Lavinia saw Adrian walk back to her. His sure swagger and the way he held her gaze made her shiver, and her heartbeats sped up in anticipation of his touch.

“Lavinia, I don’t feel comfortable leaving you with that vampire,” Maia said, tugging at her hand. “I recognized him at once. He’s an ancient vampire and beyond dangerous—”

“I’ve heard rumors about him. He owns the place where I work.” She had connected the dots when Lane made the introductions. But even without knowing that he was the famous Roman day-walker, she had felt Adrian’s raw power when he took her in his arms. “But I trust him.”

“Why?” Maia’s frustration resonated loud and clear in her clipped question.

“I can feel it in here.” Lavinia pressed her palm against her chest. “Adrian would never hurt me.”

“How can you say something so idiotic?” Maia threw her hands in the air. “You’ve just met that man!”

“And yet, I know.” Lavinia shrugged. “I can’t explain it, but my wolf senses didn’t tingle in warning when he approached,” she said, looking straight at Adrian who was back at her side.

He smiled at her, and Lavinia lost herself in the depths of his eyes the color of brandy.

In her peripheral vision, she caught the detective walking to Maia. “I can vouch that Lavinia is safe with Adrian,” he said.

“How can you be sure?” Maia asked, her voice louder than requited.

“She is Adrian’s bloodmate,” Lane said in a lower tone.

“Bloodmate?” both Lavinia and Maia asked at the same time.

Lavinia turned to face the detective. “What’s a bloodmate?”

“It’s something straight out of vampire lore—” Lane started, but Maia talked over him.

“Is it anything like the Wolf’s Hunger?” She looked first at Lavinia, then at Adrian, with a surprised expression.

“I haven’t heard of any Wolf’s Hunger,” Lane said. “But it’s a strange coincidence because what Adrian has is called a Vampire’s Thirst, and the only one who can cure him is his bloodmate.”

“A Wolf’s Hunger consumes a werewolf, making him hunt for prey, but nothing can satiate him until he finds his soulmate.” Maia glanced at Adrian, her head cocked to the side. “Did you experience anything similar?”

Adrian snuck his arm around Lavinia’s waist, and he pulled her to his side before answering Maia. “I did. My thirst was never-ending.”

“Well, if this Vampire’s Thirst works any similar to our Wolf’s Hunger, then you were lucky to find Lavinia before you went insane. Werewolves who experience the Hunger and don’t meet their mates are sentenced to death because they become too violent.”

Adrian’s hold on Lavinia tightened, and she felt his body stiffen at Maia’s words. “I’m here,” she whispered, inching closer to him and tilting her chin up to look at him.

He regarded her with a soft smile and nodded.

“You found her—” someone said from behind them.

Pivoting on his heels, Adrian turned both of them to face the newcomer. “Lando,” he greeted an elegant vampire, another day-walker.

The man stared at them for a long, awkward moment before he blinked. “You found her,” he said again.

“Fate smiled upon me tonight,” Adrian said, his arm anchoring her firmly.

“I’m happy for you, brother,” Lando said, bringing his fist to his heart.

Lavinia noticed how the man didn’t look at her but kept his eyes on Adrian the entire time.

“Well, I suppose there isn’t any immediate need to speak with the librarian now,” Lando said, his face illuminated by a genuine smile.

“Not anymore.” Adrian slightly relaxed his stance. “I might have a few questions for him in the future, but for now I’m all set.”

“No problem. I’ll introduce you later.” Lando nodded and turned to acknowledge Lane and Maia, who had remained silent and still during the brief exchange. “Lane—” he said. “Mrs. Conti, always a pleasure to see you.”

While the detective greeted the vampire in the same polite vein, Maia tensed, her eyes shining with a warning light as she nodded and said, “Carenzi.”

If Lavinia hadn’t been looking at the vampire, she would have missed the devastated expression that for a moment marred his handsome traits. A blink of an eye later, he looked serene again.

He bowed at Maia, then addressed Adrian with a parting, “I’ll call you in a few days,” before turning and leaving.

“We should go, too,” Adrian said, gently pressing his hand against her side.

“I agree.” Lavinia had questions of her own, and she didn’t want an audience for it.

“Do you think it is a good idea to leave with this vampire?” Maia asked, but the previous sting was gone from her words.

“Yes, I think so,” Lavinia reassured her.

“I’ll check on you tomorrow morning. Answer your cell phone, or I’ll unleash both the Wolf Council and the Directive on him.” Maia’s smile lessened her threatening warning.

“I will. I promise.” Lavinia left Adrian’s side to hug Maia. “I might be a half-breed, but my wolf is never wrong,” she whispered to her.

“Okay,” Maia said, reaching for the small evening clutch she had given Lavinia to match her dress. “Take this and use it if he so much as breathes the wrong way around you.” She slid a small can inside Lavinia’s purse before releasing her. Then, she pointed index and middle fingers at her eyes, then turned them toward Adrian in the universal I’m-watching-you sign.

“She’s safe with me,” Adrian said, his voice tight and guarded.

“Let’s go drink something,” Lane said, offering his bent arm to Maia. “Adrian, I’ll talk to you later as well.”

“We’ll be home,” Adrian said, taking Lavinia’s hand in his.

“We?” Lavinia asked, watching the other pair entering the ballroom.

“We. From now on, it’s we. Whatever we do, we do it together,” Adrian said.

Although Lavinia couldn’t deny the pull between them, she didn’t like that he was deciding for the two of them without consulting her.

She stepped away from him. It hurt, but she withstood the pain with gritted teeth as she addressed him. “I agreed on going with you only because I need answers.”

“I’m yours. You are mine,” Adrian said, his intense stare touching her as tangibly as any caress could have, making her shiver. “You feel it.” His eyes roamed over her. “Your scent. Your pulse. Your breathing. Your body tells me you want me as much as I want you. There’s no need for words between us.”

“That might be true, but we’ll still have our conversation because I need to talk about this insanity that’s driving me into the arms of a stranger.”

At the word stranger, Adrian’s eyes flashed. “I’m your bloodmate.”

“I believe you. My wolf can detect lies, and she’s accepted you as her own already. Still, can’t you see how strange this situation is? We’re still wearing masks,” she said. “I don’t even know what your face looks like.” She reached for his white domino mask, but he stopped her, moving her hand to his lips for a soft kiss.

“Let’s go to my place,” he said. It sounded more like a plea than a request, and when she didn’t answer right away, he added, “Please.” He reached for her hand and gently held it in his. “I’ll answer your questions, but all I ask is that you come with me.”

Lavinia locked eyes with his. “Promise me that you’ll let me go if I don’t want to remain.”

“It will be the hardest decision of my entire life, but I won’t keep you against your will. I would never use my strength to subdue a woman. And I’d rather die than to harm you in any way.” He brought her hand to his chest. “Pick up that silver spray can that mama bear gave you,” he said, the corner of his full, sensual lips turning up. “Feel free to use it on me if I do anything you don’t like.”