LEY

ck with tension, grew heavy, charg

ng with amusement. He gestured towards the man emerging from the sh

warrior. His dark, impeccably tailored suit did little to hide the raw strength in his broad shoulders. H

d his head, and h

rld st

thrill of victory, turned to ice water in my veins. My heart, a moment ago beating a tr

was

i

at had haunted the edges of my memory for a lifeti

e suit, but as I remembered him from that night. A predator in the darkness. I remembered the glint of his eyes, golden and feral like a wolf's,

sure I had so carefully constructed. My knees felt weak. I took an involuntary half-step

liquid honey and ancient power, held mine. There was no flicker of recognition, no

screamed inside my head. Do not s

of terror down, locking it away in the deepest, darkest cellar of my mind. I

kind of scowl, one laced with a bitter, familiar jealousy. "Wha

etween me and Francisco, his lips curving into a sl

spell, "is Miss Hayley Brown. Granddaughter

eside him. "And this, my dear, is Mr. Francisco Davenport. The future Alpha of

er. The irony wa

n he spoke, was a low, deep rumble that vibrated through the air and

e a coiled viper. The memory of his hands on m

not ta

ff, formal nod.

ocial ritual hung in the air

leaving my face. They were unnervingly perceptive, seeming to peel back the lay

ate, predatory closing of distance. He stopped barely a foot away, his sheer size and pr

n, his voice dropping to a conspir

're wearing...

t match on dry tinder. Was it a compliment? Or

rched his face, those golden depths, for any sign o

less calm, and the faintest hint of a sm

essive, jealous rage contorted his features, and he

g hand on his chest. "Now, now, Preston," the Prince chided gently. "Don't b

ave of nausea through me. But they also served their purpose. P

orbit. I wrapped my arms around myself, a futile gesture of self-defense