Page 33 of A Debt of Darkness

I don’t even know where here is and I’ve got nothing to help me.

But I’ve got a chance and I’ve got to take it—and I run as if my life depends on it.

It does.

10

EVEN HER TEARS ARE PRETTY

HENRY

Isink into the office chair, taking a large mouthful of brandy. This afternoon was a waste of fucking time, meeting with the idiotic second from the Blackthorn Coven instead of moving things on with Ivy.

At least I didn’t start another feud, even if my temper was sharp. I should have been with Ivy, widening the slither of a crack she never meant to let happen. She fought and gave in. She didn’t like it, but she accepted it. It was the step I needed her to take, and I wasn’t able to capitalize on it.

She looked so damn perfect lying underneath me.

Even her tears were fucking pretty.

It took every ounce of control not to lick them as I kissed her, holding back only because I knew it would undo everything I’d just done.

And I was fucking furious. Livid. Murderous.

Someone’s hurt Ivy. Badly. She’d expected retribution and she’s too afraid to tell me who it was. When I find out which cunt it was, I’m going to track him down and kill him. Personally. After I’ve tortured him for daring to hurt what’s mine. What’s most precious to me. For hurting her.

I’m a possessive asshole, but I protect what’s mine.

I turn the video feed on and she isn’t in her bedroom. I flick the switch, moving through the cameras showing me she isn’t in the sitting room, closet or bath. I lean forward and move through the cameras quickly, searching for Ivy.

My heart would be racing if I had one and I roar, then I notice the fucking door is open. My glass smashes as it connects with the wall and Ryan races after me as I charge toward Ivy’s room.

He’s calling after me as I charge into the bathroom, and we search the closet. Fuck, she isn’t hiding in one of the goddamn cupboards.

“How the fuck did she get out?” he asks.

Matt loiters in the corridor, sending his partner a worried look. They’re almost the same height, but their coloring and temperament couldn’t be more different. Ryan’s dark with pale blue eyes and Matt’s pale with red hair and amber irises. He’s usually calm and conservative, only prone to fits of rage when it’s about Ryan. My second is proactive, always pushing for the upper hand and he isn’t afraid to move first or take a gamble.

“Let’s find her,” Matt says, resigned.

He’s trying to calm me down as he leans his head into Ivy’s room and inhales her scent.

“She doesn’t know yet,” I say, ranting as if he doesn’t know. “She’s not got a fucking clue about where she is or the fucking forest. Or anything that lives in there…”

“We’ll find her,” Ryan says, brushing past me. “Let’s move.Is she wearing your ring?”

I shrug, glancing around the room. I can’t see it and we didn’t find it in the bathroom. Even if she was wearing it when she left the room, there’s no guarantee she didn’t discard it later.

“She’ll be fine,” Matt says. “Let’s go. She’s reasonably safe if she’s got your ring on and we should catch up with her before nightfall.”

Before the weaker vampires emerge.

Ryan moves fast, and I race to keep up with him. We descend the stairs and follow her scent through the corridors. Fuck, Ivy’s smart and she’s remembered the way he brought her in.

She sure as fuck didn’t hesitate.

I thought we were making progress. I thought this afternoon was a breakthrough.

Clearly not.

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