Free Assassin: Fall of the Golden Valefar (A Paranormal Romance—Book #6 in the Demon Kissed Series) by H.M. Ward

you’re capable of—what a
kiss means, from a beautiful woman like you.”
    Carina flipped the coin between her fingers, glancing up at
Eric from beneath her brow. She didn’t like him, he was sure of it, but at this
point she would have to challenge him to leave and he didn’t think she would. Her
crimson lips parted slightly as she said, “There are some needs that cannot be
sated.”
    “I am well aware,” Eric replied.
    She nodded slowly, accepting his words. Turning to walk away,
she continued to examine the coin in her palm. Eric watched her leave, the
black robe flowing around her ankles. When she stopped, Carina spoke over her
shoulder at him. Her voice was detached, feeling no remorse for the transaction
she’d made, “Clean up when you’re done.”
    He eyed her, Eric’s fingers tapping the bar like he
couldn’t wait, a wide dark smile stretching across his face, “It’ll be like she
never existed.”

 

 
    CHATPER EIGHT

 
 
    Barefoot, he padded past the guards, feeling Carina’s eyes
on his back. She knew he wasn’t mortal anymore and was suspicious of him,
thinking he was a Valefar. He didn’t correct her. While it led her closer to
realizing who he was, she was still miles away. Ivy was scouring the city
looking for him, but the charm he placed on that piece of gold would make
Carina’s recollection of his features grow hazy. She wouldn’t remember him
until she saw him again. The only way he’d get trapped here is if Mandor
happened to walk in while he was here.
    The tension in his legs made Eric want to run. He was
practically giddy. This would tell him what she was, and if she was mortal the
gold would protect her from Carina. And if she wasn’t, nothing could protect
her from Eric. Pulse rushing in his ears, he took slow controlled steps. Passing
the guards he said nothing. The tension in his arms made them feel like lead,
hanging at his sides. He cracked his knuckles to relieve the sensation and
stopped in front of door three. Eric withdrew the key from his pocket and slid
it into the lock. His heart was pounding. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, he
thought that the bed would be empty. The girl would have freed herself and ran.
There was no way that Natalia was a mortal stupid enough to think that she could
survive in a place like this. He’d seen the spark in her eyes, the light of
keen intelligence that said she was smarter than that.
    But he was wrong.
    When he pushed the door open, and stepped into the room,
Eric’s heart sank. Natalia was still lying there, chained—and livid. The bed
sheets were bunched under her back as she tried to free herself by twisting out
of the cuffs. Her wrists were bloody where the chains cut into her soft flesh. Tears
stained her face, distorting her dark make-up. It looked like someone had taken
coal and drew lines under her eyes. Eric’s stomach twisted. He hated seeing her
like that, and he was the one who did it to her. Damn.
    The anger that coursed when he realized she was just some
helpless girl—an incredibly stupid one—faded. He walked toward her. She didn’t
look at him. She didn’t think he was coming back. Eric’s voice was soft, softer
than it should have been. He wanted to take her and shake some sense into her,
but he controlled himself.
    “When are you going to believe me?” he asked sternly,
sitting next to her on the bed. He reached for her cuff. Natalia’s arm was
limp. The scent of her blood was heavenly, but he ignored it, and freed her
chewed up wrist.
    She stared at him, watching his hands move to unchain her. His
touch was light and the slope of his shoulders told her a million words Eric
would never say. After he freed her ankles, she sat up slowly, rubbing her
wrists with Eric’s hand on her back to steady her. Dark hair cascaded down her
back. Icy blue eyes met his, “I’ll believe you when you stop coming back for
me.”
    “You’re demented, you know that?” he laughed hollowly. She
had a death wish, and