But even if she could get over his lack of faith in her abilities, she couldn’t get over the icy grip of his magic.
His power had run through her veins, robbing her of any free will. Dominic had enspelled her mind, but Tarian had commanded her body. The magic she’d once thought of as familiar had taken her over, proving to be more alien and desolate than she’d ever imagined. That, more than anything, was the reason she couldn’t see him. She was not a woman afraid of much, but when it came to Tarian’s abilities, every hair on her nape stood on end.
And what sort of relationship could she have when she was always on guard, waiting to see if her lover would snap his fingers and take away her free will?
It would never work. It should never have been started in the first place. Their romance had been idealistic and naive right from the beginning. Tarian couldn’t cut off a part of himself, and she wasn’t in the business of trying to change people even if he were willing. His magic was as vital to him as her fangs were to her. With another woman it wouldn’t be a problem, and he deserved the chance to find that happiness. Even if it wasn’t with her.
She opened her eyes to look out at the street.
Was it possible for him to be her mate but her not to be his? She’d dealt with breakups before. Ones that had lasted decades instead of days. And yet never before had she felt so empty inside. Like a part of her was missing.
It wasn’t fair that this city was filled with happy matches and hers had been doomed to failure right from the start.
She had no idea how she’d react when she saw him again. And their paths would cross. The council was a staple on her invite list for all her balls and galas. Tarian would come with the rest to represent his race. She’d have to shake his hand and smile, all the while pretending she didn’t miss him with every fiber of her being.
“We’re here, miss. Would you like me to see you up?”
“No need,” she said to her new driver. “I’ll be fine.” It wasn’t like she was a target any longer.
Melissa exited the car and made her way into her apartment building. The werewolf doorman bowed as she walked by, but she didn’t feel like stopping for a chat, as she would have most nights. Instead, she crossed the marble entranceway and made a beeline for the elevators.
Maybe she should travel, she mused as she pressed the button for her floor. It’d been ages since she’d last been to Europe. She could take a few weeks and wander the streets she’d known in decades past. Looking up old friends might get her mind off of Tarian.
The bell dinged to indicate her floor, and she stepped from the elevator, planning her vacation as she did so.
Melissa was so preoccupied she didn’t notice the figure by her door until she had nearly reached it.
When the man turned to face her, her stomach dropped to her toes.
“Melissa,” Tarian said.
Chapter Nineteen
Seconds ticked past as her mind whirled with her options. Turning and walking the other way seemed a good choice, but that would be the coward’s way out. She could ignore him and simply enter her apartment but that also seemed rather childish. The adult thing to do would be to smile and make small talk, pretend his presence didn’t make her bleed. However, seeing him there, looking every inch as gorgeous as she remembered, she didn’t know if she could pull off “unaffected”.
“Tarian,” she greeted him, lifting her chin. “I was not expecting you. If you require an appointment to discuss council business you can make one with my secretary and meet me at my office between the hours of ten and three.”
A tiny smile twisted his lips. “This isn’t about the council, and you know it.”
“Then we have nothing to discuss.” She strode to her door and unlocked it, trying to ignore the prickling awareness on the back of her neck, which had never been there before. She didn’t want to fear him, but her instincts screamed to get away from the necromancer as soon as possible.
“Going to invite me in?” he asked, leaning against her doorjamb.
“You didn’t need an invite last time.”
“That was different.”
She glanced at the door, not wanting to look into those eyes she’d fallen in love with. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“I know,” he breathed. “But I have things to say to you. Please, Melissa. Let me in.”
She wavered. Despite the logic telling her anyone with his abilities should be avoided at all costs, her heart still clenched at the sight of him. Maybe this would help. She’d hear him out and then they’d have closure. They could meet as polite strangers next time.