Page 49 of Taken By The Vampire King

His gaze glittered with menace and his mouth suddenly looked way too full. “I think you might be too good to pass up.”

His voice was thick as he lowered his head toward my neck again, and I inhaled a deep breath because I needed to scream.

I had to scream, to do something. I couldn’t just freeze.

“Let her go.” Nicolas. His voice boomed across the museum room. “Step away, Sebastian.”

Sebastian, still bent over my neck, sighed. “Oh, Nicolas. Always in the wrong place at the wrong time.” But he shuffled backward, away from me, watching me the whole time, although I refused to meet his gaze. “You really need to pay more attention, though, Nic. And maybe I should act faster in future.”

I looked at Nicolas, still so aware that Sebastian was much closer to me than I wanted, and Nicolas held out an arm toward me.

“Miss Boucher.” He didn’t smile. His expression didn’t change at all, and I planned to walk toward him, dignity intact, head held high.

But I didn’t. The moment I registered my name on his lips, I ran to him like I’d escaped the gates of hell, and I crashed against his body, shaking as he wrapped an arm around me to hold me closer to him.

For a moment, we just stood while I waited for my heartbeat to slow and my breathing to return to normal. Nicolas didn’t do anything but remain slow and steady, firm and immovable for me to rest against, a protective arm around my back.

From somewhere behind me, Sebastian groaned quietly. “And the rear view is delectable, too.”

Nicolas stiffened, each of his muscles tensing, and I glanced up at him.

“May we leave?” I was no longer in the mood for a party. I couldn’t relax if I was trying to avoid Sebastian, and I felt weak and stupid.

Somewhere in the past few days, I’d lost myself. Where was the kickass bar owner from Baton Rouge who took shit from no one? But I didn’t have too much time to ponder that before Nicolas nodded.

“Yes.” He grated out the words. “We’re leaving.”

Chapter 14

Nic

Leia jammed herself into the corner of the backseat, taking up as little room as possible, at least half an acre away from me. I left my hand resting in the gap between us, but she didn’t take it. She didn’t even look at me, even though I ached to touch her, the desperation of the anger that had run unchecked through me still unfamiliar and slow to recede.

I watched her, trying to only glance in her direction occasionally, but she couldn’t see. Her forehead rested against the window, and when I caught sight of her reflection, her eyes were closed.

“Leia.”

She stiffened. I so rarely used her name, preferring to allow her the distance she wanted, but now I didn’t want any distance between us at all. I wanted her closer physically so I could reassure myself she was all right, and I didn’t want her to start to reject me. I needed her trust.

Fucking Sebastian.

That bastard wanted everything that was mine. My parents, my throne, my fucking mate.

I turned my head away in case Leia glanced in my direction. Anger had caused an ache in my gums, and I needed to regain control of myself before I could talk to her as I wanted.

Damn Sebastian. I never lost control.

“Nicolas?” Her voice was hesitant.

“I’m sorry about Sebastian.” I pushed the words past fangs that didn’t want to retract, like my body still somehow sensed a threat to my mate.

My words seemed to open whatever dam had been holding her own words in.

“I don’t even know what happened,” she said. “I mean, what the hell was that? Why did Sebastian suddenly react like that? I was just… He just… I was looking at…” But she didn’t finish, and I couldn’t contain a dark chuckle.

“But you weren’t in the ballroom.” My heartrate picked up. She hadn’t been safe. I’d almost been too late again.

“I… He’s your brother.” Her tone was flat, and she was right. It shouldn’t have mattered.

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