Page 34 of Entombed By Blood

“Cain’s orders.” His voice is clipped. “You sleep in that coffin. You wear those clothes.” He hikes a thumb in the direction of the open wardrobe. Evie’s face contorts in horror as she catches sight of it for the first time.

I was right. More mind games.

There’s a moment of tense silence where I think she’ll refuse. Or worse, try to finish what she started earlier with her makeshift stake. Evie’s on the verge of hysteria or rage, and the thrall bond thrums with the onslaught of emotion.

Only, she gives in to neither. Instead, her face shuts down, becoming curiously blank as she stares at the disruption.

“As my sire wishes,” she whispers. “Help me dispose of this before...”

Before Cain discovers what she’s done. She doesn’t have to finish her sentence.

“Too late for that.” Gideon has the slightest hint of pity on his face, but to her, he must seem cold and distant. Our alpha isn’t an expressive man, and—even though we grew up together—I have trouble discerning his moods myself. “There are probably bugs and cameras all over this apartment, Evelyn.”

She doesn’t understand, her confusion written all over her face.

“He can see and hear everything,” I explain, softly.

“More electric appliances?” she asks, eyes creasing in horror.

Gideon shoots me a look, but I ignore him. “Sort of.”

Her face slips back into that impassive mask. “Then he truly did become God.”

“I’ll explain how they work tomorrow,” I mumble, before Gideon can stop me. “For now, try to get some rest?”

Evie’s brow rises at that. “Rest,” she murmurs, turning back to the coffin. “This is not rest. This is more punishment. And it won’t end any time soon.”

Gideon, apparently satisfied with her answer, grabs my arm and steers me from the room.

“Youseriouslywant me to leave her alone right now?”

Can’t he feel her heart breaking along our bond? Doesn’t it make him want to fix this whole thing?

No, I realise,he can’t. Gideon must have blocked the bond as soon as he felt it.

No woman is ever going to be allowed to touch him that deeply.

Evelyn

I don’t want to sleep. No doubt that’s part of his plan. Lack of sleep or the madness which comes from sleeping in silver, it doesn’t matter. Either will make me sloppy. Both will make it easier to manipulate me.

Cain’s games haven’t changed.

But I have.

That realisation stuns me as I stand in the bathing chamber, staring into my own lifeless eyes.

Mirrors were lined with silver when I last looked into one, and the purity of the metal meant I’d only seen my clothes, floating in mid-air like my body didn’t exist. A true reflection was impossible for us in those days—something which drove Callie mad—but I’d become used to examining myself in polished bronze. It gave my cheeks a soft, honey glow that I could never otherwise hope for.

Now my reflection is perfect. Like I’m standing in front of myself. It isn’t fair. I should show some scars. Some evidence of the hell that I’ve lived through.

Instead, I’m as flawless as the day Cain turned me.

Vampires don’t change. Death sees to that.

Yet, somewhere in the burning darkness, when I broke, so too did the love and blind devotion that I felt for my sire. Leaving in its place a maelstrom of hurt and abandonment.

The urge to punch my reflection in the mirror is so strong I have to wrench myself away.