Mark wanted to look him in the eye, but try as he might, he couldn’t do it. His voice was devoid of the anger he held on to like a shield. “I had questions.” He hated how small he sounded.
Caster moved back to the couch, much slower this time, and Mark’s hatred for himself grew when he missed the warmth of his body.
He patted the cushion next to him in invitation, and Mark lost the battle with his need to resist, two strides leading him into what he was certain was a trap.
“Tell me.”
It was strange the effect Caster had on him. He was almost calm, but Mark refused to trust the feeling. “Dean said Riley would enhance our senses further?”
“Yes. You have a problem with that.”
It wasn’t a question, but he nodded anyway.
“You don’t trust Riley.”
He shrugged. The calming effect he couldn’t describe was comforting enough that he sank further into the white couch. “I don’t know him.” He hesitated. “Or you.”
Caster smiled. “True. But we have the same goal. Why would we harm you when we need you as much as you need us?”
Mark didn’t know how to answer that. He’d spent little time with vampires, but he doubted their nature had changed. They remained the same as when they’d torn his world apart.
“What?”
He shot out of the seat, his anger battling his mess ofconvoluted emotions to spring to the fore. “Don’t read my mind.”
Caster’s face remained calm. “Sit.”
He hesitated, his fists curled, ready for confrontation.
“If you continue to make me repeat myself, we are going to have a big problem.”
Mark took a calming breath and sat as far from Caster as the couch would allow.
“Good.”
Mark tamped down on the side of him that wanted to relish in the pride of pleasing him. His wolf had no such reservations.
“If you don’t want me to know what you’re thinking, protect your thoughts.”
“Is it safe? What Riley will do?”
“Very. You have my word.”
Mark nodded even though he still couldn’t trust Caster or any vampire. “I have to go find Dean.” He made no move to do so, and the irking smirk returned, taunting him.
“You’re waiting for me to give you permission?” A full smile made his handsome face even more appealing.
Mark hated every fiber of his being for noticing. But now that he’d acknowledged it, there was no looking away. Gray eyes accentuated the perfection of Caster’s face, drawing Mark to a defined jaw around perfect lips that mocked him with another smirk.
“Go.”
He shot to his feet and rushed to the door.
“Mark…”
His hand paused halfway to the doorknob.
“The next time you interrupt me…”