Page 133 of Blood and Thorns

I barely managed a nod, not moving a muscle as he reached across and undid the handcuff. I immediately pulled the arm to my chest, my wrist already darkening with a bruise.

“Where am I?” I asked, the words more of a croak.

Reaching over to the nightstand, Gabriel grabbed the glass of water. When I hesitated, he smirked. “Stop being dramatic; it’s not drugged.”

Still, I refused. “What have you done, Gabriel?”

“I’m saving you, like I said I would.” He placed the glass back on the nightstand, but it toppled, shattering against the floor. “Now look what you made me do!”

Quietly cursing, he rubbed at his jeans as the water spilled, and I quickly glanced around. I was in a bedroom, the walls painted in deep purples, with a large bed and an expensive-looking frame. The window outside showed a landscape that definitely wasn’t London, the sky dark enough to see the glittering stars.

Where the fuck was I?

“You couldn’t just come with me, could you?” he snapped, his movements frantic. “No, you had to fucking fight it, and nowshe’sinvolved.”

“I’m… I’m sorry,” I whispered, jerking back when he jumped to his feet. “I didn’t mean it.”

Gabriel instantly calmed, just like he did every time I’d apologise in an argument. “It’s okay, baby. I’ve even forgivenyou for shooting me, and luckily it was a through and through, missing everything important.” His smile was crooked as he knelt back on the bed, leaning over me. “Fuck, I’ve missed you.”

His lips touched mine, and it took everything in me to remain still. To not fight and claw as revulsion swept through me. I even allowed him to deepen the kiss, for his tongue to explore my mouth as I forced myself not to bite down.

Pulling back, he pinned me with a heated look. He ripped at the T-shirt, the fabric tearing.

“Gabriel, please don’t!”

“Don’t?” he growled, grabbing my hands as I tried to push him away. “Do you know what I’ve had to do to get you here? You should be more grateful that I risked everything to save you.” He straddled my waist, his weight knocking the breath from my lungs.

“Gabriel…”

He squeezed my wrists, the bruise aching as he pressed his thumb purposely into the mark.

“I am grateful!” I lied. “I’m sorry.”

“Prove it.” His eyes narrowed on mine.

I wriggled beneath him, trying to get him to let go. “Please Gabriel… Stop!”

His expression darkened, his hands releasing my wrists, only for one to grab my breast, and the other to dip between my legs. I kicked at him, shoving with all my strength.

“Ara…” he hissed, trying to hold me down.

I hit at his wound, my knee knocking against the bandage on his lower stomach with as much strength as I could. He screeched, rearing back. The bandage immediately spotted red, his blood growing against the white.

“You stupid bitch!” He raised his fist, my head bouncing back against the bed from the impact when hestruck. “This is all your fault! Why couldn’t you have just chosen me?!”

Pain shot through my skull, my arm coming up to block the next blow when a guard pulled him back.

“Madame has asked for your presence,” he commented, his eyes cold when they met mine. “I suggest you both make yourselves presentable.”

The borrowed black silk dress clung to my body, goosebumps prickling my skin as the night air stroked as if it could soothe my apprehension. The music had stopped, leaving a strange quiet but for the shuffling of shoes and quiet murmurs in a language I didn’t understand.

I really should’ve learned French.

“This way,” the guard said, his gravelly tone urging me forward even as he held a hand to the gun on his hip.

The house was elegant, with gold accents and large tapestries. Thick rugs decorated the tiled floors, my bare feet making no noise as we passed down several corridors to a set of glass double doors.

Gabriel waited for me there, but I refused to look at him. He’d put on a shirt, covering his bandage, but I knew he didn’t have time to change it as blood had seeped through to the fabric.