Free Diana's Hound: Bloodhounds, Book 4 by Moira Rogers Page B

“The fact that you can’t sense her is something I’d anticipated, but it does mean we’ll have to prove her nature.”
    Jonah waved that away. “I wouldn’t worry about that as of yet. I’d worry about you .”
    Nate lifted his eyebrows. “Me?”
    “Mmm. She doesn’t feel like a bloodhound, which is good…but you don’t feel like a vampire. Which is bad.”
    Nate had anticipated this too, in the darkest part of the night. “I haven’t taken blood in some time. I’m afraid that has altered me.”
    Diana rose. “Is it the blood substitute?”
    Jonah crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes alight with curiosity. “Substitute?”
    Nate reached into his inner vest pocket and pulled out his tin snuffbox. “It’s a powder,” he explained, twisting the cover off to reveal the contents. “My own refinement on the original design. This is the concentrated essence—a pinch mixed with wine will dull the blood hunger for twenty-four hours.”
    The vampire’s eyes narrowed. “A single pinch for an entire day?”
    “A boon.” Nate carefully refastened the cover. “It comes with a price, though. A heavy one for anyone who sought to become a vampire for the power. As you’ve mentioned, I have very little.”
    “Indeed.” Jonah rubbed his chin. “There’s no way around it, I’m afraid. Even with your miracle powder there, you’ll need to feed for the duration of your stay here in Eternity. I can arrange that, if you’d like. A willing partner, of course.”
    Diana made a soft noise of protest, and Nate did everything in his power not to look at her as he answered. “I’ll think on it once we’re settled.”
    “Your suite, yes. You’ll want to rest and get your bearings before this evening.” He held out an arm. “This way.”
    The suite to which Jonah led them was worthy of a city as ridiculous as Eternity. Heavy black drapes had been drawn back from glass doors leading to balconies draped in some sort of night-blooming flower that couldn’t possibly still be in season. The bed was large enough for five or six to comfortably sleep—or do any other activity that a vast expanse of mattress invited.
    A fireplace burned merrily on the left. On the right was an open door, and through it he could see a deep marble tub lined with dozens of vials of brightly colored salts and liquids.
    Everything was gilded beyond the bounds of good taste and the colors—the colors made him dizzy. Diana was staring up at the ceiling, and when he followed her gaze, he saw ornate mirrors anchored above the bed.
    Jonah stood by the door, his hands clasped behind his back. “Does it suit?”
    “It’s—” Obscene. Ridiculous. Horrifying. “Beyond words. Thank you, Jonah.”
    “Because of the festivities, we’re dining early—nine o’clock. But feel free to take your meal en suite if you prefer to make an entrance tonight.” He winked at Diana. “A little mystery never hurts.”
    The door closed behind Jonah, and Diana sank to the bed. “Well.”
    “Well.” Nate shrugged out of his jacket and tried to find a place to rest his eyes. Someplace that didn’t whisper of carnal promise. “This is… I’m quite speechless.”
    “I don’t like it,” she murmured, rising again to pace the floor with nervous energy. “Everything is so overdone and gaudy. Heavy. Like it’s going to press in on us.” She lifted her hands to her throat, almost in a flutter.
    Then he realized what she was doing.
    Diana was taking off her clothes, and now he was well and truly speechless.
     
     
    It was damn hard to casually remove your dress with a man gaping at you.
    Diana stood her ground, slipping free the last button before speaking. “I can handle this better than a human. And you said yourself you’d have to feed from me eventually, to prove to the others it can be safely done. We may as well start now.” She let the heavy lace fall to the floor.
    He swallowed hard but didn’t look away. “Things will change if we do