The Chosen by Jenika Snow Page B

and she gasped. Her fear came back ten-fold, and she twisted her fingers together as he watched her.
    “Please don’t hurt me.”
    Surprise flashed across his features as well as an emotion she thought was pain.
    Just shut up, Lana, you’re going to make the situation worse.
    She took a step back as he walked into the room and closed the door. He looked at her for a suspended second before his gaze went to the fire. As he stood there, the fire light danced over him and made him look fierce and dangerous.
    “What do you want from me?” She involuntarily touched the side of her neck that tingled and throbbed. Images of their naked bodies intertwined made her flush, arousal slowly burning within her.

    The Chosen: A Tale of the Blood Breed
    71
    “Sweet, sweet, Lana. If only I could make you not fear me.” He turned toward her and looked at her with anguish in his eyes. “But this is my fault, is it not? I am the cause of your fear. The reason you think I am here to harm you.” He shook his head and closed his eyes.
    “I wish to tell you things, things you will not want to believe, but what I say is the truth.”
    He walked closer to the fire and turned his back to her. Through the white shirt, his tattoo was evident. It looked like a cross or something similar, but with the lighting being so poor it was hard to tell. The only thing she could tell for sure was that it covered his entire back.
    “Are you Aniya’s brother?” She didn’t know why she even cared.
    From what she could remember, he was a monster. Again, the image of sharp fangs and black eyes flashed through her mind. She remembered his deep, distorted voice and flinched inwardly. As frightened as she was, she had to wonder why he hadn’t hurt her back at the apartment. Why hadn’t he hurt her when she was unconscious?
    She touched the side of her neck once more, her vagina becoming instantly wet at them memory of his bite.
    “Yes, that is my sister.” He turned around, his face now void of any emotion. “I live here with my three siblings. Luca and the twins, Milo and Aniya.” He held up his hands, palms outward in surrender.
    “I am the eldest of the four. I am Ale…”
    “Aleksei.” The name spilled out of her before she could stop herself. Flashes of them naked together, their limbs moving together, filled her head. She called out his name at the pleasure he brought her.
    She flushed from the memories and turned her head away from him.
    “Please look at me.”
    She looked back at him, his blue eyes so intense as he watched her. “Why am I here? I didn’t do anything wrong. I just want to go home. I won’t tell anyone about anything I swear it! I have nothing to give you. Please!” The words were spoken on one breath, but her fear started a slow creep through her again.

    72
    Jenika Snow
    What if he’s the one who’s been killing those women?
    “I have never harmed a female in my entire existence!” His voice boomed throughout the room.
    She stepped back until she felt the wall behind her. “Please, please don’t hurt me.” She held her hands out, palms forward. How the hell had he heard her? Had she spoken out loud? No, she didn’t think so, but she must have because people couldn’t read others’ minds. Then again, people didn’t turn into fanged monsters. He relaxed immediately, and a look of anguish covered his strong features. He held his hand out as if she should just take it and walk toward him. He took a step forward and then stopped.
    “I’m telling you not to fear me, and what do I do? I frighten you.”
    He ran a hand through his short hair and breathed out roughly. “I was not upset with you, please know. I could never be upset with you. I’m just on edge with other things, and that is a touchy subject right now.”
    He walked toward the edge of the bed and sat down, motioning for her to do the same. “Please, would you sit down and relax? I swear on my honor I won’t harm you. I just want to explain