A dark, voracious light flashed through his bright golden eyes.
So I smiled at him, sending him a signal that I could be nice, too, if he wanted to be friendly.
It must’ve worked because he didn’t strike me but met my gaze as if I were the only person in the world. Then his eyes roamed my every inch.
That cherishing gaze made me so hot I nearly purred like a kitten being scratched under her chin. A current of electricity sparked between us, and pleasure buzzed over my skin.
Was that what people called chemistry?
The demigod stalked closer, his hands stuck in his pockets to show how harmless he was. That gesture wouldn’t fool me. He could attack with a thought. I knew how dangerous he still was.
I prickled at his proximity, and dread seeped through my body.
Automatically, my knuckles went white on the hilt of my spear, and my other hand moved toward my gun, the cold metal a comfort against my warm fingers.
A challenge rose in his vicious, yet sexy eyes. Contrary to how I’d handled the other hooligans, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to attack a demigod first. You couldn’t kill a godly creature with a bullet or even dark magic.
And I didn’t want to kill him. I wanted to do something else to him.
I reined in my wanton thoughts.
A hot ember sparked like dragon fire in the demigod’s eyes. He enjoyed making me nervous, savoring my carnal reactions to his presence. But I didn’t intend to show him anymore weakness, including this sudden, absurd lust.
I held my chin high.
He strolled around me, intentionally, just to get another reaction out of me or simply to annoy me. I wheeled accordingly, staring him in the eyes, never showing him my back.
“Which demigod are you?” I demanded.
I knew currently there were four demigods ruling half of the Earth, but I didn’t know who this one was.
Instead of answering, he cocked his head to the side and sniffed me.
“Hey!” I shouted. I considered that an insult. I wasn’t to be sniffed. I’d hunted in the forest today. I’d run from the demon. I’d fought werewolves and gangs. So naturally, I smelled sweaty. I’d intended to take a shower after the market visit, but my plans had been interrupted by all these uninvited interactions.
His gaze brightened like the stars, and in the reflection of his golden eyes, I saw mine also light up. But I didn’t like the way he drew me to his flame. I didn’t like losing control, and this demigod was making me nuts.
“We’re law-abiding citizens, mister,” I said, sweeping my spear until its head pointed right at the werewolves. “You won’t take any member of my coven, but you’re more than welcome to round up those up-to-no-good scumbags. They should fight the demons in the frontier at your Dominions’ command instead of harassing innocent small-town people.”
The surviving werewolves snarled their disagreement, but stopped at the Dominion soldiers’ hisses. They were the biggest asses now.
“They’re too old,” the Dominion lieutenant said. “Only the teenage wolf and witch will be enrolled into the Academy. We came for them, so I suggest you step aside if you don’t want any more trouble.”
I wasn’t crazy about his suggestion, so the lieutenant and I traded words, despite everyone gasping at the abusive heat and violent threats in the exchange, until the demigod intervened again.
“I’ll spare your friends under one condition,” he said with a bright, sexy, yet cruel smile, and my stupid heart fluttered.
I wasn’t completely immune to him. After all, I was a human.
I leaned closer to hear his proposal. I would give him a chance to prove that not all demigods were inflexible tyrants who loved to stick absurd rules up their arrogant asses.
Dark pleasure flashed in his eyes, and he sniffed me again. I didn’t draw back from him right away, despite my erratic heartbeat that warned me not to get too close or I’d get burned.
It seemed I had an effect on him, too. If my scent could muddle his mind, so be it.
But I didn’t expect his scent of male, demigod, and sex to slam into my nostrils so potently. My mind went blank for a second.
I rectified my mistake by putting distance between us.