Bitten by Cupid(52)

He’d stayed away, driven by that deep-seated fear of forever, certain that if he stayed away long enough, the need for her would eventually end.

He’d been a fool.

He loved her and would always love her. But would it be enough? He wasn’t at all certain she felt the same.

And even if she did, they faced an enemy he knew too little about. A creature of legend said to be able to devour men’s souls.

Goddess help them both.





Chapter Nine


Julianne looked up from the stack of books in her lap, her gaze going to Zeeland as he searched through a pile of his own. They were in the library on the main level of the mansion, searching for a book with a pocket hidden in the cover. Zeeland had finally remembered finding the necklace in such a pocket years ago. But which book was any-y body’s guess.

As she watched, Zeeland searched the books, one after the other, the strong planes of his face catching the light from the oversized window. She never saw him that her stomach didn’t do a little flip, freeing the butterflies to flutter around her in-sides. He was the most handsome man she’d ever known.

And she loved him.

She remembered telling him so last night. It had slipped out when she was falling asleep, but he’d responded in kind. Just as he always had when she was young. He was watching out for her and protecting her as he’d always done. But she couldn’t guess how he felt about her. He desired her, she knew that now. He loved her in his way.

She loved him more. So much more.

Even with her terrible secret out in the open between them, he never flinched. His fierce protectiveness of her never wavered. If it bothered him that she wasn’t fully Therian, he hadn’t let on.

Instead, he’d held her as she’d slept, watching over her. And she’d slept as she hadn’t since Melisande first arrived, secure in the warm safety of his arms.

Through with the books in her lap, she stood and replaced them on the shelf. She glanced back at Zee, pushing an errant lock of dark hair out of her eyes. He was reading.

With a wry look, she planted her hands on her hips. “That doesn’t look like searching book covers to me.”

He glanced up at her with a faraway look in his eyes. “Just reading something that caught my interest.” His eyes seemed to focus on her, a glimmer of humor in their depths. “You’re a harsh taskmaster, woman.”

She’d been teasing him. Sort of. In truth, she was desperate to find that necklace. It was already midafternoon, and they’d barely searched half the library. The rest of the enclave was busy preparing for the big Valentine’s party, and she’d already put off Serenity’s and Cambria’s requests for help. She was feeling guilty. And desperate.

Zeeland closed the book and set it aside. “Okay, let’s find that thing.”

A half hour later, Zeeland rose, holding the ancient-looking volume he’d been reading tight against his chest. And a book of fairy tales, one of the books she’d brought with her from New York.

“I found it,” he said quietly. “Along with information that might come in useful.”

Julianne’s eyes went round. Melisande had claimed Julianne had the moonstone. Apparently she had, though she hadn’t known it. She’d never known the book had a hidden pocket. She said nothing as he held out his hand to her and helped her up. She replaced her small stack of books on the shelf, then turned to him.

“Let me see.”

“In your room.”

With a nod, she took his hand, feeling the relief to the soles of her feet. He’d found it. When Melisande returned, she’d give her the necklace and pray that was the end of it. With any luck, Melisande need never know of Zeeland’s involvement…or knowledge.

And if Melisande figured it out?

She gripped Zeeland’s hand tighter, a fierce and furious protectiveness rising inside her.

Neither of them was going down without a fight.



“I’m ready. You can turn around, Zee.”

Zeeland rose from the chair in Julianne’s room where he’d been reading about what little was known of the Ilinas while Julianne dressed for the Valentine’s party that was already in full swing downstairs. He refused to leave her alone, now, even to prepare for the party, but she’d refused to let him watch her get ready.

He turned and stilled as he beheld the vision that was Julianne. She wore a silky red dress with tiny straps over her slender shoulders. The form-fitting dress skimmed her slender curves as it fell to midcalf, setting off her figure to perfection. A pair of sexy, red, high-heeled sandals lengthened and accentuated the fine shape of her legs. She’d swept up her dark hair in a casually elegant knot, a few artful wisps brushing her neck, eliciting a need in him to press his lips just there.