Page 48 of Taken By The Vampire King

“If it’s any consolation at all, I think Nic is crazy to let you wander around the party alone. I wouldn’t let you leave my side if I’d brought you.” Sebastian’s voice was low, perhaps a little too close to my ear, but a frisson of pleasure skipped through me at the idea someone saw worth in me where Nicolas clearly didn’t. Sebastian walked across a wide corridor toward a darkened room, and tugged me playfully toward him before flipping on the light. “I promise you’re still within screaming distance of the party.”

I relaxed at his teasing words. I was here as Nicolas’s guest, this was his brother, their uncle had seen us leave the ballroom. It wasn’t as if I’d been taken to the second location by a serial killer.

“Ta-da!” Sebastian flung his arm out with a flourish as we entered a room lined with shelves and filled with glass display cases. “The gallery,” he added unnecessarily, and I smiled.

“Really?”

He chuckled. “Really, truly.”

I let go of his arm as I wandered farther into the room, my attention caught by thick pottery urns that were cracked into several pieces. The designs were basic and faded.

“These look very old.” My fingers hovered above the case, but I didn’t even touch the glass.

“There’s jewelry, too.” Sebastian led me to another case filled with beaded necklaces and bracelets and intricately woven collars, peppered with much smaller beads.

“Wow. How did all of these things get to be here?” They honestly looked as though they belonged in a real museum.

Sebastian’s lips quirked. “Father was quite a collector. He was a connoisseur, an antique expert… And also, I guess he was just a packrat. Once he owned something, he couldn’t bear to part with it.”

Private collectors were a thing, and they definitely seemed to like to hoard rather than let everyone enjoy things in a public gallery, so it didn’t seem so unreasonable to think Nicolas and Sebastian’s father might have been one of those people.

However everything had arrived here, he was either very wealthy or had criminal connections. Probably both. A shiver rippled through me at that last thought. Maybe there was something wrong with this whole family.

This room certainly lent credence to the idea that I should find out what Nicolas was hiding, and after his continued mixed signals, it was in my best interest to not let this full month play out.

Except…except something in me wanted to stay. Like something was tugging me to stay… Or making it harder for me to want to leave, overriding all of my common sense. Shit. I’d miss him. Would he miss me after the month was over?

Horror expanded in my chest—I wanted to mean something to Nicolas, and that was stupid, so escape by any means was my only option before my ridiculous crush became a problem.

Because I did. I had a crush. And I couldn’t let it continue. So I’d find out what I needed to know and pray it was enough to end the contract.

But I didn’t ask Sebastian any more questions in case I received answers I didn’t want to hear. He’d been right. We were still close enough to the ballroom that I could hear strains of music, and I relaxed a little as he beckoned me deeper into the room.

“Come and see this.” He stood in front of a display case that was lit from within.

It held a silver comb that some aristocratic lady of Europe must have taken great delight in weaving into a fancy hairstyle. The comb shone under the lights, but it was so old that several of the teeth were missing.

“There’s quite a legend attached to this piece,” Sebastian said, watching me carefully as he spoke. “You believe in fairytales?” But his gaze remained serious, considering, waiting for my reply like it was important. “Want to hear one?”

I nodded, although there didn’t seem to be too much anyone could say about such a fragile looking antique. It was probably an old family piece.

“Well… Once upon a time…” His lips quirked again, that expression of his now a familiar one, but his gaze remained serious.

I let myself lean forward a little, studying the comb as he talked.

“This is a very old hair decoration. You’ll notice the inscription along the top.” Sebastian brushed his fingers over the case, directly above the accessory, directing my attention to the piece. “La beauté est eternelle. It means beauty is eternal, and family legend says the comb was once enchanted by a witch to allow whoever wears it to remain beautiful regardless of their age.” His voice lowered, taking on a seductive note. “Queens have killed for the chance to possess and wear this comb.”

“Killed people?” I laughed lightly. “Good thing it’s only a story.”

His breath fanned across my neck, and I froze. He hadn’t been this close to me when he started talking, and I hadn’t heard him move. When he breathed again, the sound almost a low groan, a memory stirred, a sense of déjà-vu. Not like I’d been here with Sebastian before but that someone else—someone truly unwanted—had breathed against my neck.

I cleared my throat and straightened, attempting to step aside with purpose and dignity, even as my mind flashed through the possibilities. Could I still hear the music from the ballroom? Which route around the display cases and fragile items would take me to the door quickest?

But I didn’t get a chance to even finish my thought or form a plan. As if he’d sensed my thoughts, Sebastian grasped my wrist and spun me to face him then backed me against the wall, his movements so fast, everything blurred. I struggled against him, but he took both of my wrists into his hand, his grasp bruisingly tight as my bones ground together. He leaned against me, aligning our bodies so there were no gaps between us as he dropped his head to the base of my throat.

“You smell amazing,” he ground out as he rolled his hips against me. “How does Nic stand it? I was going to be nice, you know?” His tone became almost pleading. “Let him have you. But I don’t know if I can.” He clutched me tighter.

When I froze—everything inside me still, so much that I didn’t even draw breath—Sebastian moved back far enough to meet my eyes.

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