Chapter Eight

Bloodthirsty vampires, vicious warriors, and enraged wives were just a few of the many opponents Julian had to deal with during his life. All were willing to go to great measures to end his pointless existence. But he had no idea how terrified he was as Portia quietly pulled away from him and turned to face him. He caught himself taking a step backward even though she was barely above his chin and wearing heeled slippers.

Her smile was warm and her eyes were bright and clear. He was aware, though, that if she had been holding a stake at that very moment, all that would have been left of him would have been a small layer of dust on her slippers. "So you went in search of your soul and found her."

He nodded slowly, but it was hardly a question.

"For more than five years, you kept your loved ones waiting and worried. You were having fun in the bed of the vampire who was in possession of the one item that could have brought you back to humanity throughout all of those restless nights when