Page 29 of Bewitched By a Vampire

His cheek was still warm from her caress.

His head still fogged by the sound of her whispering his name.

He burned for her.

Grave caught up with him just as he reached the trio of antique gilt-framed red chairs that formed a horseshoe around the black marble fireplace in the deep-crimson-walled reception room.

Night gestured to the couch that faced the fireplace as he took the armchair to the left of it, not noticing what he had done until it was too late. The position meant he could watch Lilian where she stood by the mahogany side table near the right corner of the room, beside one of the four tall French doors that framed the fireplace, two on either side of it.

Fuck.

He didn’t want to look at his brother, actively avoided his piercing gaze and made things worse by ending up staring at Lilian as she began to pour blood for them.

He tore his eyes away from her and frowned as he noticed Snow hadn’t moved into the room. His enormous cousin filled the doorway, wariness shining in his eyes as they followed the blood from the canister into the glass.

Crimson ringed his irises.

Night realised his mistake and cursed, was about to launch to his feet and make Lilian leave as quickly as she could when Grave barked two words.

“No blood.”

Lilian snapped her head up, looked directly at Grave and then swiftly dropped her eyes back to her feet.

Grave frowned at her, a calculating edge to his eyes that Night didn’t like. If his brother dared to call her on the fact she wasn’t behaving as expected of a servant, he wasn’t sure what he would do, but it would probably involve a vain attempt to beat his brother up that would end with himself being a bloody splat on the wooden floor instead.

Thankfully, Grave only waved her away.

Lilian bowed her head, gathered the silver tray with the goblets and canister on it, and hurried towards the exit.

Night’s gaze tracked her.

And got caught on Grave.

He tried not to respond to the hard look his brother was giving him, but ended up frowning at him as Lilian moved to the edge of his senses and slipped beyond them, stirring a dark need to go after her. It was Grave’s fault.

His brother’s expression shifted and he looked close to rolling his eyes as Night silently threatened him, unable to stop himself from reacting to Lilian’s absence and his brother’s behaviour towards her.

For a vampire trying to hide his feelings, Night was doing a terrible job of things. The temptation to just throw in the towel and admit he was attracted to her was great, but he fought it and tamped it down as he schooled his features. Grave eyed him closely as he sat on the couch that faced the fireplace, picking the end nearest Night. Snow stalked into the room to ease his big frame into the armchair opposite Night.

Night still couldn’t believe it was Grave sitting before him.

Grave who never left Hell anymore was here, in the mortal world, paying his family a visit.

Night was about to ask what they had done to deserve the pleasure of their company and then demand to know what was happening when Grave spoke, his deep voice sober and deadly serious, sending a chill down Night’s spine.

“I need you to leave this place.”

Chapter 8

“Ineed you to leave this place,” Grave said and Night frowned at him, a thousand questions rising to the tip of his tongue that his brother silenced by continuing, “There is a demon, one who declares himself a prince of that kind… belonging to the Devil.”

Cold fear bolted through Night’s blood and he shut it down in a heartbeat, his expression hardening as he waited and listened, sure his brother would arm him with more information so he could help him. It was worse than he had expected though. No wonder his brother had left Hell.

“A mission for the Preux Chevaliers that myself and Snow led should have eliminated all of his bloodline but somehow he survived, and now he is bent on killing us all in the name of revenge.” Grave didn’t need to say any more than that for Night to be aware of the gravity of their situation. Snow hadn’t served in the Preux Chevaliers for centuries, meaning the mission had happened that long ago and this demon prince had been biding his time, building up to this moment. There was no doubt in Night’s mind that the male had spent that time wisely, honing his skills, sharpening himself into a blade capable of cutting Grave and Snow down. His brother continued before Night could pledge himself to their cause, “So you have to leave.”

Grave reached for Night’s hand.

Night let him place his hand over it and squeeze it, even when he wanted to deny his brother the comfort of the touch because in a handful of words, Grave had made it clear he meant to send Night away and keep him from helping them.

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