Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha-Chapter 94: Xavier Moon

The blue spirits suddenly dart away like scattered marbles, joining their orange companions in the corner. My breath catches as they all vanish at once. It’s a little imaginary, but I swear the room is left darker and colder without them here.

The door opens. Eliana’s manic energy floods the space before she does, but my attention fixes on the man behind her. His presence fills the doorway, with similar features to Eliana but twisted into something more predatory. His unnatural purple irises lock onto me, too large for his face, consuming the whites of his eyes. There’s a strange scar across his right eye. It looks relatively new and angry.

My skin crawls. The warmth of the chicken soup turns to lead in my stomach.

"Nicole, meet my brother." Eliana’s voice carries a note of pride.

He doesn’t wait for more introduction. In three long strides, he crosses the room and snatches my hand. His grip burns cold through my skin as he brings my wrist to his nose. The deep inhale makes my stomach turn, and his subsequent sigh of pleasure sends ice down my spine.

I yank back, but his fingers might as well be steel bands around my wrist. "Let go."

"At last." His thumb traces circles on my pulse point. "I’m pleased to see you’ve accepted your role in all this."

"Actually." Eliana clears her throat. "She’s not exactly here willingly."

A growl rumbles from his chest, vibrating through his grip on my wrist. But then his lips curve up, showing too many teeth. "No matter. You’re here now, aren’t you?"

His purple eyes bore into mine, and I taste metal on my tongue. The soup threatens to make a reappearance.

"Brother." Eliana’s tone carries a sharp edge. "You’re being rude. At least introduce yourself properly."

His grip loosens but doesn’t release my wrist. "Forgive my enthusiasm. I’m Xavier Moon." His purple eyes dance with amusement. "But surely you remember me?"

I shake my head, fighting the urge to pull away again. The cold from his touch seeps deeper into my bones.

Xavier leans in closer, his breath ghosting across my face. It’s sulfurous and vaguely familiar. "Not even our explosive little rendezvous on the mountain?" His voice drops to a silky purr. "I must say, I’m wounded."

"I’m sorry, but I really don’t—" The words catch in my throat as something electric crackles in the air. My chest tightens. Suspicion clicks into place. "You’re the dragon. The one who attacked me."

His tongue clicks against his teeth. "Attack? Such a dirty word." Xavier’s smile stretches wider, showing those unnaturally sharp teeth again. "I merely wanted to give you a little encouragement. See if we could coax that delightful magic of yours to make an appearance."

"I almost died from that infection." My free hand drifts to my thigh where his claws had torn through flesh and muscle. It’s completely healed, thanks to the hospital’s care, but the memory remains.

Xavier’s face twists in offense. "How exactly do you think you almost died?"

"The infection from your claws—"

A bark of laughter cuts through my words. "Oh, precious thing. That wouldn’t have killed you." His lips curl into a predatory smile. "Though you might have been weak for a while."

He presses his nose against my captured wrist, inhaling deep again. My skin crawls at the intimate gesture.

"Get away from her." Eliana’s hand connects with the back of Xavier’s head with a sharp crack.

He scowls at his sister, but I barely notice. My attention fixes on the angry scar across his eye. The same eye I’d struck with my wardstone that night. It’s weird to know he’s forever marked because of me.

His grip finally loosens, and I snatch my hand back, cradling it against my chest.

"What’s the plan?" Xavier asks Eliana as if I’m not even here.

"She doesn’t trust us yet." Her tone carries the same clinical detachment she uses during examinations.

His lip curls. "She would have if certain people hadn’t gotten in my way."

That’s right. If they’re dragons... The words of the panther come to mind. They’re trying to bring me to the lowest of lows. To come to them of my own accord, clearly. I guess Xavier intended to swoop in and save me at the last moment? That’s unnerving; he’s more of a psychopath than a hero.

"Did you kill Scott?"

Xavier turns a blinding smile on me. His fingers brush my cheek, and I fight not to flinch. "Sweet girl, I don’t need you to have split loyalties."

He leans in close again, drawing in a deep breath near my neck. The sound he makes is pure ecstasy, like an addict getting their fix.

"Have you tasted it yet?" Xavier asks Eliana, his eyes never leaving me.

I recoil, my mind jumping to the worst conclusions.

"I’m waiting for it to mature properly. I’ve already seen what it’s done to you."

"Ah." His finger brushes against my face, and I realize with a shudder that it’s more of a claw now, sharp against my skin as he applies gentle pressure. "So tantalizing. Just a sip, Ellie. Just one."

"No."

He sighs and pulls away, looking regretful. "You always know best."

But then Xavier’s hand snakes out and captures mine before I can pull away. His touch burns like ice against my skin as he raises my hand to his lips. The kiss he presses to my knuckles seems almost gentlemanly.

"Until tomorrow, sweet angel," he whispers, his breath hotter than it should be. It almost burns, even though his touch is cold.

Then pain explodes through my hand. His teeth sink deep into my flesh, tearing through skin and muscle. A scream catches in my throat as shock freezes my body.

"Xavier!" Eliana’s voice cracks like a whip.

She yanks him away, and I clutch my injured hand to my chest. My whole body shakes, heart hammering against my ribs. The bite throbs in time with my pulse, each beat sending fresh waves of agony up my arm.

"Control yourself!" Her words come out as a feral snarl.

Xavier’s tongue darts out, catching drops of my blood from his lips. His purple eyes roll back, face twisted in pure ecstasy. The sight makes bile rise in my throat.

"Dr. Reeves!" Eliana drags her brother toward the door. "Get in here now!"

I’d forgotten Jim was even in the room until movement catches my eye. He leans against the wall, shaking his head with a weary sigh as they exit.

My gaze drops to my trembling hand. Ragged puncture wounds form a perfect circle where Xavier’s teeth tore through my flesh. But what makes my breath catch isn’t the savage damage—it’s my blood. Instead of crimson, iridescent droplets fall from my wounds, catching the light like liquid opals.

The pain pulses deeper, and I watch in horrified fascination as more prismatic blood wells up from the bite marks. Each drop shimmers with impossible colors as it slides down my wrist.