Page 27 (1/2)

"Would you like to join us?" Blake asked

"Love to, thanks," Jaden said, and slid into an empty chair before Lyra could protest Instead, she shot hi her attention back to Blake

"So you were telling ht you here?" she asked, and in a far sweeter voice than she’d ever used on Jaden "Blake is a paranorot some kind of phenomena around here I’m just not sure what that would be, apart froot so drunk he stripped and went running down Main Street in the middle of a snowstorave hi"

"Uain with more than a hint of jealousy "There are a lot more reported instances of supernatural occurrences around here than you two see through theh at if you’re not up on the research, but I assure you, this is no laughing ht that Jaden had to bite his tongue to keep fro Lyra’s eye and realized she was having the exact saently, before she pointedly looked away

Jaden let his eyes linger on her profile athey were alone so he could run his own tongue and teeth over that entrancingly full lower lip of hers

"You can’t expect norant of the stories about this place," Blake continued, sounding increasingly peevish at being ignored "They’ve been covered up pretty well, I’ll say that, but the truth is out there for those of us willing to dig deep enough"

Oh hell, there it was Jaden h, but he doubted it was very convincing Lyra grabbed her glass and took a long drink of water

Taking a little pity on the man, Jaden turned his attention back to Blake Yes, Jaden decided, he was pissed His date had been ruined, and his life’s passion was being laughed at He hed at by a vampire and a olf, respectively, but still Jaden decided to make a little effort to be civil, since he no there was no way in hell Lyra was going anywhere else with this guy

"Look, Blake," he said, "there are a lot of unexplained things in the world A lot of them, maybe most of them, are better left unexamined by the unwary"

"I’m plenty wary," Blake snapped "And I’, because I’ve nevervampire who chose to live in a normal town"

Jaden lifted his brows "You think I… play vampire? That sounds like a pretty personal question, Blake You’ll have to at least buy ry little laugh "Okay," he said, standing up "This is going nowhere I don’t knohy I asked you to stay… really… but if you’re not going to help ot other leads to follow"

"Do you?"

"Da in his wallet

"No, Blake, don’t go Jaden can leave, or you and I can find someplace else to sit and talk This was supposed to be just the two of us--"

"Blake"

Turning his gift, his power for controlling huentle but co, smooth and utterly irresistible Even Lyra turned toward hie in his voice But he’d had his fun with the interloper--it was time to help him on his way so he and Lyra could have the table to themselves

Blake stilled and turned to look at Jaden, as Jaden had known he would Hu to a thrall And once their eyes o hazy and confused, he knew he had hi to me, Blake?" he asked, his voice as calm as if he were about to discuss the weather Blake nodded, his action slow and drea at him, but he didn’t want to break the connection, so he addressed her without looking

"All right, I didn’t mean to lay it on that thick Don’t call me master, Blake I’m just your friend Your buddy Jaden"

"Hey, buddy"

Jaden smirked despite his best efforts "Hey, Blake Listen, as your buddy, I have to tell you You need to walk out of here, go get your things at the hotel, and leave town I slightly on his feet where he stood "But there are… lycans…"

"No, you’ve been watching too much Underworld," Jaden replied, cal the power in the hold he had over the ood thrall asted if you didn’t get a drink out of it… but wasted this one would be He doubted the patrons of the Lost Dog would appreciate the sight of hi a snack