Page 4 of The Forsaken Vampire

It wasn’t a naked woman, but a king with a crown upon his brow, his sword at his side. The face was blank at the moment, but I knew exactly who it was supposed to be. “There’s no way my father asked for this.”

Ethan stilled when he heard my voice, and then he glanced at me. He didn’t let me interrupt him and finished the shoulder that he was carving. A minute of silence passed as more debris fell to the floor. Then he hopped off the table and tossed his tools aside. “Your mother did.”

“I hope you aren’t attached to it—because he’ll destroy it.”

He wiped his hands on a towel as he approached me, dust and paint on his clothes. “The best part of art is making it.”

“I thought it was looking at it?”

“I enjoy looking at art—as long as it’s not my own.” He tossed the towel aside then came close, stopping just an inch from my face. His dark eyes looked into mine, shifting back and forth. “You have something to say to me?”

“How did you know?”

“Because I know you, Harlow.” He stepped back without giving me a kiss. “What is it?”

“You thought no one would notice that statue you did yesterday?” My arms crossed over my chest.

“I hoped they’d notice.”

“And what if my father noticed?”

Unapologetic, he just stared. “Art is about truth. And I won’t lie—not even to him.”

“Lie about what?”

He stared, his eyes hard.

“It’s like you want to get caught.”

“Maybe I do.”

I stepped closer, my arms still crossed. “Well, you got your wish, because my brother figured it out pretty quickly. You know how awkward that was?”

“And what did you tell him?”

“I didn’t have to tell him anything because the truth was too apparent.”

His face remained stoic, but there was a flash of triumph in his eyes.

“Don’t do that again.”

“Don’t tell me how to make my art.”

“I’m not telling you how to make your art. I’m telling you not to use my image without my consent. You had my tit hanging out, for fuck’s sake. If my father figured it out, you’d be dead right now, you know that?”

“King Rolfe is a fair ruler. The only people he’s put to death are traitors.”

“He’d make an exception for the man who put his daughter’s body on display without her permission.”

Now he crossed his arms over his chest. “I won’t apologize for it.”

“I’m not looking for an apology. Just don’t do it again.”

He stared at me.

I stared back.

“Is this fight over?”