my master,” Eliah gushed, flicking her a quick look. “I cannot thank you enough.”
Her vampire— your vampire, Inari? —placed his free hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Then go home to your wife and child now and enjoy them. They must be missing you.”
Eliah smiled, sharp white fangs glinting in Oxford Street’s neon lights. “They are, and we are expecting our second child soon. If it is a boy, we shall call him Ezryn.”
The name sent a finger of deep tight heat into Inari’s core. Why was that name familiar?
The master vampire chuckled. “Can I suggest Mike instead?”
Eliah smiled, and with an awkward bow and an almost fawning, “Thank you, my master,” he was gone, leaving Inari to gape at the man still gripping her arm.
“Mind telling me what that was about?”
“Not really.”
“I know the hierarchy of your kind is whack, but anyone would think you were some almighty savior the way that young vamp was behaving.”
He shrugged, a grin playing with the corners of his mouth. “I think he had me confused with someone else.”
Inari raised her eyebrows. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I’m not that nice.”
“No,” Inari shot back. “You’re not.”
He laughed, starting to walk again, his gentle hold on her arm starting her walking as well. “So why aren’t you trying to kill me then? If I’m not that nice?”
She stumbled again, and again he caught her before she could make a complete idiot of herself.
Too late, Inari.
Fresh heat turned her cheeks hot, and she shot him another glare. Why wasn’t she trying to kill him? He was a master vampire. Her enemy. His extreme power and ancient prowess didn’t just radiate from him—it oozed from him, infusing the air around him with something akin to electrical mist. Without testing his strength, Inari had little doubt he’d be a frightening force to reckon with, even for a Principatus of her own elevated physical ability. She could feel his monumental presence in every molecule of her body. It challenged her on a raw level beyond her understanding. It was as if the very essence of the vampire race threaded through his existence. She’d executed many master vampires in her time—she’d screwed more than one in her succubus days—but all of them paled into clichéd Hollywood stereotypes compared to this master, this vampire. Every time he was near her the Principatus within her surged for release, reacting to his undeniable existence. As did the woman in her. With almost as much force. Maybe more.
Disgust simmered through her. By the Powers, Inari. Enough!
He cocked an eyebrow, his expression somehow humored, his black eyes glinting red. “Well? What’s the reason I’m still alive?”
Inari tugged at his grip on her arm. “You’re not. You’re dead.”
He chuckled. “ Un dead.”
She ground her teeth, doing her best to ignore the delicious, cool pressure of his fingers on her upper arm. “You can read my mind. You tell me.”
His lips curled a little. “Not all the time, alas.”
“Oh, poor baby.”
He chuckled again. “Yes. Now tell me why you aren’t trying to kill me. I must admit, I’m most curious.”
Inari jutted out her chin. “I’m an assassin, not a murderer.”
His gaze didn’t leave hers. “Meaning?”
She let out an exasperated breath. “Meaning I have no orders to execute you.” She gave him a narrowed-eyed stare. “Yet.”
He nodded. “So it would seem the Powers have decided I’m one of the good guys.”
A dry snort sounded in the back of Inari’s throat. “The Powers aren’t infallible. Nor are They the final word. The Highest is, and so far He is staying quiet.”
He grinned, obviously enjoying himself. “And is that the only reason?”
She sighed. Again. “If I answer you, will you go away?”
The vampire shrugged, his fingers still curled around her arm. “Maybe.”
“An Agent of the Order, an assassin of God, a Principatus—call us what you will—may only
Her vampire— your vampire, Inari? —placed his free hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Then go home to your wife and child now and enjoy them. They must be missing you.”
Eliah smiled, sharp white fangs glinting in Oxford Street’s neon lights. “They are, and we are expecting our second child soon. If it is a boy, we shall call him Ezryn.”
The name sent a finger of deep tight heat into Inari’s core. Why was that name familiar?
The master vampire chuckled. “Can I suggest Mike instead?”
Eliah smiled, and with an awkward bow and an almost fawning, “Thank you, my master,” he was gone, leaving Inari to gape at the man still gripping her arm.
“Mind telling me what that was about?”
“Not really.”
“I know the hierarchy of your kind is whack, but anyone would think you were some almighty savior the way that young vamp was behaving.”
He shrugged, a grin playing with the corners of his mouth. “I think he had me confused with someone else.”
Inari raised her eyebrows. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I’m not that nice.”
“No,” Inari shot back. “You’re not.”
He laughed, starting to walk again, his gentle hold on her arm starting her walking as well. “So why aren’t you trying to kill me then? If I’m not that nice?”
She stumbled again, and again he caught her before she could make a complete idiot of herself.
Too late, Inari.
Fresh heat turned her cheeks hot, and she shot him another glare. Why wasn’t she trying to kill him? He was a master vampire. Her enemy. His extreme power and ancient prowess didn’t just radiate from him—it oozed from him, infusing the air around him with something akin to electrical mist. Without testing his strength, Inari had little doubt he’d be a frightening force to reckon with, even for a Principatus of her own elevated physical ability. She could feel his monumental presence in every molecule of her body. It challenged her on a raw level beyond her understanding. It was as if the very essence of the vampire race threaded through his existence. She’d executed many master vampires in her time—she’d screwed more than one in her succubus days—but all of them paled into clichéd Hollywood stereotypes compared to this master, this vampire. Every time he was near her the Principatus within her surged for release, reacting to his undeniable existence. As did the woman in her. With almost as much force. Maybe more.
Disgust simmered through her. By the Powers, Inari. Enough!
He cocked an eyebrow, his expression somehow humored, his black eyes glinting red. “Well? What’s the reason I’m still alive?”
Inari tugged at his grip on her arm. “You’re not. You’re dead.”
He chuckled. “ Un dead.”
She ground her teeth, doing her best to ignore the delicious, cool pressure of his fingers on her upper arm. “You can read my mind. You tell me.”
His lips curled a little. “Not all the time, alas.”
“Oh, poor baby.”
He chuckled again. “Yes. Now tell me why you aren’t trying to kill me. I must admit, I’m most curious.”
Inari jutted out her chin. “I’m an assassin, not a murderer.”
His gaze didn’t leave hers. “Meaning?”
She let out an exasperated breath. “Meaning I have no orders to execute you.” She gave him a narrowed-eyed stare. “Yet.”
He nodded. “So it would seem the Powers have decided I’m one of the good guys.”
A dry snort sounded in the back of Inari’s throat. “The Powers aren’t infallible. Nor are They the final word. The Highest is, and so far He is staying quiet.”
He grinned, obviously enjoying himself. “And is that the only reason?”
She sighed. Again. “If I answer you, will you go away?”
The vampire shrugged, his fingers still curled around her arm. “Maybe.”
“An Agent of the Order, an assassin of God, a Principatus—call us what you will—may only
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