Page 66 of Stalk the Dark
I glanced back in time to see Godor take the driver’s seat of the carriage. I caught sight of Agatha’s pale face in the window before the carriage moved off.
We swept through the front doors and into a vast hallway lit brightly by crystal chandeliers and dominated by a grand staircase, but there was no time to take in any other details before Matthew materialized beside me.
“Please come with me, Miss Lighthart,” he said. “Master awaits.”
I glanced up at Ordell’s tense jaw. He nodded slightly. “Go on. I’ll find you inside.”
I slipped away from him and followed Matthew through a side exit and down a dimly lit corridor lined with crimson patterned wallpaper.
He stopped outside a door and rapped on the wood lightly.
“Enter,” a female voice called.
I arched a brow at Matthew. Wasn’t he meant to betaking me to Ezekiel? Wait…what was wrong with his face? Was it longer? His eyes darker?
He pushed the door open and shoved me inside before I could process that this man wasnotMatthew. It slammed shut, leaving me trapped with six vampires—five males and a female—all dressed in various shades of red and gold.
We were in a parlor with old-fashioned décor, all rosewood and marble. A fire crackled in the hearth, cheery and welcoming, a contrast to the predatory menace echoing off the occupants.
Dressed to the nines, hair slicked back and coiffed, these vampires effortlessly wore the mask of high society.
But I’d been around enough monsters to recognize the primal hunger in their eyes.
“So you’re the watcher,” one of the men said. “Ezekiel’s guard dog.”
His top lip was slightly raised, nostrils flared as if he’d smelled something bad, but when his expression didn’t change, it was obvious that was just his face.
“Yes, Dominic,” the woman said. “She’s his companion for the evening, and I can see why.” Her heavily made-up eyes dropped to my boobs. “All that peachy cream skin. Imagine sinking your fangs into that.”
Her lascivious tone made me ache to punch her in the mouth.
“I’ll bet he’ll do more thanimagine,” Dominic said.
“So can we.” Another vamp stepped forward. He looked younger than the rest, sandy hair flopping across his forehead, thick rubbery lips glistening from where he’d run his tongue over them. “She’s his companion, and hehasto share. It’s the rules.”
This was bullshit. “I’m not a vein. I’m ordained. Off-limits by law.” I grabbed the door handle and pulled. Nothing. “Seriously?” I turned to find them moving closer, like hyenas sneaking up on prey. My bravado slipped. “What is this? What are you planning on doing, huh? Breaking the law? You think that’s wise?”
“I think I can smell the river of blood beneath your skin,” Dominic said.
“I want to take from between her thighs.” The woman’s tone was thick with hunger and desire. “Taste the honey mingled with blood.”
Their faces shifted, elongating to something wicked, feral, and inhuman.
“Mother won’t mind,” the sandy-haired one said. “She’ll make it right.”
I was pinned in—locked door at my back—but there was a window on the other side of the room. I whipped a dagger out of the hidden pocket of my dress and sliced at the air. They leapt back in surprise, giving me the break I needed to dash past them to the other side of the room.
I tore aside the drapes, and my heart sank at the sight of iron bars on the windows.
They laughed, rough and raspy. “Oh, come now. We’ll make it quick. Just a taste.”
“It won’t hurt,” the woman said. “You’ll like it.”
I’d have to fight my way out, but in this dress, the corset squeezing so hard I could barely breathe, escape was going to prove a challenge.
Damn Ezekiel and damn this fucking Exciatio. “Come any closer andyou’llbe the ones bleeding.”
They laughed louder, as if this was a joke, as ifIwas a joke, and right then, trussed up in a fucking dress, with pins in my hair and lace covering my boobs, I was exactly that. This wasn’t who I was. It wasn’t why I’d been sent here, and that was exactly why I was in this fucking situation.
