In fact, she looked like the only thing she was in the mood to appreciate was ripping out his throat with her pearly white fangs.

A treacherous heat raced through his body.

He told himself it was a predictable reaction.

She was stunning, even if she was a leech.

Tall and athletically slender, she was a mixture of races that combined into an exotic beauty.

Glossy black hair that spoke of the Far East was contained in a tight braid and hung down her back. The Asian influence was echoed in her faintly slanted eyes, although they were a dark shade of blue that revealed a European heritage. Her skin was as pale as alabaster and so perfectly smooth that he ached to brush his fingers over it. From head to toe.

Add in the black spandex that clung to her slender curves and the sawed-off shotgun that he’d been smart enough to take off her long before they’d stepped through the portal, and she was a custom-made fantasy.

Hunter.

Lethal beauty.

Yep, there wasn’t a man alive (and several who were dead) who wouldn’t give his right nut to get between those long slender legs.

But, Ariyal hadn’t been able to completely forget that shocking awareness that had jolted to life during his brief incarceration at the hands of this female.

Hell, her merest touch had made him go up in flames.

And it pissed him off.

Unlike most of his brethren, he didn’t allow his passions to rule his life. He ruled his passions.

A grim reminder that didn’t do a damned thing to stop the heat that scorched through his body as her indigo gaze skimmed over his lean body he’d left bare except for a loose pair of dojo pants.

Bloody hell.

His gut tightened and his cock hardened. From a mere glance.

What the hell would happen if he spread her across the nearby bed and …

The vampire stiffened, no doubt sensing his explosive desire. Then, with a visible effort, she narrowed those magnificent eyes and wrapped herself in a frigid composure.

“You.” The word was coated in ice.

“Me.”

She stood proudly, acting as if she didn’t notice she was currently chained to the wall.

“Why did you kidnap me?”

He shrugged, not about to admit the truth.

He didn’t have a goddamned clue why he’d grabbed hold of her as he escaped through the portal that had brought them from the frozen caves of Siberia to this hidden island. He only knew his reaction to the female was dark and primal and dangerously possessive.

“You held me captive,” he instead drawled. “Fair is fair.”

“As if a bastard like you would know the meaning of fair.”

His smile held no apology. “Haven’t you heard the old saying that ‘all’s fair in love and war?'” He allowed his gaze to lower to the enticing curve of her breasts, heat searing through him at her revealing shiver. “We could no doubt add a few more activities to the list.”

“Release me.”

“What’s wrong, pet? Are you afraid I intend to have my evil way with you?” He deliberately paused. “Or hopeful?”

“You at least got the evil part right.”

He stepped close enough to be teased by her seductive musk that was at such odds with her image of a cold, ruthless hunter.

But then, everything about this female was … complex.

“You know, there’s no reason for the two of us to be enemies.”

“Nothing beyond the fact that I was hired by the Oracles to capture you.” Her smile was frigid. “Oh and yeah, your psycho attempts to kill two helpless children.”

“Helpless?” Frustration flared through him. “Those abominations are the vessels of the Dark Lord and if

Tearloch manages to use the child to resurrect the Master then you can blame yourself for unleashing hell.”

She ignored his warning. Just as she’d ignored it in the Siberian cave when he’d done his best to put an end to the danger.

He’d been prepared to do what was necessary, but because of the damned vampires, one of the babies had been stolen by his clan brother, Tearloch, along with the mage. Now he had to pray he could track them down before they could resurrect the Dark Lord and rip open the veils that held back the hordes of hell.

“I’m not being paid to save the world. I’m being paid to hand your ass over to the Commission.”

Ariyal frowned at the unwelcomed reminder.

The Commission was a collection of Oracles who were the big cheeses of the demon world. It was always bad news when they decided you were worthy of their notice.

Especially if they were willing to pay the exorbitant fee to hire a vampire hunter to collect him.

“Why?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care. It’s just a job.”

He leaned forward until they were nose to nose. “It feels a lot more personal than just a job.”

For a breathless moment raw hunger flared through her eyes, making his body clench with anticipation. Oh, hell yes. Then, just as swiftly, the glimpse of emotion was gone.

“Get over yourself.”

“I’d rather be over you.”

“Back. Off.”

Ariyal shivered at the sharp chill that suddenly blasted through the air.

Dammit. One minute the woman had him drowning in lust and the next she could give a fire pixie frostbite.

“Fine.” He stepped back, his smile tight with annoyance. “I hope you’re comfortable, pet. You’re here to stay.”

Her wary glance skimmed around the room that was ornately decorated in shades of gold and ivory.

“Where is here?”

“Avalon.”

She hissed in shock. “Impossible.” “Such a dangerous word.”

“The mists are impenetrable.” Her cold arrogance remained, but there was a hint of wariness in her eyes. “Unless they were destroyed by the death of Morgana le Fey?”

His lips twisted in a humorless smile. “They survived, but I didn’t waste centuries as the bitch’s sex slave just looking beautiful. I discovered a secret exit centuries ago.”

She studied him in silence and Ariyal hid a sudden grimace. A hunter had any number of skills. They were reputedly stronger and faster than the average vampire, as well as able to shroud themselves so deeply in shadows that they were all but invisible.

More impressive, they were walking, talking lie detectors. Supposedly no demon could deceive them.

Like he needed that kind of headache.

Christ. He should have left her in Siberia.

“If you knew how to escape the island then why didn’t you?” she demanded.

“Because I couldn’t rescue my brothers without alerting the guards.”

“So you stayed?”

He frowned, puzzled by her curiosity. “I wasn’t leaving them behind. Does that surprise you?”

An unreadable emotion rippled over her beautiful face before it was swiftly wiped away.

“Sylvermysts aren’t renowned for their generous hearts or noble natures. As Tearloch proved.” Ariyal couldn’t argue.

Sylvermyst had a long, well-earned reputation for their cruel natures and lust for violence, but he’d be damned if he allowed a cold-hearted leech to judge him.

Not after everything he’d sacrificed to save his people.

“He’s frightened and … confused,” he admitted. “Once I track him down I’ll convince him of the error of his ways.”

“You mean, he’ll do as you want or you’ll kill him?”

“Ah, you understand me so well, pet.”

“I understand that you’re a bastard who is out to save your own worthless skin,” she charged.

“Good. Then I don’t have to convince you that I will happily leave you here to rot unless you agree to do exactly as I say.”

A frigid smile curved her lips. “Don’t be a moron. If I disappear the Anasso will send out a dozen warriors to search for me.”

“He can send out a hundred if he wants. They’ll never be able to sense you behind the mists.” His gaze lingered on her lush, full lips, easily imagining the pleasure they could bring a man. With a growl, he took an instinctive step closer, ignoring the danger. “Face it, pet, they already assume you’re dead.”

“Then they’ll hunt you down and execute you. There’s nowhere you can go they won’t find you.”

He grasped her chin, staring down at the eyes that had lost their ice to flash with indigo fire. His gut twisted with need.

“I spent centuries in the harem of Morgana le Fey. Leeches don’t scare me.”

“What does scare you?”

“This …”

Ignoring the fangs that could rip out his throat with one swipe, not to mention the claws that could dig through solid concrete, Ariyal leaned forward and claimed her mouth in a kiss of pure possession.

Mine…