Just so long as Ivan is not.

She felt his withdrawal from her mind, and it felt as if he had taken away her soul and left her dead inside. She lifted her chin and flashed Ivan a particularly brilliant smile. She placed her hand in his as he assisted her from the car. Determined to enjoy the evening, she took his arm as they entered the theater.

Men seemed to be pressing against her, breathing loudly. Heartbeats thundered in her ears. The orchestra’s overture blended with the surging of blood running hotly in veins. Alexandria concentrated on the play, aware it was exceptionally good, yet she was more aware of Ivan’s arm across the back of her seat, of his smell. When he whispered in her ear, his mouth against her skin, she was sickened by it.

Twice she almost excused herself to go to the ladies’ room just for a respite from him.

But she was determined to see this through. She was going to be human even if it killed her. There was a burst of applause just as she heard the words in her mind: It might kill someone.

Shut up!she answered him, exasperated, that in the midst of her despair, he made her want to laugh. But Aidan was gone once more. Just his touch warmed her, and the silliness of his warning. He was taunting her on purpose because he knew she was repulsed by the man sitting so close to her.

Beside her, Thomas was clapping. The lights came up, and people seemed to swarm around them. He was in his element, with a beautiful woman on his arm and many acquaintances surrounding them. Powerful men he barely remembered meeting were suddenly stopping to exchange comments on the show. Connections he had been seeking to aid his climb even further up the social ladder were introducing themselves, issuing much sought-after invitations to him and his date.

Alexandria Houton was clearly an asset to him and would be to his career. Proudly he put her on display, strutting because she was on his arm. And he saw that he was not the only one mesmerized by her voice, captivated by her smile. Even the women, he realized with satisfaction, she seemed to charm, bestowing her smile regally, enchantingly.

Thomas circled her shoulders with his arm and drew her closer to him, a display of ownership as they walked out into the night, still followed by his many fans. Alexandria’s stomach lurched at the proximity. Then Thomas glanced to his right and froze. Standing not six feet away in the shadows was a wolf. Huge. Blond. With gleaming fangs and red, glowing eyes. Those eyes were staring right at him, the beast’s muscular body poised as if to pounce.

Thomas’s heart actually stopped, then began to pound. He gripped Alexandria’s arm and began to shove her back toward the theater.

“Thomas, what are you doing?” she demanded.

“Don’t you see it?” He pointed in his excitement. It was Savage somehow, he was certain of it. “It’s him, I know it is. He’s here.” Heads were turning at his raised voice.

“Thomas.” Her voice was soft and soothing. “Tell me what’s wrong. You’re very pale. What did you see?”

He forced himself to look more closely. The shadows were deep and dark—and empty of wildlife. He could see a large planter where the wolf had been. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he allowed himself to breathe.

“You’re shaking, Thomas. Come on, let’s get to the car.” Concerned, Alexandria took a careful look around, scanned the area, and found only humans. You’d better not be tormenting him again, she warned Aidan, but she could not tell if he heard.

“I swear I’m seeing things, Alex. The planter over there looked like...” He trailed off, not wanting to admit his imagination was out of control. What was wrong with him, anyway, that his obsession with Alexandria Houton and Aidan Savage, coupled with his macabre imagination, was producing all-too-real hallucinations?

“It moved?” She was looking at the offending redwood box suspiciously.

“No,” he admitted. “It just looked... strange.”

“Well, I had a great time tonight. The play was wonderful,” Alexandria said softly.

Little liar.The words taunted her, male amusement mocking her.

Her chin lifted, and deliberately she placed her hand in the crook of Thomas’s arm as they headed for the limo pulling up to the curb for them. “Did you like it?” she asked sweetly, her voice oozing syrup. She could almost feel Aidan wince, and he retreated immediately.

Once in the car, Thomas slid close to Alexandria. His thigh rested against hers, and he could feel the soft swell of her breast against his arm. His hand found her chin. “I know you don’t know me very well, Alex, but I’m deeply attracted to you, and I’m hoping the feeling’s mutual.”

His mouth was mere inches from hers, and under his mouthwash and breath mints Alexandria could smell everything he had eaten for dinner—the pasta with garlic, the salad with tarragon-vinegar dressing, the red wine and coffee and mint. She nearly gagged and tried to put some distance between them. “We’ll be working together, Thomas. This isn’t a good idea. At least not so soon.”

“But I have to kiss you. I have to, Alex.” He was leaning into her, breathing heavily.

She made a sound, shrinking back, but in his ardor he took it for consent. As he lowered his head, his eyes caught the glint of red. He cried out and fell away from her toward his door, staring at the rear window, through which two glowing eyes watched him with clear malice. To his horror the window bulged inward, then shattered, spraying glass fragments all over him. The huge wolf thrust his muzzle right into the car, fangs exposed and dripping, diving right for his head. Those red eyes glowed eerily without blinking, boring right into him. He could feel the hot breath on him as those white fangs thrust closer still. Thomas screamed and ducked, covering his face with both hands.

“Thomas?” Alexandria touched his shoulder lightly. “Have you been doing drugs this evening?” She already knew the answer; she could smell it in his bloodstream. “Perhaps we should take you to a hospital. Or a private doctor.”

Slowly, in fear, Thomas lowered his hands. The rear window was intact. There were no shards of glass. Alexandria was sitting calmly in the seat, her blue eyes anxious.

“This has never happened before. I’m hallucinating. It was just a little coke in the men’s room. Maybe it was some bad stuff, I don’t know.” He sounded scared.

“What did you see?” Again she scanned the area, trying to find evidence of Aidan or any other danger, but they seemed to be alone. Maybe it really was the drugs. “Should I tell the driver to take you to a hospital?”

“No, no. I’ll be all right.” He was sweating profusely.

She could smell his fear.

“There’s nothing out there, Thomas, really. I sometimes sense things before they happen, and I don’t have any strange feelings,” she offered, trying to be reassuring.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized hoarsely. “Have I ruined the evening?” His eyes kept shifting from side to side, and he seemed to have developed a nervous tic on the left side of his jaw. He looked far older than he had at the beginning of the evening.

“No, of course not. I had a wonderful time. Thank you for thinking of the theater. I really needed to get out,” she assured him. “But Thomas, I don’t believe in taking drugs. I have my little brother, Joshua, to think about. I realize it isn’t my business what you choose to do on your own time, but I’m not comfortable with cocaine or any other drug.”

“It’s not like I’m some junkie. I just use it occasionally for recreational purposes.”

“Not around me.” That alone was a good enough reason not to be with him. She thought much less of him now, knowing that he would use narcotics to enhance the evening, as if he was incapable of enjoying it on his own.

“Fine,” he said sulkily, “I won’t.”