Page 24 of His Eternal Temptation

At last, Rowan said carefully, “Misinformation can be imbedded during the transformation process.”

Yikes. “That sounds problematic.” For reasons far beyond tricking a feral vampire into thinking they belonged to Rowan. Did all sires have that power? What other kind of misinformation might they spread? They were questions Lane didn’t dare ask. “Do you have any idea who’s doing this?”

“No.” Rowan gestured to the old-fashioned chair, which had been by his bed and now sat near the bathroom door. “I had some spellbooks delivered so you can read about parasitic curses. I’m going to shower. If you’re done with the bathroom?” His brow quirked, and he pressed his lips together like he was trying not to smile.

Was he teasing Lane for hiding?

His face heated. “I’m done.”

The feral vampire subject was clearly closed, so Lane gathered the books and settled in while Rowan disappeared behind the closed door. It was a pleasant surprise after the way Rowan had sneered at his offer to help. Okay, Rowan hadn’t sneered, but he’d implied that not wasting his time mattered more than Lane making use of his, and probably wasn’t wrong.

It still hurt.

Lane had little confidence in his ability to free himself from this curse. His talents lay in creating portable spells, little tricks and conveniences, not countering powerful curses. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t try. He wasn’t as useless as everyone seemed to think he was.

In the years he’d lived away from his coven, he’d run a successful business with his best friend Gale, making and selling portable spells like silence bubbles and magic lanterns that could be activated by anyone, witch or not. Lane didn’t see his talent helping here.

After reading a handful of dense pages, the bathroom door opened. Steam rolled into the room like a thick fog, and Rowan emerged, graceful as a phantom. He wore a towel wrapped tight around his waist, his skin glistening with stray water droplets.

All thoughts of counterspells fled.

Lane returned his gaze to the book in a hurry. In his periphery, he caught sight of a closet door opening, and Rowan disappeared inside.

Lane was on his feet in a split second. “Where are you going?”

Rowan reappeared in the doorway. “Walk-in closet.”

Lane crossed the room in a few strides and settled at a spindly table, his heart pounding.

“Sorry.” Rowan’s frown took on a severe edge. “I was lost in my thoughts, but I wouldn’t have been far enough to activate the curse.”

“Fine, but if we aren’t in the same room, I should be outside the door.” It’s what they’d done with the bathroom.

“You’re right. I’ll be more careful.” Rowan’s neutral gaze dragged heavily over Lane. “We should exchange blood soon. There’s no need to wait until the last minute and let our link falter.”

Lane swallowed. “Sure.”

Rowan hovered in the doorway. His hair was dry, pulled into a bun on the top of his head. He looked much closer to the man Lane had approached years ago, lounging carefree at that party, than the stern coven leader he’d been following around all day.

Lane wanted to run his hands over Rowan’s pecs, and feel his chest hair tickle his face as he chased the path with his lips.

Pull it together. He doesn’t need to think you’re seducing him again.

Rowan disappeared into the closet, presumably to dress out of sight, and Lane did his best to read. The page before him might as well have been blank.

When Rowan re-emerged, Lane managed not to look, as if his presence meant nothing. As if he didn’t want to see what Rowan wore now. How the clothes hugged all his beautiful, hidden skin. Hopefully, he pulled off indifference.

Rowan settled into the chair across from him. “Anything helpful?”

Lane closed the book. “I’m out of my depth.”

“There’s no shame in admitting it. Who knows, your unfamiliar eye might catch something Nicole doesn’t. I’d like to meet with her this evening for an update. You two can discuss the finer points then.”

“Sure.” Lane’s fingers curled around the book. It didn’t feel like Rowan was being patronizing. He sounded encouraging, which was weird. Lane wasn’t used to encouragement in the face of his shortcomings.

“Are you up for a blood exchange?” Rowan asked.

Now? Lane glanced at Rowan’s mouth, as if he expected fangs to cut the flat line of his lips. “We shouldn’t wait too long.”