"I made you leave the room, didn't I?"

Her anger flared. "Only because I didn't want to embarrass you in front of everyone while I kick your ass!"

His mouth tilted up. "Try it."

She stepped closer to him. "I've eaten mortals like you for breakfast."

His smile grew. "Lucky bastards."

She stepped back, huffing with exasperation. "Phil, this is crazy! You can't just…force yourself on me."

Something hot flared in his eyes. His gaze wandered down to her feet, then back to her face. "Sweetheart, no force will be necessary."

She swallowed hard. Did he think he could seduce her? Sure, she'd flirted with him in the past, but that had been nothing more than a little harmless fun. She couldn't actually get close to Phil. She couldn't open her coffin of horrors to him. Hell, she didn't open that door even for herself.

She took another step back. "No."

A flicker of sympathy registered in his eyes before they hardened to an icy blue. "We all have an inner beast, Vanda. It's time for you to face yours."

"Never," she whispered, and teleported away.

Now that went well.

Phil frowned at the space Vanda had just vacated. Her scent lingered, something sweet and flowery like jasmine. He suspected it came from the gel she used to spike up her hair, but he might never get close enough to know. She was as fierce as a wildcat, hissing and showing her claws if anyone got too close. That alone made her intriguing. Combine it with stormy gray eyes, sweet lips, porcelain skin, and luscious curves, and the result was a woman who could destroy a man without ever laying a finger or a fang on him.