Page 45 of The Vampire Court
I feelthe weight of the blankets first then the stiffness in my muscles as I shift. An arm pulls me tighter against a hard body. Something brushes against the top of my head. I reach up to shoo Cherno away, but what I touch is cool and smooth and not at all a bat.
“I was wondering how long you would sleep,” a male voice rumbles.
Not Alaric’s voice.
I bolt upright, flinging the blankets off, and roll off the bed, leaning on the mattress to steady myself. My pulse pounds in my temples from the rude awakening.
Hadn’t I fallen asleep on the floor?
Cassius leisurely pulls the blanket from his face, revealing a Cheshire grin as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. He stretches and rolls to his side, watching me.
“You slept for two days. I was beginning to think you would die,” he says with a yawn.
The demon snake is curled up on my pillow.
“You compelled me,” I snap.
“Of course. You needed sleep.” Cassius sits up and scoots toward the edge of the bed.
I take several steps back, wanting to put more distance between us.
“You’re more of a snake than your demon,” I hiss, but Cassius smiles at that. “Compel me again, and I will kill you.” My chest heaves as I focus on remembering how the fuck I ended up in bed with this smug bastard.
He snorts. “If you wanted to kill me, you would have done so by now.”
“Don’t tempt me,” I say through gritted teeth.
He rises from the bed, unconcerned, and stalks toward me, forcing me to back up. The back of my legs bump against a table. Cassius reaches up and grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, bringing his face uncomfortably close.
“Is that any way to thank the man who healed you? You would be back in the dungeon—or dead—if I hadn’t spoken in your defense. I risked my position in court for you, little bird.”
I press my palms to his chest and shove. He could easily overpower me, but he concedes a step, letting go.
“I didn’t ask for your help, and that doesn’t mean I owe you anything.”
He huffs, straightening his shirt.
At least he had the decency to stay fully dressed.
“I don’t expect anything from you, Clara,” he says in a clipped tone. “I’m simply reminding you that right now, I am your only ally, and as I told you the other day, I have my own reasons for helping you.”
I can’t make heads or tails of his motivations. Sometimes, he seems so cold and distant. The next moment, he’s friendly, and others, he tries to charm me. It reminds me of our conversation outside of the atrium back at Windbury, where he pretended to be a friend only as an attempt to take me from Alaric and turn me. Could all of this have been part of his plan?
He can’t be trusted.
“What are you thinking, little bird?”
“I will never ask you to turn me, so don’t bother offering.”
He cups my cheek and searches my eyes. I hold my breath. “I will return with more food. Then, we can discuss what is to happen.”
He is across the room in a blur and then out the door.
My trunk sits in the corner, a dress splayed on top, ready for me to change into. I push it aside and shift through the other clothes until I fish out something I deem more suitable.
After quickly dressing, I’m not sure what to do with myself and end up pacing the room. My thoughts return to Alaric over and over. I need to find him so we can figure out how to get out of this mess I made.
I stride toward the door, itching to find him. I pull it open and come face-to-face with Cassius. He widens his stance, blocking my path. Taking a step forward, he forces me back inside then kicks the door closed with his foot.