Page 50 of Fated In Blood (Nocturne Vampire Clan #1)

50

EVANGELINE

I spent the rest of the day exploring Crimson House, poking through abandoned rooms filled with moldering furniture and moth-eaten draperies reeking of neglect. I ended up in the library, where the edges of the delicate pages crumbled beneath my fingertips.

Why the hell was this place rotting down around Riordan?

Besides the barely functional kitchen and my bedroom, he hadn’t lifted a finger to replace or restore so much as a square of carpet.

White Chapel wasn’t exactly a palace, but Silas kept everything in good repair, which wasn’t overly difficult when he had a virtual army of slaves at his beck and call. But here…it was like Riordan wanted this place to fall down around itself.

Like he took pleasure in watching Crimson House decay.

“There you are.” As if he’d been plucked from my daydreams, Riordan leaned in the doorway of the library, his gaze trailing heat over me.

Maybe it was the aura of power, or the immortality, or the unfairly strong jaw, but Riordan Graves was a fucking god of a male, and while not so long ago my first impulse would have been to drive a stake through his heart, now my entire body softened with lust at the sight of him.

“Your heart is beating very fast, Silver.”

So is yours , I wanted to say. His hand, wrapped around the carved door frame, tightened, nails digging into the wood like that was the only thing holding him up. Or holding him back.

I carefully set the book aside.

“Where did you go this morning?”

His mouth curved into a smile that fell away before it fully formed. “I had to get an early start. When duty calls, I’m the only one in this godforsaken place who can answer.”

“It was still dark, Riordan. Surely the problem could have waited until morning.”

It was our last time together , I wanted to say. You could have at least said goodbye .

His eyes were more shadowed than I’d ever seen them, and his fangs…his fangs were huge, beads of sweat trembling on his top lip. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was on the verge of losing control. When he saw where my gaze landed, he dragged a hand down his pale face, covering his mouth.

“Tyrell sent me an invitation. We’re to appear at Darkmore Castle this evening for dinner at seven o’clock sharp. You, Blake, and me.”

My heart began hammering. “Dinner? Seriously?”

“Another one of Tyrell’s games.” Riordan’s nails cut into the wood, leaving long, white gouges. “He likes to play with his prey, Evangeline, and his games always end up with someone getting hurt. But we can’t refuse.” He blew out a shaky breath and my heart hammered faster.

“There are clothes laid out for you upstairs. Blake will escort you; I will join you there. You will stay close to Blake at all times. At no time will you allow yourself to become separated from him, no matter what happens to me. If he tells you to do something, you will obey him without hesitation. Understand?”

“Riordan, you need to tell me what’s going on.”

“Laurent Tyrell is calling our bluff, and we have no choice but to play along. If we refuse him, at seven o’clock, he’ll compel us to the castle, and trust me…that will not be pretty. Better we go of our own free will than be dragged through Darkmore’s front doors by our feet.”

“And we’re just supposed to dress up and go ? We’re supposed to just…obey that monster?” I burst out of my chair. “Why don’t we move up the timetable? Walking in there for a fucking dinner party…this has to be a trap. We’re too close to our deadline for this not to be a trap.”

“Oh, this has all been a trap, but not in the way you think, Silver.” He sounded so, so sad. “Trust me, if there was any other way…” His face changed then, like a ripple through water, eyes flashing once more with a blaze of white fire.

“Go get dressed. Blake will meet you downstairs.”

“Riordan, we need to talk about this. Wait —” I was halfway to the door when he disappeared, leaving a swirl of cold behind smelling of rain and thunder. I ran my fingers over the gouges he’d carved into the wood, the crescent shape of his nails clearly visible, and wondered why this male who was always in control was falling apart.

Living on the run didn’t afford many opportunities for fancy dress dinners, and I’d never, ever worn anything like the midnight blue gown someone—probably Riordan—had laid out on my freshly made bed.

The bodice was embroidered with sparkling crystals, tightly fitted over my waist and hips before poofing into a wild spill of glittering blue silk and tulle. Thin beaded sleeves covered the tops of my shoulders but left a large expanse of my chest exposed, all the better for the enormous necklace—a teardrop stone surrounded in diamonds—to be displayed. Of course, there were matching earrings and a cuff bracelet that looked like they should be stored in the Tower of London.

I ran my finger over the huge stone, leaving a smeared fingerprint.

This was ridiculous.

We should be going to war, not to dinner.

I toweled off and braided my damp hair into a heavy bun, smoothing back all the errant curls with a generous handful of product. Then I slipped the dress over a pair of matching dark-blue panties. The bodice fit like a glove, while the full skirts were easy to move in, something else Riordan had probably factored in when he’d chosen this.

Hopefully running for my life wasn’t on tonight’s agenda, but I wasn’t optimistic.

Shoes with the skinniest heels I’d ever seen went on next, then the jewelry, worry shivering through me when I held up the teardrop pendant, watching the stone splinter into a thousand different blues. I could probably buy a house with this damn thing.

