Page 7 of House of Darkness (The Fallen Star #1)

Roman backhanded him with enough force to send him crashing to the floor. Blood trickled from Matei’s left cheek, where the tsar’s ring had dug in. The scene mirrored Matei’s own abuse of me, as if Roman could sense the pain from the bruise.

“She didn’t tell me ANYTHING, you fucking swine. She’s too terrified,” Roman roared.

Roman took a slow breath and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, his teeth flashed in the darkness. “Let’s see what terror looks like on you, what do you say?”

Ink-dipped talons grabbed Matei by the shirt, lifting him effortlessly. Roman opened his mouth like a snake, revealing fangs and a disturbingly long tongue that coiled in anticipation. He sank his teeth into Matei’s neck.

I had witnessed violence before—fights among hormone-driven vampires, acolytes left in pieces.

But I had never seen a vampire feed. Vampires weren’t allowed to feed on free humans, and acolytes were to remain untainted until purchase.

It was primal and savage, with guttural snarls muffled by Matei’s flesh.

Frozen in mute horror, I watched Roman feed from the man who tortured me.

Breaking the very laws he was sworn to protect, though a tsar wasn’t restrained by such laws.

He could do whatever he wanted. Especially to mere humans—measly insects under his feet—to me. He jerked his head, and Matei screamed.

He was going to kill him.

I wasn’t sure if the twist in my gut was gratitude or horror.

A shuddering breath left my lips as Roman’s eyes lifted from his prey to meet mine.

Dilated to near-black, they still held their fiery heat.

They softened slightly as they took me in, and something passed between us as his pupils constricted to their normal fiery red.

His gaze never left mine as he released Matei, who crumpled to the ground in a whimpering heap.

Blood smeared across Roman’s lips and trailed down his chin.

Time seemed to freeze as we locked eyes.

He tilted his head at me in a silent question, then looked back at Matei.

He knelt beside the headmaster, his expression cold. “She is the reason you’re still alive. Say thank you.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. It was impossible to have discerned my look as one of disapproval, because, deep down, I had wanted Matei to die. I wasn’t sure what to think of that at all. Matei, clutching his bleeding neck, looked at me with wide, unseeing eyes. “Thank you.”

“Say her name. It’s only polite,” Roman hissed.

“Thank you, Estrella.”

“Good boy.”

Satisfaction blossomed like a toxic flower in the pit of my gut at seeing the man who had haunted me my entire life reduced to this.

It was short lived, however. This humiliation was only fuel to his rage if I was ever returned.

Roman stood and used the handkerchief from Matei’s vest pocket to wipe his mouth, leaving a garish smear across the white fabric.

He dropped it onto Matei’s chest like a discarded tissue. “You taste disgusting, by the way.”

He turned his attention to Nicolae, who cowered by the door. “If you don’t want to be next, grab her things and bring them to my carriage.”

“We’re leaving,” Roman said as he appeared by my side. I barely registered his swift approach through my shock.

Outside the dining hall, people scattered to avoid Roman’s intimidating presence. I couldn’t blame them. Yet Solaris stepped in front of us, her defiant stance blocking our path. Ignoring Roman, she grabbed my shoulders. “You did it, Es. You’re getting out of here. Remember, you can do this.”

“I’ll try,” I said, mostly to comfort her.

She hugged me tightly, and I relished the scent of strawberries and the feel of her curls against my cheek. This would be the last time I saw her, and it wasn’t enough. There was too much left unsaid.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you too.”

When we parted, it felt like a piece of my soul went with her. She stepped back, looked Roman in the eye, and said, “You better take care of my sister.”

The tendrils wrapping around me warmed. “I will,” Roman assured her.

The thought was laughable, but Solaris nodded once and stepped aside. Roman led me out into the night. The cold bit through my thin clothes and caused me to shudder. Roman hissed.

“I can’t believe they didn’t give you a coat.” He removed his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. His expression softened, but his anger lingered.

He helped me into the carriage, and I curled into the corner, burying my face in his jacket. It smelled like sawdust and smoke, like someone who worked with their hands instead of like the abusers I had known. The clink of my neck cuff from my movements made me flinch.

“Do you want me to remove that?”

I tensed, wary, but there was no question. Not when it came to him, not anymore. I had to appease him. I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Roman’s jaw tightened. “Call me Roman, Estrella.”

“Whatever you want, Roman sir.”

He sighed, his shoulders slumping with defeat, and cautiously reached across. I closed my eyes, bracing for his touch, haunted by memories of Matei’s torment.

“I knew you’d fail.” Dark laughter echoed through the cellar and back at me. My pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as he picked me up by my neck and broke me to pieces…

The weight on my throat lifted, and the night air hit my bare skin for the first time in years. I opened my eyes to see Roman still close, his eyes searching my face.

His hand brushed my cheek. “Are you still with me, doll?”

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir.”

He recoiled slightly, a flicker of hurt in his eyes. Not sir—Roman. Roman. “I’m sorry, Roman. I’m trying to remember.”

“Don’t be sorry, doll. You never have to apologize to me,” he said softly. “Why don’t you rest? We have a long trip ahead.”

Exhaustion won, and I fell into fitful sleep that carried me through the hours spent in the carriage. Nightmares plagued me. Matei’s hands descended upon me in a storm of fists. I covered my face, trying to protect myself…

Then I was lifted from my seat by gentle hands, hit by a cold gust of wind as the carriage door opened. I was thrown to the icy floor, pain shooting up my frail form while Matei—a monster hovering above me—laughed.

There was the soft creak of a door, and warmth enveloped me again. I might have heard a female voice, but I wasn’t sure. I was placed in a soft bed, blankets covering me gently. A body crawled on top of me, smothering me as I struggled against it.

“It’s worse than we thought,” a male voice murmured, sounding sad and out of place.

“She’ll come back, dear,” said a woman’s voice.

“You didn’t see what they did to her like I did… I almost killed them.”

“But you didn’t?”

“No. She was so frightened already, I couldn’t.”

The voices grew soft and fuzzy.

“You need to give her time.”

“You’re right. It’s probably a good thing I’m leaving for a while. Take care of her, Bells.”

“You know I will.”

A gentle hand brushed my cheek. A voice spoke, soft and sweet like honey. “You’re safe now, Estrella.”

Then darkness fell, broken only by the haunting image of those venomous eyes coming to hurt me.