Page 16 of Fated In Blood (Nocturne Vampire Clan #1)

16

EVANGELINE

I opened my eyes, unsure where I was, only that the dark was impenetrable and everything smelled… intense .

Cloves and candlewax and dust and musty leather.

My face was smashed against something hard and warm, also the source of the intensely spicy smell and deliciously tempting, like freshly baked cinnamon rolls and strong black coffee mixed together, and I was filled with a desperate sense of longing.

But I also felt trapped in quicksand, smothered beneath a heavy, un-shiftable weight.

Every part of me was hypersensitive.

My skin was on fire like I’d been sunburned. My carved-out insides ached like I hadn’t eaten for days. My thirst was so intense my mouth felt filled with cotton, and something sharp raked across my tongue every time I wet my dried, cracked lips.

I scanned the darkness, murky shapes finally solidifying into objects, even with no obvious source of light. Books on a wall. An enormous desk. Realization nudged at my memories, but I couldn’t quite recall where I’d seen this room before, only an unsettling sense of déjà vu that got stronger when I pushed up, digging in my elbows for leverage.

Someone groaned.

That was a man. The one I was laying on top of.

I scrambled off and landed on the carpet, every bone wrenching like they were broken, my abraded skin burning like someone had poured rubbing alcohol over me. I panted, trying to get my bearings. I shouldn’t be able to see with no light, especially not the enormous hulking form on the other side of the room rising like a wraith in the shadows.

“Stay away from me.” I scooted backward and hit something unmoving, then an enormous hand squeezed my shoulder, holding me in place. I did the first thing I could think of.

I bit down. Hard.

The strong taste of copper coated my mouth and…rich flavor exploding across my taste buds, and like a phantom echo, a shiver of sexual need went through me. What the fuck was this ?

God, every single part of me wanted to bite down harder, to sink my teeth in and… drink . I let go and crawled in the opposite direction.

“Fucking hell, her fangs are sharp.” More cursing, then the rough rasp of a match and a flare of light. I shielded my eyes, practically blinded by the white glare of phosphorus that scalded my nose with equal intensity.

“Don’t be afraid.” That deep voice belonged to the guy I’d bitten, and I ran my tongue—carefully, this time—around the inside of my mouth, disorientation turning to undeniable hunger. My gums throbbed, that insatiable craving becoming so relentless I wrapped my arms around my middle and squeezed.

“You’re safe. We won’t hurt you. We only kept the room dark to give you time to adjust, since light is hard on newly turned vampire eyes.” The man kept his voice even, with a forced sort of enthusiasm meant to both encourage me and soothe my nerves, which, of course, made me panic.

I peeked through my fingers at the blindingly bright candelabra illuminating two faces I recognized with a horrified vagueness that sharpened by the second, dread clawing up my throat until I could barely breathe.

The big one looming in the shadows…was going to turn me into a vampire .

The one with the bite mark on his hand…was the king.

Oh fuck, that was me. I’d bitten him.

“Whoa, it’s okay. Everything will be alright. I’m Blake and this is Riordan. You’re still at Darkmore Castle. I’m sure everything is confusing, but there isn’t a lot of time to explain the situation, so you’ll just have to trust us.”

“Like I’d trust any of you bloodsuckers.” The words popped out before I remembered who I was talking to. Bits and pieces were coming back, but they were jagged and confused, nothing fitting together in a coherent order.

An explosion. My sister, Angel, in a red dress. Me slicing through my aorta. A monster with long, curved teeth. And then, something so fuzzy it couldn’t be real…someone…moaning while they sank their fangs into me .

I reached up and touched my throat. Nothing there but smooth skin. I was whole. But when I dragged my fingers down my dress, my clothes were stiff and molded to my body.

“Definitely a human thing to say.” Riordan chuckled as if I amused him. “Clearly, she hasn’t lost any of her viciousness. But Tyrell will be here soon, and you’d be wise to keep your insults to yourself, at least until we get you out of here.”

“This is Tyrell’s castle,” I said slowly, digging my fingers into my aching temple. “There was an auction.”

I’d caused an explosion, and sure enough, I caught the faint chemical odor of accelerants on my clothes. My wrist… someone… Bosch had snapped my wrist, but when I lifted my hand, I was fine.

Riordan nodded. “Your memories will come back, but right now, you’ll have to trust us and follow our lead. Do not antagonize Tyrell; I expect Blake will do enough of that for the three of us.”

Trust them? Trust a couple of vampires ? I groped at one thigh sheath then the other. Empty.

I finally slid my eyes over to Blake.

Some invisible force tugged at my middle the moment our gazes met, the candlelight pulling the gold flecks out from the hazel as his harsh expression softened. His face was a masterpiece in opposites. Those eyes, burning with emotion against that cold and unreadable mask, which made him look all the more dangerous, because now I was curious about him.

And I did not care about any of these soulless bloodsuckers, only that…

Something tugged in my chest, right below my heart, like I’d just pulled a muscle. I sucked in a quick breath that made them both go unnervingly still, Riordan dragging his hand across his own chest like he was in pain.

“He’s coming,” Riordan muttered.

“I came here for the auction. I blew up Tyrell’s staircase. My sister was…” My gaze drifted up to the enormous, pretentious painting. “My sister is here. Lives here.” I would have said more, words and memories log jamming in my throat in their rush to get out.

But the door opened, and Laurent Tyrell stepped in.

Beneath his elegant, slightly sallow facade lurked a darkness I felt in my soul. My entire body trembled in his presence, shaking knees threatening to buckle at his command.

To kneel. To obey.

“Ah. The transition worked. A miracle of sorts, I suppose, given your…” His pale blue eyes raked Blake up and down. “… questionable heritage . But you kept your word, and you are free to go.”

Undiluted hatred sent me surging toward him before I even realized I’d moved. “Where is my sister? Where the fuck is Angel?”

“Exactly where she should be. Warming my bed like a good little pet.”

“You desiccated, arrogant bastard—” I moved faster than I’d intended, pain shrieking down my legs as I launched myself at this fucking piece of shit. My poor, abused body was nothing but a tangle of weak, shaking limbs, and I collapsed on the floor, short of my target.

Tyrell grinned. “What a delight you will be. I cannot wait to meet you again, once you’ve fed and your transition is completed.” Every muscle in my body trembled, heart racing so fast I thought it might explode.

In all my life, I’d never been so vulnerable, and in a roomful of predators, no less.

“The sun’s been up for hours. Take your new toy and begone.” Tyrell’s creeping tone turned oily. “Don’t forget to ask your new thrall her name.”