When Darkness Ends by Alexandra Ivy Page B

together.
    No, not beautiful. Fallon was exquisite.
    A walking work of art.
    A lethal temptation that threatened to drive him over the edge.
    â€œAnd a pain in the ass,” he rasped, turning toward Lise as she gave a low chuckle. “What?”
    â€œThe best always are.”
    â€œThe best what?”
    She sent him a cryptic smile. “I’ll leave you to figure that out.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œI’ll return later with the food and clothes.”
    With a mocking wave, Lise moved toward a hidden side door. The tunnel would take her directly to the small village that was built on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
    Cyn gave a shake of his head, walking across the floor and out of his private chambers. He might not be the smartest vampire, but he had enough brains to know that he didn’t want his personal space saturated with the intoxicating scent of the bewitching princess.
    She had already managed to become a nagging constant in his brain when he was awake, she wasn’t going to become a part of his dreams.
    Not until she was soft and willing beneath him.
    His long strides had him up the stairs and standing in the foyer that was paneled in a polished mahogany with an open beam ceiling and a massive stone fireplace. Absently he used his powers to light a fire beneath the neatly stacked logs. As a vampire he was immune to the distinct chill in the air, but he suspected that Fallon would be far more vulnerable to the temperature. The Chatri palace had been almost tropical during his brief visit.
    He would have to remember to keep the lair warm.
    Taking another step forward, Cyn watched as Fallon halted her descent down the stairs, her impatient expression being replaced by an annoying wariness as she caught sight of him.
    â€œThere you are, vampire.”
    A growl rumbled in his chest at her haughty tone. Why the hell had he bothered with the fire? The Ice Princess deserved to freeze.
    â€œI have a name. Use it,” he said, his fists planted on his hips.
    â€œI don’t take orders from you.”
    â€œAnd what about basic manners? Weren’t you taught civilized behavior in fairyland?”
    She held herself stiffly, her gaze trained on his face, as if forcibly preventing herself from checking out his body.
    â€œYou’re right. I was being rude . . . Cyn.”
    Ah. His bad temper abruptly melted away.
    Fallon, the fey princess, might not want to admit she was attracted to a savage vampire, but there was no mistaking the slight dilation of her eyes and the blush that tinted her cheeks.
    He strolled forward, leaning against the carved post at the end of the stairs, eye to eye with Fallon as she stood on the bottom step.
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    â€œI need . . .” Her eyes abruptly widened, the emerald flecks in her eyes sparking with outrage. “Do you have a woman here?”
    Cyn fought the urge to smile. “Jealous, princess?”
    â€œOf course not.” Her voice was just a tad too forceful. “I’m merely concerned considering that Siljar ordered us to keep our presence here a secret. You could have at least waited a few hours before breaking the rules.”
    â€œI’m a vampire with needs.” He trailed a finger over her hand that was clutching the banister, relishing her tiny tremor before she was yanking away from his light caress. “So unless you’re willing to fulfill them—”
    â€œThat’s disgusting.”
    â€œWhy?” he demanded. “You just made your list of demands, didn’t you? You have needs that you want sated.”
    Her lips thinned. “I have to eat.”
    His hand moved to grasp a golden curl, sliding the silken strands between her fingers. “As do I.”
    She sucked in a sharp breath, but she didn’t try to pull away, not even when his fingers moved to trace the faint blue vein running down the length of her neck.
    â€œYou were feeding?”
    â€œWhy do