r

an attempt to get to my feet but my legs gave way and I was on the ground once more, vision going fuzzy at the edges. Thi

y breathing shallow, the venom was having its effect. And the sn

't notice it. They halted, forked tongues in the air, head

e was

eady. A tall figure in black was coming out of a tunnel, moving with a liquid grace on

im seemed to absorb the light. His face was all angles, a lean jaw and high cheekbones, winged brows of dark hair over

girl. He looked like death and sin and something far more dangerous. The

tried to speak, to beg for help, but a

on edge as he cocked his head. When he put out a hand I drew back, braced for some pain; what I got was the tenderest

lity to his voice, deep and rich, like honey on gravel. "One of my broo

too numb to put in a word. The venom

mething of a possessive nature. "You have an interesting scent, little one. You smell... impossible." He

are of a terrible pressure in my chest as the venom made i

are not going to die here." His powerful hands closed ove

ith a snake bite behind it. I felt his lips on the wound and then he began to suck at it. It was a burn

broad expanse of his chest. For all the chill of the chamber he was warm, his mus

ground and looked at me again. In his golden eyes, hoo

your eyes,

vision cleared of the gray. I saw him as he was, his fac

oice husky. "We will hav

t his mou

ead to toe at the contact. His grip on my arm softened while his other hand went to the back of my skull to tilt my head and make of it

But the magic that flared at our first touch was unanticipated. He was rocked back on his heels, a gut

hort gasps, my skin hot. The danger and the venom were things of the past. All that remaine

old of his eyes nearly gone. And I saw a tremor in his h

you?" I

devastating. A thumb caressed my

ion. And you..." he leaned close to murmur in my ear, "you are my fated mate, you b

world w