God . Looking at myself in the mirror took me back to the last time I’d gone to Darkmore and ended up bleeding out in Tyrell’s fancy office. My own choice but still. I gripped the edge of the sink for dear life, freckles standing out in stark relief, a pulse pounding in the hollow of my throat.

I’d never been this scared.

From his shaken appearance earlier, I came to the only conclusion that made sense. Riordan had been outplayed.

Tyrell had engineered every aspect of tonight, and we were walking right into his trap.

I didn’t know when I’d ever felt this powerless.

I narrowed my eyes at my reflection.

“You can handle this, Evie. You’re stronger and faster and smarter than you ever were. You know more, and Riordan wouldn’t take you along if there was any other choice.”

“Nice speech.” Blake chuckled, stepping into the bathroom with a grin. “You wouldn’t happen to have one of those for me, would you, little slayer?”

Not only did I not have a speech prepared, suddenly I was incapable of talking altogether. Blake Marten in a simple t-shirt and jeans was a work of art, but Blake in a tuxedo was… holy fuck was he hot .

“Well?” He did an elegant turn on the carpet, and I noticed he’d kept his boots. “Aren’t you going to say something?”

“You look…clean.” I choked. I was definitely not going to tell him he looked good enough to eat. Or any of the other things I wanted to do to him right now.

Falling on my knees and taking him into my mouth…God, my entire body heated up at the thought.

“High praise, coming from you, Slayer.” He winked then crossed to me and threaded my arm through his, turning us so we both faced the mirror.

Blake took my breath away, towering over me in his fine tailored suit, long hair gathered back, not a strand out of place…Yet somehow still he managed to look untamed, his hooded gaze fixed on me with single-minded intent.

Blake reminded me of a brewing storm, where even the thunderous clouds and flashes of lightning masked the true depths of power brewing within, ready to lash out and decimate everything in his path.

“You are the most stunning creature I’ve ever seen, Evangeline. You bewitch me now, like you did that first time I saw you. Not a day goes by without me thinking of that moment, wondering if I’d imagined that spark of hope that flared in my chest when our eyes met.” He laid his warm palm over my arm, thumb rubbing circles on my bare skin.

“Did I imagine that spark, Evie? Am I a fool to hope it was real?”

“It was real,” I admitted softly, unable to take my eyes off him. I’d lied to myself about so many things in my life. That I wanted to become one of my father’s soldiers. That I could protect my mother and my sister from my own family.

That I was strong enough to take on the world alone.

But I couldn’t lie to myself about Blake, not any longer. Not with the proof thumping in my chest, that constant tug beneath my heart pulling me toward him.

“Thank God.” He cradled my face in one calloused palm, making me feel impossibly delicate, then brushed his lips over mine hard enough I tasted his smile. “I promise to protect you tonight, Evangeline. Even if I can no longer walk, even if I can no longer fight, I will find a way to keep you safe.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I said breathlessly, my already wobbly stomach doing flip flops.

“Yes, let’s hope,” Blake agreed, his fingers tightening on my cheeks before he released me. His fangs flashed like knives. “But if Tyrell starts some shit tonight, I’m burning that fucking mausoleum down with him still inside.”

Adrenaline slammed into me at the thought, some of Blake’s wildness spilling over as I contemplated this nightmare being over. I would have my sister back. Riordan would have his kingdom. And Blake…

“Oh, I have a surprise for you.” He pulled me back out into the bedroom. “Since I know how much you love to dress up and Riordan got to pick out…all of the fancy stuff”—he waved his hand down my gown and across the jewels—“I brought you some special accessories to complete your ensemble.”

He winked as I ground to a halt. “Nice rocks, but you don’t much seem like a jewelry girl.”

There, on the bed, lay four knives and two thigh sheaths made from buttery soft leather lined with velvet. “We’re walking into a serpent’s den, little slayer. I had these made especially for you, since I refuse to let you go in there unarmed.”

My mouth went dry when he dropped to his knees beside the bed and crooked his finger at me. “Come here. Let me get you set up.”

I felt impossibly awkward as I tottered toward him, practically falling on my face when my foot turned in that damned heel, but finally I stood in front of Blake Marten, who was staring up at me like I was his entire world.

“Foot on the bed,” he ordered in a raspy growl that sent a bolt of heat streaking between my legs. I obeyed, shivering when his hand slipped beneath my dress, fingers encircling my ankle before he pushed the layered skirts up over my knee.

“Let’s hope two knives in each scabbard will be enough,” he murmured, running rough fingertips over the sensitive skin on my inner thigh, then tightening the first leather sheath around my leg. “I want you to make me a promise, Evie.”

I swallowed. “Okay.”

“If things go poorly tonight, I will shield you long enough for you to escape. Like I did at Valentine’s.” He tightened the belt then slid the first knife in, fingers caressing my skin as the deadly blade slipped into place. “Other foot.”

