Oh he wanted to kiss her, just the same as the blade kissed his throat. And she didnâ€™t even know that her furious reaction only made him want it more. She was so upset, so dangerous. And such a beauty when she was angry.<br/><br/>Something funny? Kalab stared straight back at her, never backing down from this woman who was his only equal, his goddess of a lover. Cold and hard as gems and unreadable in their damnable, eternal patience, eyes that were otherwise identical to hers accepted the scorn. But he did smile as the sharp point drew a dot of blood. â€œIâ€™d never regret it.â€ Nemahati wanted to be close to him, he could see it in her struggle to treat him just as sheâ€™d treated that annoying vampire. At times like these, he thought, just maybe, it would be best if they were all goneâ€¦ But, without them, neither he nor Nemahati would have a purpose, and then what might happen?<br/><br/>A hand that had remained at his side very slowly and cautiously pushed the blade away from his throat.<span style="font-style: italic">What an awful idea Kalabâ€¦</span>He justâ€¦ he had to. He was very careful not to let the knife go, even though the edge pressed into his palm and threatened to slice his hand open. The knuckles of his free hand brushed over her cheek before he closed the distance between them to kiss her. It was a chaste kiss that he laid on her lips, over in the same instant heâ€™d done it. But it was the very thing he had wanted to do since the moment heâ€™d found her. With the same unreadable expression, he waited for her to probably strike him, still not daring for one moment to let go of the blade.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">--------</div><br/><br/>They watched from above. Took note of the male and female on the ground, and the other male some distance away. There had been scentless echoes of that loner. They had avoided those. One left a marker behind, a small chink in the cement. Then both shadows vanished, flitting away with breathtaking speed. Back into the darkness. The long shadows cast by yellowed streetlights and flashing neon simplyâ€¦ ate them.