Page 44 of Twice Bitten

“Where’s Beckett?” I asked instead of answering his question.

A look of fury flicked over Alric’s face, there and gone in an instant before his face settled into a placid, unconcerned expression. “I have people looking for him. He’ll be found soon enough.”

“So you do know him.” I snorted. Even half-dead, I’d realized he was lying during that conversation in the alley!

Alric didn’t respond. He lifted his wine glass and sipped, watching me like a hawk over the rim.

Realization hit me like a truck. “You can’t call him off because you can’t find him. And you want me to help you.”A laugh escaped me. “You must be out of your mind. Why in the world would I help you?”

Alric’s jaw tightened with displeasure. “As Prime, my responsibility is to keep every citizen of this city safe.”

His words stung. He’d forgotten someone. “Except for me.” I scoffed. “You forgot about the woman you left bleeding to death.” I tapped the table with my index finger. “A woman who would not have almost died had she not run into you two!”

I felt confident Beckett wouldn’t have killed me right away had he caught me. He seemed like the type of vamp to play with his food. Whether I would have livedlongwas debatable. Since I was winning this argument, I kept my mouth shut about that part.

Alric tried to hold my stare and couldn’t. Good to know he possessed at least some sense of shame.

I continued. “This is a total PR disaster for you. You have no true desire to make any amends with me. All you want is Beckett and you don’t care if I lose my life in the process as long as I help you get what you want.”

Alric’s eyes began to glow. “Miss Damona, your life is in danger.”

I rolled my eyes. “My life has been in danger the moment Beckett walked into my coffee shop.” Disgust filled me, and I pushed my chair back. “My life was in danger when I stumbled into you and the Shifter King fighting in an alleyway.” I picked my purse up. “I owe you nothing, Mr. Methinas.”

“Please sit, Alex. We’re only on the second course.”

“My appetite seems to have disappeared.” I turned and headed toward the door.

“Miss Damona.”

“Please call Leo.”

A heavy sigh sounded from behind. “Alex. Please.” When I didn’t stop, his chair scraped back. “Alex. I—” Another sigh. “Shit.”

I almost laughed.

“I fucked up, okay? In a massive way. I am trying to make amends, but you are not making this easy on me.”

I stopped and whirled toward him. “Easy?” I hissed, rage filling me. “You left me to die!”

“Yes.” His face was serious. “And I have regretted it every day since.” He gestured toward the table. “Please.”

At my glare, he held his hands up in surrender. “I won’t ask anything of you. The chef has been working for hours to make all these dishes and if we don’t try all of them, I’m afraid he’ll quit for good this time.” He gave me a sheepish smile. “Cory is temperamental on a good day. He quits at least once a month, but I’m skating on thin ice this week.”

My resolve softened. Alric seemed so…human. And I did love pasta.

But I had to remember, I was no one special. This is how a rich man always wooed a woman, even if he had zero romantic interest. Woo her with good food and wine, flatter her or terrify her, Alric was doing a great job at it all, then boom, spring the condition on her.

You’ll get to have this fine wine and fancy dinner forever if you only do this…

“Please,” he said. “The moment dinner is finished, Leo will escort you home.” He laid a hand over his heart. “Scout’s honor.” At my look, he winced. “Too far?”

“Too far,” I agreed. But I was starving and a free meal made by a trained chef was hard to pass up. And I was already here, after all.

“Very well. I take it back. You have my word as Prime that Leo will escort you home as soon as you take your last bite, and I will leave you alone.”

Alric Methinas was dangerously charming.

“No funny business,” I warned.