I obeyed, barely breathing when he repeated the process on my other leg, this time leaning close enough to drag his lips slowly over the inside of my thigh before fastening the sheath and sliding the knife in slowly, his fingers massaging my calf with deliberate thoroughness.

I wanted his lips higher, wanted his tongue sliding through my wetness, wanted him to pin me down on the bed and do rough, unspeakable things to me. “Blake, please…”

“With me shielding your mind, Tyrell can’t compel you.” His voice was a rasp of sound, fingers tightening around my ankle like he couldn’t let go. “You take down Bosch, I’ll handle Collum, and Riordan will keep Tyrell busy long enough for you to reach the edge of the grounds. Then I need you to promise that you’ll run. I need you to swear you’ll leave Thorndale, Evie, and never look back.”

“I…”

Blake lunged up, his lips slamming into mine, no warning, no finesse, just a desperate, hungry kiss that stole every rational thought from my head. We devoured each other, tongues lashing, teeth and fangs clashing, his hand gripping the back of my head as I clung to the lapels of his tux.

Tell me you’ll run, Evangeline. Promise me. Fucking promise me, or I swear…

Fine. I’ll run. I promise.

Then he was back on his knees, his lips wet and swollen, pupils blown wide. “We have to go. Are you ready?”

“No,” I said honestly. “I don’t want to do this.”

“For the record, neither do I.” Flashes of green gold cracked through the black in his eyes. “If I could leave you here where its safe, I would. But I can’t. He’d send Valaine after you, and this way we stay together.”

I bit my lip when his knuckles skimmed down the inside of my thigh, so wet between my legs Blake had to smell my arousal. He pressed his lips to my knee one last time, tugged my skirts back down, then smoothed his big hands through the sparkly material until they draped perfectly.

“There.” That was actual mischief sparkling in his eyes when he offered me his arm. “Beauty and the beast. A night of dinner and mayhem. Are you hungry?”

“I am famished.” I grinned up at him, his eyes darkening as I reached down, cupped him through his pants. “But not for food.”

“ Evangeline .” Blake’s fangs slid out when I dropped to my knees, fingers pausing on his waistband. “We shouldn’t.”

“Oh, I definitely think we should.” I smoothed my hands down the fronts of his powerful thighs, muscles flexing beneath my palms. “Let me make you feel good, Blake.” I breathed in a rush of musk and heat, that delicious ache building between my thighs.

“Evie, you always make me feel good.” Blake rimmed his thumb along my bottom lip, spreading moisture back and forth as I unbuttoned his pants, drew down the zipper.

“But I can make you feel so good, you’ll forget all about this stupid dinner.” This was foolish, but I wanted one last taste of him, one last piece of him before tonight stole everything away. I pushed up to my knees and pulled out his cock, hard, veiny, pulsing.

I ran my tongue around the tip, then caught him in my mouth and went down and down and down, taking every last inch, tasting salt and shadow and power all mixed together as I slowly came back up, dragging my tongue along the underside until he barked out a rough curse.

“Fucking hell, you could make me forget the world existed with that clever mouth.” His thumb drew circles on my cheek and I sucked him back in deep, teasing and taunting, drawing out a husky groan, then another, until his fingers tightened my hair.

I wanted him undone. I wanted him to fall apart.

Yes. Fuck my mouth. Make me yours.

Don’t tempt me, little slayer. You have no idea how much I want to ruin you right now. He sent me an image of how I looked, my dress pooled on the floor around his feet, heaving breasts barely contained by the bodice as he slowly worked his cock in and out between my wet lips.

Another gush of arousal dripped between my legs and I moaned around his girth, working one hand beneath my skirts, until my fingers found my clit. The second I touched that tight bud, my entire body rocked forward in a wave of needy want.

Make me take it all, Blake. I want this. I want you to own me.

Fucking hell. The way you look, how good your mouth feels, this won’t take long.

His hand tightened my hair and then he unleashed himself, hitting the back of my throat in one hard thrust, then another and he was lost, head thrown back, mouth half open as he panted out my name over and over again, my finger strumming faster and faster across my clit.

Don’t you dare come, Evangeline. That orgasm is mine to taste. Do you hear me?

Blake, I’m so fucking close.

You will wait for me. He grunted and thrust, spilling down my throat, holding me still while his cock pulsed and jerked, making me take every drop. When he was spent, I rocked back, met his eyes and licked my lips.

“Fucking delicious.”

That fast, he pounced, hands capturing my waist, slamming me down on the bed before he dove between my legs, swirling his tongue over my clit, working his fingers in and out of my channel in fast, brutal rhythm that had me arching up off the bed.

Yes, fucking yes. Harder.

Fucking take what I give you. You taste like honey. Fucking sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted. I could eat you forever.

My hips bucked violently against his mouth, his plunging fingers as I edged closer and closer to that brilliant cliff and then I was falling, plummeting towards that inevitable, beautiful crash.

And when Blake growled out my name one last time and told me to let go, that he had me, I didn’t even care about the landing.

As long as we both crashed down together.