Page 28 of Fated In Blood

“Whoa, it’s okay. Everything will be alright. I’m Blake and this is Riordan. You’re still at Darkmore Castle. I’m sure everything is confusing, but there isn’t a lot of time to explain the situation, so you’ll just have to trust us.”

“Like I’d trust any of you bloodsuckers.” The words popped out before I remembered who I was talking to. Bits and pieces were coming back, but they were jagged and confused, nothing fitting together in a coherent order.

An explosion. My sister, Angel, in a red dress. Me slicing through my aorta. A monster with long, curved teeth. And then, something so fuzzy it couldn’t be real…someone…moaning while theysank their fangs into me.

I reached up and touched my throat. Nothing there but smooth skin. I was whole. But when I dragged my fingers down my dress, my clothes were stiff and molded to my body.

“Definitely a human thing to say.” Riordan chuckled as if I amused him. “Clearly, she hasn’t lost any of her viciousness. But Tyrell will be here soon, and you’d be wise to keep your insults to yourself, at least until we get you out of here.”

“This is Tyrell’s castle,” I said slowly, digging my fingers into my aching temple. “There was an auction.”

I’d caused an explosion, and sure enough, I caught the faint chemical odor of accelerants on my clothes. My wrist…someone…Boschhad snapped my wrist, but when I lifted my hand, I was fine.

Riordan nodded. “Your memories will come back, but right now, you’ll have to trust us and follow our lead. Do not antagonize Tyrell; I expect Blake will do enough of that for the three of us.”

Trust them? Trust a couple of vampires? I groped at one thigh sheath then the other. Empty.

I finally slid my eyes over to Blake.

Some invisible force tugged at my middle the moment our gazes met, the candlelight pulling the gold flecks out from the hazel as his harsh expression softened. His face was a masterpiece in opposites. Those eyes, burning with emotion against that cold and unreadable mask, which made him look all the more dangerous, because now I was curious about him.

And I did notcareabout any of these soulless bloodsuckers, only that…

Something tugged in my chest, right below my heart, like I’d just pulled a muscle. I sucked in a quick breath that made them both go unnervingly still, Riordan dragging his hand across his own chest like he was in pain.

“He’s coming,” Riordan muttered.

“I came here for the auction. I blew up Tyrell’s staircase. My sister was…” My gaze drifted up to the enormous, pretentious painting. “My sisterishere. Lives here.” I would have said more, words and memories log jamming in my throat in their rush to get out.

But the door opened, and Laurent Tyrell stepped in.

Beneath his elegant, slightly sallow façade lurked a darkness I felt in my soul. My entire body trembled in his presence, shaking knees threatening to buckle at his command.

To kneel. To obey.

“Ah. The transition worked. A miracle of sorts, I suppose, given your…” His pale blue eyes raked Blake up and down. “…questionable heritage. But you kept your word, and you are free to go.”

Undiluted hatred sent me surging toward him before I even realized I’d moved. “Where is my sister? Where the fuck is Angel?”

“Exactly where she should be. Warming my bed like a good little pet.”

“You desiccated, arrogant bastard—” I moved faster than I’d intended, pain shrieking down my legs as I launched myself at this fucking piece of shit. My poor, abused body was nothing but a tangle of weak, shaking limbs, and I collapsed on the floor, short of my target.

Tyrell grinned. “What a delight you will be. I cannot wait to meet you again, once you’ve fed and your transition is completed.” Every muscle in my body trembled, heart racing so fast I thought it might explode.

In all my life, I’d never been so vulnerable, and in a roomful of predators, no less.

“The sun’s been up for hours. Take your new toy and begone.” Tyrell’s creeping tone turned oily. “Don’t forget to ask your new thrall her name.”

17

RIORDAN

“Idon’t know if I’ve ever been as happy to see the fucking sky as I am right now.” The eastern sky glowed pink as I led the way down the steps, not our usual arrangement, but Blake had his arm wrapped around our new charge, who was tottering on her feet like a newborn colt, and the bastard wouldn’t let her fall.

“Agreed. I am never setting foot in that mausoleum again.”

The cool morning air kissed the sweeping lawn with heavy dew, except out on the east lawn, strewn with the ruined castle walls. There was no sign of last night’s crowd. Evidently, Tyrell had run them all off.

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