Page 131 of Fated In Blood

Blake’s eyes were bright when he clinked his cup against mine. “To my sister.”

And to you, Mom. Thank you for showing me what freedom felt like, even if you weren’t able to enjoy it for long.But the path you set me on led me here.

I’m starting to think you had a good reason for that.

50

EVANGELINE

Ispent the rest of the day exploring Crimson House, poking through abandoned rooms filled with moldering furniture and moth-eaten draperies reeking of neglect. I ended up in the library, where the edges of the delicate pages crumbled beneath my fingertips.

Why the hell was this place rotting down around Riordan?

Besides the barely functional kitchen and my bedroom, he hadn’t lifted a finger to replace or restore so much as a square of carpet.

White Chapel wasn’t exactly a palace, but Silas kept everything in good repair, which wasn’t overly difficult when he had a virtual army of slaves at his beck and call. But here…it was like Riordan wanted this place to fall down around itself.

Like he took pleasure in watching Crimson House decay.

“There you are.” As if he’d been plucked from my daydreams, Riordan leaned in the doorway of the library, his gaze trailing heat over me.

Maybe it was the aura of power, or the immortality, or the unfairly strong jaw, but Riordan Graves was a fucking god of a male, and while not so long ago my first impulse would havebeen to drive a stake through his heart, now my entire body softened with lust at the sight of him.

“Your heart is beating very fast, Silver.”

So is yours, I wanted to say. His hand, wrapped around the carved door frame, tightened, nails digging into the wood like that was the only thing holding him up. Or holding him back.

I carefully set the book aside.

“Where did you go this morning?”

His mouth curved into a smile that fell away before it fully formed. “I had to get an early start. When duty calls, I’m the only one in this godforsaken place who can answer.”

“It was still dark, Riordan. Surely the problem could have waited until morning.”

It was our last time together, I wanted to say.You could have at least said goodbye.

His eyes were more shadowed than I’d ever seen them, and his fangs…his fangs were huge, beads of sweat trembling on his top lip. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he was on the verge of losing control. When he saw where my gaze landed, he dragged a hand down his pale face, covering his mouth.

“Tyrell sent me an invitation. We’re to appear at Darkmore Castle this evening for dinner at seven o’clock sharp. You, Blake, and me.”

My heart began hammering. “Dinner? Seriously?”

“Another one of Tyrell’s games.” Riordan’s nails cut into the wood, leaving long, white gouges. “He likes to play with his prey, Evangeline, and his games always end up with someone getting hurt. But we can’t refuse.” He blew out a shaky breath and my heart hammered faster.

“There are clothes laid out for you upstairs. Blake will escort you; I will join you there. You will stay close to Blake at all times. At no time will you allow yourself to become separatedfrom him, no matter what happens to me. If he tells you to do something, you will obey him without hesitation. Understand?”

“Riordan, you need to tell me what’s going on.”

“Laurent Tyrell is calling our bluff, and we have no choice but to play along. If we refuse him, at seven o’clock, he’ll compel us to the castle, and trust me…that will not be pretty. Better we go of our own free will than be dragged through Darkmore’s front doors by our feet.”

“And we’re just supposed todress up and go? We’re supposed to just…obey that monster?” I burst out of my chair. “Why don’t we move up the timetable? Walking in there for a fucking dinner party…this has to be a trap. We’re too close to our deadline for this not to be a trap.”

“Oh, this has all been a trap, but not in the way you think, Silver.” He sounded so, so sad. “Trust me, if there was any other way…” His face changed then, like a ripple through water, eyes flashing once more with a blaze of white fire.

“Go get dressed. Blake will meet you downstairs.”

“Riordan, we need to talk about this.Wait—” I was halfway to the door when he disappeared, leaving a swirl of cold behind smelling of rain and thunder. I ran my fingers over the gouges he’d carved into the wood, the crescent shape of his nails clearly visible, and wondered why this male who was always in control was falling apart.

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