Page 18 of Chains of Blood and Darkness

My guard, Jacques Girard, came into the dining room and murmured into my ear, “Detective DuPont is waiting for you in the parlor.”

Serenity snapped to attention and her eyes lit up like two firecrackers.

I patted my lips with a napkin. “Jacques, please return Serenity to her room. And make sure she stays there.”

Serenity jumped up from the table and raced toward the hallway. “Louis!” she cried out.

Jacques grabbed her arm, and she unexpectedlybackhanded him across the face. He snarled, revealing sharp teeth.

A raw, primal rage surged through me, fueled by a possessive instinct I had never experienced before.

“Never touch her again.” My hands shook as I grabbed Jacques’ throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. His face turned purple, and his eyes bulged as he struggled for breath.

“Louis, I need your help. Where are you?” Serenity ran out of the dining room.

Drawing on my vampire speed, I easily caught up with her and lifted her into my arms. Her heart was beating as wildly as mine. She kicked and screamed, her fear turning angry as she fought to escape. But I didn’t care. All that mattered was keeping her safe. In a desperate attempt to silence her, I impulsively pressed my lips hard against hers, tasting the sweetness of her mouth and feeling an overwhelming desire to devour her completely. Her fists pounded against my chest, but I held on tighter, knowing that now I could never let her go.

Chapter Eight

Serenity

Angelo swept me into his arms, carrying me like I weighed nothing at all as he strode down the hallway. I struggled in his iron grip, but it was like trying to bend steel with my bare hands. His body was an unyieldingly solid mass of muscle and power that easily overpowered my own. As he held me closer, his lips descended upon mine, devouring me with a hunger that left me breathless.

His kiss was possessive, arrogantly claiming me as his. I gasped for air, both terrified and excited by the intensity of his desire. When we reached my door, Angelo shifted his hold on me, freeing one hand to turn the knob before carrying me inside and kicking the door shut behind us. He pressed me against the wall, his body pinning me in place as his hands began to roam hungrily over my curves.

I stumbled backward, falling onto the soft mattress of the bed. A shiver of terror ran through me as I looked up at him, his lips pulled back to reveal two long, sharp fangs glinting in the moonlight.

“N-no,” I gasped, pushing against his chest with every ounce of my strength. But I might as well have tried to push a mountain aside or stop a freight train with my bare hands. It was as if he were carved from granite, unyielding and indestructible, a superhuman entity that defied the very laws of nature.

“DuPont!” I screamed for help, but my voice came out thready and weak.

There was no way he would hear me.

In a flash, Angelo’s fangs pierced my neck, and I tensed, anticipating an agonizing onslaught of pain. But instead, an unexpected wave of euphoria washed over me, a pleasure so intense and all-encompassing that it threatened to unravel my very being. It was as if molten desire was coursing through my veins, setting every nerve ending ablaze with a blissful fire that consumed my entire existence.

My resistance crumbled faced with these overwhelming sensations. It was as if all my fears, doubts, and reservations had been incinerated, leaving behind only the desire to submit to him completely. My eyelids grew heavy, weighed down by the sheer force of pleasure engulfing me, and I found myself surrendering to Angelo in a way I would have never thought possible, my very soul laid bare before him.

“DuPont…” I mumbled again, drawing out his name. “Please…don’t…let…him…kill me.” My words faded away to nothing.

Angelo’s tongue licked over my neck where he had bitten me, and he whispered low in my ear. “Sleep, little one. Know that no one will ever touch you again but me. I will protect you always. I will never let you go. You’re mine.” His soft voice welcomed me into a safety net that I never thought I would have again.

Not since Mom had died…

I found myself walking through the familiar landscape of my childhood. The vibrant color of azaleas, camellias, and crepe myrtles in full bloom filled my vision as I walked through my mom’s garden.

The sweet fragrance of magnolia flowers surrounded me, bringing a sense of peace. I sat on the old swing hanging from the magnolia tree and watched my mom carefully pruning the lemon and orange trees. Behind her rose the majestic oak tree with its long branches draped in Spanish moss. As a small child, I used to imagine all sorts of fearsome creatures hiding in its shadows, but now it just brought back fond memories of outdoor picnics and playing tag with Joy and her brother, Steven.

Mom was pruning her favorite orange tree as I approached her.

“Mom.” I rushed over to her.

She put down her clippers and embraced me. “Oh darling, I’ve missed you so much.”

“Me too,” I choked out as tears streamed down my cheeks.

She pulled away and cast a fond gaze over me. “You’ve turned into such a beautiful young woman.”

I almost wished I hadn’t. Maybe then I wouldn’t be in this mess.

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