base jumping. What idiot thought this was a good idea I didn’t know, but I was rather appreciative for the spell at this particular moment.
He grimaced, shaking his fingers as if the healed wounds still pained him. “I’ll remember to grab your left wrist next time.”
“Or some other part of me,” I joked, picking up my fork again. Sheesh, even after our conversation I couldn’t help but tease this guy. I must truly have a death wish.
We ate in silence for a while. By the time our entrees had arrived I’d worked up the nerve to continue my interrogation.
“So, as you noticed, I’ve started my research on the symbol and it appears to be related to summoning dead spirits.”
That didn’t elicit any particular response from Dario, but given his normal lack of facial expressions, I wasn’t surprised.
He toyed with his ravioli before speaking. “Have you determined exactly what it does?”
I scarfed down a few bites of my Lobster Alfredo. It smelled amazing, and tasted even better. If only I could eat this every night. “No. But I’m curious to know why your Mistress is wanting information on a symbol used in necromantic magic.”
“Consider it a precautionary measure.”
I waited, taking the opportunity to eat more of my pasta, but Dario didn’t elaborate. “Why? Surely you guys don’t run around checking graffiti all over the city just in case it’s magical in nature. What happened for Leonora to think this symbol was so important that she needed to bring in a Templar?”
There was a moment of frosty silence before he replied. “You don’t need to know that. Tell us about the symbol and you get paid. That’s our deal.”
Suddenly my food tasted like sawdust. “But the background will help me in finding out the rest of the details on the symbol. If you want a thorough report, I really need to know.”
“It’s not your business.”
Stupid, stubborn vampire. “It is my business, and not just because I’m doing this job for you. If there’s something going down in my city involving necromancy, I need to know about it. How the heck did Leonora come across this symbol and why does she need to know about it?”
His fingers tightened on the fork. “Those would be a question for Leonora, not me.”
“She’s not here. You are. This is important and I need to know.”
His eyes darkened. Suddenly he wasn’t that cute vampire I’d been pestering with drinks and annoying questions anymore. He was a powerful being who could end me right here, or in the parking lot behind the restaurant.
“You will drop this line of questioning right now.”
I felt like all the blood had dropped right out of my body. I’d seen Dario emotionless. I’d seen him intense and sexy. I’d never seen him like this. What was this “date” about? I knew he wanted me, or at least my blood. Right now, he didn’t even seem interested in that.
“Why are we here?” I waved a hand to the side. “Here. In the restaurant together eating pasta and drinking wine?”
The vampire set down his fork and leaned back, his expression becoming distant once
Similar Books
