Lavinia stepped forward to face Adrian. “My father is the Caliban alpha’s son—”

She let the concept sink in for a moment. Blinking, she turned to the detective. “Can you check if it is true?”

Lane nodded. “Right away.” He reached for his cell phone and moved toward the foyer.

“It changes things, doesn’t it?” Lavinia asked Adrian.

He extended his hand and pulled her to him. “It would explain the attack tonight.”

“They were at my apartment.” Leaning against his chest, she shivered at the realization that someone as horrible as the dead werewolf had touched her things.

“We don’t know for sure.” Adrian enveloped her in his strong embrace.

A devastating thought formed in her mind, making her feel sick. “What if Carolina is dead because of me?”

“Your roommate’s death isn’t—”

“How can you be sure that she isn’t dead because those sick bastards were looking for me and found her instead?” Heartache and guilt swallowed her whole, leaving a quivering mess in her stead. “I’m here with you, living a fairytale dream when my friend is dead, murdered because of me.”

“Carolina’s death isn’t your fault,” Adrian said, his voice calm as he gently squeezed her arms. “Do not think that.” He hugged her tightly, his hand caressing her back.

Closing his call, the detective strolled back in. “Lucas, age fifty-three, is Joshua Rainier’s only son.”

“That’s my father’s age—” Lavinia said. “I can’t be all a coincidence.” She shook her head.

“It only corroborates that tonight’s attack might be related to the Calibans…” Adrian whispered.

“Bruno Maris—” Lane pointed his cell phone at the corpse “—was a Caliban.”

Her heart heavy, Lavinia addressed the detective, “Carolina’s murder—” She couldn’t finish the sentence this time. “It can’t be a coincidence, too.”

“We were looking for a serial killer, but I will go through evidence one more time.” Lane left them to make another phone call.

“You can’t let that thought fester in your mind,” Adrian said, his voice soft and soothing.

Lavinia started relaxing against him before she stepped away abruptly. “Don’t glamour me,” she said angrily.

Adrian’s eyes widened in shock. “I’d never use glamour on you without explicit consent.”

“The detective did when he came to talk to me,” she said, and immediately regretted it because Adrian’s eyes darkened and his expression became furious.

“I’ll—” he started saying.

“You’ll do nothing.” She didn’t want Adrian to beat his friend to a pulp, and from the look on his face, that was his intention. “Why was I feeling calmer a moment ago?” she asked, her emotions all over the place.

He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe because I am your bloodmate?”

Being raised in a mortal household had made Lavinia ignorant about most of the supernatural culture. She knew that, as a half-breed, her wolf was pathetically small and that she couldn’t heal as fast as werewolves did. Her father had kept her knowledge to a minimum where her supernatural side was concerned and only explained to her those aspects that would affect her day to day life.

“I don’t know a lot about mates,” she confessed, instead of apologizing. “I didn’t even know I was a werewolf until I was five.”

“How’s that even possible?” Adrian’s surprise was genuine.

“Very protective parents. They didn’t want to expose me to the supernatural society before I was mature enough to understand the repercussions of divulging my nature to my mortal friends,” she answered, thinking how absurd her upbringing must have looked to anyone outside her family.

Always running away from the bad guys, her parents had thought that it was for the best to hide Lavinia’s true nature from her for as long as possible. Plans don’t always go as expected, though, and the moment of truth came earlier than they had expected.

“Even so,” Adrian said. “How did you find out?”

“One day, I was at the daycare, playing with the other kids. Someone did something, I don’t remember what, and I got angry. Fur sprouted on my face, and when my mother came to pick me up, she found me cowering in a corner because the kids were making fun of me. The day after, they moved. Another city. Another life.”

“That must have been tough.”

“It was.” The memory of her first shifting still haunted her. “And it’s not something I’ve ever got to tell anyone until now.”

“I feel honored.” Adrian bowed to her.

After a lifetime of keeping all her secrets bottled down, it felt good to have someone to talk to, but she had a more pressing question to ask. “About mates, what makes them so special?” Her only example was her parents, and they could be intense. Was it because her father was a werewolf? Or were they just an overly passionate couple?

“Like among the mortals, mates have the power to comfort their partners. But supernatural mates’ senses are keener, and their unions are for life,” he said.

“And what about bloodmates?”

“I’m afraid I am as ignorant as you are on the topic, but judging from my over-the-top reaction to you and everything that concerns you, I would say that we are in for quite the ride.” Adrian’s eyes shone, and his mouth curved up into the most sensual smile. He opened his arm toward her, and she took his proffered hand. “Let it be clear, once and for all,” he whispered, leaning to her ear and raising goosebumps on her skin. “I would never glamour you unless you expressly ask me to.”

His tone made it sound as if women usually begged him for it and his boast rubbed her the wrong way. “Why would I ever do something so stupid?”

“Because there are a few useful ways I can think of that would enhance your sexual pleasure,” he answered against her skin. “Mental bondage is a thing.”

“Is it?” Lavinia couldn’t understand the appeal of giving her control away, not even for good sex.

“There are plenty of private clubs where master vampires dominate their submissives with their glamour without ever physically touching them,” he said. “I’m not into it, but to each their own.” His look became heated. “And so that we are completely clear on the subject, even if you asked me, I would need a compelling reason to grant your wish.” He brushed the shell of her ear with his finger. “I’m not above using other vampiric gifts on you, though.” His deep voice made her swallow.

“Like what?” she asked.

“For example, my saliva contains a chemical that stimulates your endorphins so that my bite doesn’t hurt you. In fact, it will give you much pleasure. I intend to use that. A lot.”

Lane’s timely arrival saved Lavinia from having to look for a smart comeback when she couldn’t think of any. Her mind reeled with the thoughts Adrian had expertly planted there. The man didn’t need to glamour her. He just needed to utter a few words, and she was a goner.