Page 11 of Bewitched By a Vampire

And she swore he was torn about something.

His grip loosened and his hand fell from her wrist, fingers brushing her and sending another bolt of lightning zinging up her arm to strike her soul.

He turned away from her and a feeling bloomed inside her, powerful and overwhelming, driving her to talk to him and discover what was wrong.

He exhaled, not quite a sigh. “Bastian will return soon. Remain in your room where you are safe.”

She lowered her gaze to his hand, the one that had been on her, watching as he flexed his fingers. He was shutting her in her room because she wasn’t owned, meaning the vampires coming to the party could mistake her for a snack or a companion. He wanted to protect her, and something deep in her soul said it wasn’t because she was meant for his brother. The compulsion to say something became too strong to deny and she opened her mouth.

“Go,” he barked and she tensed as his head swivelled towards her and his crimson gaze clashed with hers. Lilian stared into his eyes, at the fiery corona that surrounded his elliptical pupils, her heart thundering and blood rushing as his face darkened. His lips peeled back off his fangs, white daggers that sent both a thrill and ice-cold fear through her. “Now!”

She stumbled backwards into the middle of the foyer and turned, hurrying for the stairs and not slowing until she reached her room.

Lilian closed the door behind her and locked it.

But she had no intention of staying.

She went to the window and lingered in the shadows, peering down at the drive as the first car arrived, the tinted windows so dark it was impossible to see who was inside.

As soon as the party was in full swing, she was sneaking out to meet Gillian.

She was going to do something reckless.

Night appeared in view, stirring fire in her heart and bewitching her as he smiled and greeted his guest as the male climbed out of the rear of the car.

Before she did something even more reckless.

Chapter 4

Bastian would never approve of his home being used like this.

Night swirled the blood in his fine crystal goblet, watching the lavish affair that Laurent had put together unfold. The blond vampire had made good on his promise. All of Night’s finest friends were present, together with a few of Laurent’s that he didn’t recognise, and the quality of humans Laurent had managed to get on such short notice was impressive. His fangs itched as a black-haired vampire seated near the fireplace opened the vein of one of the females, a stunning brunette on his lap, and the scent of blood in the air thickened.

Gods, he wanted to find a female to sink his fangs into and feed from.

The human moaned, her pleasure rippling through the room, drawing the gazes of several vampires to her. A fair-haired male approached and she reached for him, her gaze drowsy as the vampire at her neck sucked harder. The newcomer dropped to his knees beside her and sank his fangs into her wrist, eliciting another loud moan from her.

In the corner of the room, one of the female vampires Laurent had brought with him was working her charms on a human male, reinforcing the thrall he was under so he would feel only pleasure when she took his vein.

And more than that, judging by the heat in her dark eyes.

Night roamed the room, making sure all his guests were comfortable and satisfied, dipping his head to any vampire who greeted him.

He arched an eyebrow as one of the female vampires decided she didn’t want to wait to get somewhere more private before taking her fill of the human she had under her control. The human groaned as he thrust between her legs, pinning her to the wall near the door, and she tore another from him as she licked his throat. The sight probably would have shocked Bastian, might have even given his older brother a coronary if he could have one. Openly fucking your host wasn’t the done thing in fine society. It wasn’t respectable.

Bastian acted as if they didn’t have cousins who ran an erotic theatre that catered to the aristocrat and elite vampires.

The male grunted and pumped her harder. No doubt the female was exerting more of her will on him, pushing him past his usual limits and unleashing him. Thrall could be a beautiful thing. Thanks to it, the humans Laurent had brought would shed their inhibitions and experience a night of sensual indulgence. They would enjoy what pleasure they were given and they would all be alive come the morning. A little sore and weak, but otherwise unharmed.

He set his empty glass down on the tray one of Bastian’s owned humans was carrying around the room and picked up a full one. The young male stared wide-eyed at the couple, a blush staining his cheeks. Night almost pitied him. As an owned human, he was off-limits—safe from the vampires thanks to his bond with Bastian.

As much as the owned human wanted to take the female in the way the other mortal was, he couldn’t. Any touch born of desire would pain them both.

Night wandered away from him, into the adjoining drawing room, where Laurent was busy seducing not one but two females. One of them was a vampire. He shook his head and smiled at that, not surprised that Laurent was being greedy. Whenever they had held parties in the past, Laurent had always ended up in bed with at least two females and often one male.

“Lord Van der Garde.” The soft female voice, laced with a faint French accent, snagged his attention, drawing it away from Laurent, and he looked to his right, towards the door to the foyer.

“Elspeth.” Night dipped his head.

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