76. This Shifter

Paul - In the park
“Attacking the blood traders was only a ruse to provide the fake Ion Corvin with a reason to give in. Max couldn’t simply let Laura go. We had to ensure everyone believed the deal was in their best interest.”
I pause for a moment, staring at Alisa. She blinks but doesn't say anything.
She is still standing in front of us, her arms folded over her chest. Her eyes narrow slightly, her mouth pursed. She doesn’t look happy.
“Continue,” she orders. “How did you switch the real Ion Corvin with the fake one?”
Her eyes move on to Max. He winks at her, and she immediately returns her attention to me. Her glare chills me to the bone.
If I had any doubts before, now I’m confident she’ll be able to keep all the strigois in check. She’s a force of nature, just like Laura.
“Alisa, can we do this somewhere more private?” I pause, glancing at a young couple walking by. “These are delicate matters and shouldn’t be discussed in the park.”
“You picked this spot and this bench to meet with this shifter.” Her chin juts out toward Max, and she takes a step closer. “You should have picked a more private place when you had the chance. Now talk!”
“After I signed the contract with Ion Corvin through which he took over multiple affiliate companies and several branches of my business, I was forced to use other resources to find a way to get rid of him. As long as he was still in power, he would have wanted more and more.”
“So you planned to switch him with this shifter long before he kidnapped Laura.” Alisa humms, her eyes locking on Max. “Where is the real Ion Corvin? Will he come to stake me and return to his rightful position?”
Shaking my head, I reply, “No. Silver chains are not that easy to break, even more so when you’re in a silver coffin on the bottom of the Black Sea with no source of blood. He’ll desiccate before he can get out.”
“Remind me not to piss you off,” Alisa says, then she chuckles. “Well, no more than I already have. Laura knows?”
“No, she’s not yet fully recovered. I’ll tell her when she’s better.”
Alisa shrugs. “Whatever. But how did she not read this shifter’s mind?” She points a finger toward Max. “You talked to her, right?”
“From what I’ve gathered, Laura can’t read the minds of light beings, and shifters are light beings.” Max smirks at her and continues, “Do your research, Leader of the Council.”
“I can punch anyone using my super strength, be it light or dark being. Keep that in mind, shifter.”
“Max. My name is Maximilian Rostov.” His hand reaches out for hers with a sunny smile. “This shifter would let you punch him whenever you want.”
Alisa frowns while he smirks. I’m a mere spectator in this conversation.
She yanks her hand free. “Sorry, I already have a boyfriend. And he’s a possessive wolf.”
“The one you told him he stinks like a dog?” Max chuckles at her scowl. “You tamed him well if he returns to you after that.” He rises from the bench and stares at Alisa. “I’ll take my leave now. I’ll come looking for you after your boyfriend passes away in a few decades. We, immortals, have all the time in the world.”
“You’ll forget me in a few days!” Alisa yells as Max leaves.
Without turning around, he yells back, “You’re the most beautiful, brilliant, and dangerous girl I’ve ever met. I won’t forget you in millennia to come.”
After rolling her eyes and checking out Max’s butt, Alisa glares at me.
“You’re not off the hook this easily, Paul. I might have gotten distracted by the new body that shifter is wearing now, but I haven’t forgotten you kept me in the dark. Do you know how scared I was when those strigois came and took me out of my house?”
“I can’t imagine you getting scared.” I chuckle softly and meet her gaze. “If you knew about the plan, you wouldn’t have been so surprised, and others might have figured out it’s all a ploy.”
“You might be right. Still, you have to make amends with me.”
“Fine! The Dragon surrenders in front of the leader of the strigois.” I shrug, defeated. “What do you want me to do?”
“Take care of Laura.”
Before I can say anything, Alisa walks away. I sigh and look at the grass. There is nothing else I want to do more than take care of Laura.
Even though I know she might still desire death, I refuse to give up on her. I promised her—and myself—that I would protect her, even from herself.
As I head to the suburbs, my nose aches for her scent, for the maddening aroma of lilac. I want to hold her in my arms for the rest of my days and tell her how much I love her.
It’s dark by the time I get home. No light shows through the house’s windows. A prickle of fear pokes at the back of my neck. I shove it away. There are no more strigois to worry about.
“Laura?” I call out as I close the door behind me.
The house remains silent. She isn’t answering my call. I walk into the living room without turning on the lights. We can both see in the dark anyhow.
“Laura?” I yell again. My voice echoes throughout the house.
This room is empty too. Palms sweating, I throw my jacket on the floor and dart to the bedroom. As I slam the door open, I see her.
She is lying on the bed, her hair cascades over the pillow. Only a sheet covers her from head to toe, hiding her nudity. Her scent fills the room, the air so thick with the lilac aroma that I can almost taste it.
I take a deep breath and step closer, my heart pounding in my chest as if this is the first time I am seeing her.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Paul.”
Laura’s voice is like silk on my ears, the view of her body through the thin fabric like a feast of forbidden fruit. My eyes devour her, my mouth salivates.
The flame of desire rises under my skin, forcing me to grit my teeth. It burns beneath the surface, and I can barely contain its intensity.
I have to let it out.