Page 92 of The Cruelty of Thorns

His lips curled up in a condescending grin. “Isn’t it obvious? I brought you a present. Consider it a peace offering.” He leaned over the bed, his fingers trailing through a lock of Myra’s hair, and I had to swallow a possessive growl.

“Amazing, isn’t it? She looks just like your former lover. Did you tell her?”

He let go of the hair and stalked around the end of the bed, his movements slow and languorous like the predator he was, his eyes never leaving mine. “Do you still think about what you did to her? Sweet, innocent Rosetta? How you ravaged her body and swallowed her life like a mindless beast?” He chuckled. “I have to say, sometimes I miss Anastacia’s sense of humor.”

“You must have a death wish. Remember what I told you the last time I saw you?”

He threw back his head and laughed. “Still holding a grudge, I see.” He plucked a handful of petals from the bed and let them sift through his fingers. “The roses were a nice touch, don’t you think? Be honest, for a minute you wondered if it was her, didn’t you?”

“No. She’s dead.” Just like you’re going to be, I thought as I tightened my grip on the dagger behind my back.

“Are you sure? Because people have been known to escape that prison.”

It was my turn to smile. “I questioned the bishop himself afterward. She died in the flames screaming like the coward she was.”

He gave a nonchalant shrug. “Ah well. It was worth a shot.”

I had to keep him talking until he was close enough to strike, figuring I only had one shot to get this right. “So you’re borrowing her tricks now?”

“You’re the one still keeping captives, pretty boy. Did you think I wouldn’t find them?”

“I didn’t think you would be foolish enough to come here after what happened to Anastacia. If you ask me, the roses were a touch unoriginal. Can’t come up with your own ideas?”

“Who do you think gave her the idea for that bloody garden?” he hissed, stepping closer, his eyes imperious, his sudden anger palpable. “I taught her everything she knew.” He pointed at me as though to emphasize his next words. “I made that bitch.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise. “You? But she treated you like…”

“An inferior?” he spat, his voice dripping with disdain. “Yes, sweet little Anastacia. She was a common whore when I found her. I used her and left her for dead. Imagine my surprise when she survived.” He began to pace away from me. “I turned her in a dirty alley without her knowledge then watched her grow into her cruelty. It was me who helped her kill the real Conte and Contessa of that manor. And then she set up her little harem of captives. Thinking she was better than everyone else. Thinking she was better than me!”

It was the most emotion I had ever seen from him. He grew quiet for a moment, as though lost in the memory, before emitting a chilling laugh. “Did you think I mourned her passing? I wanted to kill her myself a dozen times over the years.”

Interesting. “Why didn’t you?”

He shrugged. “Eternity can be lonely, as I’m sure you’ve learned by now. There are so few of us in the world, and Anastacia was…convenient.”

Part of me sympathized with him. In all the years I had wandered this earth after my conversion, I had met only two other vampires, neither of whom were interested in establishing a friendship. In fact, one threatened to destroy me if I didn’t leave his territory. After making my home here, I understood his point of view. Christopher’s reckless invasion of my city was reason enough to kill him, but there was our history and the vow I had made to him, not to mention his violation of Myra.

“Make your move, pretty boy,” he sneered, stepping closer to the foot of the bed. “I’ll even make it easy for you.”

He reached down and grabbed Myra’s ankle, yanking her toward him. She whimpered and tried to squirm away, but his grip was like iron.

My first instinct was to rush him, but I quelled that impulse. That would play right into his hands. Instead, I took a deep breath and analyzed the situation.

Christopher was older and more powerful than me. Apparently, after what I’d just learned, he was more powerful than even Anastacia, but I had the weapon that could destroy him. I just needed the right opportunity.

My eyes flicked to Myra, as if to reassure her. I knew she was scared, but she wasn’t in any immediate danger. He was just trying to provoke me.

“Having second thoughts?” he asked. “You have to know I’ll kill her. Leave her in the street just like the others.” He released Myra and sauntered toward me. “You, however, I’ll keep. I wasn’t lying when I told Anastacia I liked you. Why do you think I looked for you? And then when you slaughtered her household, I was sure of it. We’re a lot alike, you and I. We could be…companions.”

Did I detect a note of hope in his tone? Not enough to make me care. “I’m nothing like you.”

His expression grew colder. “Are you so sure, pretty boy?” He was almost within striking distance now. “You’re a monster, just like me. Why fight your nature?”

When he reached out a hand to touch my cheek, I whipped the dagger around and held it up under his chin.

“Don’t.”

His eyes widened as a slow smile crept over his lips. “Ooh. Should I be scared?”

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