Master of Darkness by Susan Sizemore Page A

promised not to try again. Sure, he’s a Dawn dealer, and he’s a Tribe boy, but he deservessome reparations for pain and torture.” Laurent hoped he sounded enough like a stern and compassionate member of the Wolf Clan to get through to her.
    He glanced toward the east, where the sky was turning the faintest shade of pink. Damn. The night was gone, and he was no closer to acquiring vast amounts of wealth than he had been twenty-four hours before.
    Which meant he was going to have to spend another day as Sid Wolf, the brave and noble….
    He shuddered at the thought.
    â€œOkay, okay, we’ll let him go.”
    He smiled as his partner knelt on the sidewalk and carefully eased the hawthorn and silver arrows out of Roswald. She didn’t look so tough now. She was all wincing tenderness as she eased the pain she’d caused.
    â€œYou’re a bundle of contradictions, Faveau,” Laurent told her. “First you hurt ’em, then you heal ’em.”
    She gave him a quick glance. “I’m just trying to figure out how to do this job. There,” she said as she finished taking the second arrow out.
    She sat back on her heels, and Laurent made sure to get between her and the Hydra as Roswald staggered to his feet.
    The other vampire gave him a venomouslook, but he was weak, and it was too near sunrise for him to cause any trouble. Roswald limped hurriedly away, his form caught briefly in the headlights of a van as it turned into the street.
    â€œYour people are here,” Laurent said.
    He felt his skin begin to warm, even though the sun hadn’t topped the horizon yet. The uncomfortable sensation emphasized the appeal of daylight drugs, whether they were sanctioned or the street variety.
    He urged Eden toward her Volkswagen. “Report later,” he told her. “I have to get out of here.”

Chapter Ten
    â€œY ou have a sunburn. How can you have a sunburn from a few seconds exposure?”
    Eden heard the whining complaint in her voice, but the truth was, she was feeling guilty for being the cause of exposing Wolf to the sunlight. The street had been completely empty, so she shouldn’t have stopped at the red light on the corner in front of the apartment building. By the time she turned into the underground garage, Wolf was blistered.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said as she pulled into a parking space.
    He’d been silent the whole drive, but she’d been aware of the tension building in him with the growing daylight. Now that they were inside the garage, he heaved a sigh and touched her arm.
    â€œDon’t worry about it. I heal fast.” He got out of the car, then opened her door for her in a very polite, old-fashioned way.
    Eden smiled at this chivalrous gesture. He smiled back. It sent a hot shiver through her, even though the smile didn’t completely reach his eyes. And the sexy edge of danger he exuded made her knees weak.
    His blood sang in her. Sang, and sent hot desire curling all through her.
    â€œYou’re still mad at me about something, aren’t you?” she managed as they walked toward the elevator. Even though she was going up in flames, she told herself the desire would wear off, and that they still had to work together.
    â€œNot angry. Frustrated.” He took her hand as they stepped into the elevator. “And not really at you.” He yawned. “And not really sleepy, either. Just—” He shrugged. “I want to get on with my life.”
    â€œYeah, me too,” she agreed. “But we have to stop the Dawn dealers first.”
    He shrugged again, and silence stretched between them as the elevator crept upward. Eden was all too aware of the warmth of his skin, and the latent strength of the hand holding hers. Wolf leaned against the rear wall of the car, staring straight ahead. He looked very pale in theharsh overhead light, and the dark circles under his eyes emphasized the sharp outline of