Page 59 of Seduction in Blood
"What are you, Cressa Langtry?"
Devon's words pounded in my head as I tripped up the stairs to my room. Notwhoam I, butwhatam I? Maybe it had been a slip of the tongue. But he didn't make those types of mistakes. Not in a world of magical creatures.
My body felt stronger than it ever had, and I considered Devon's earlier words. I might not be able to best a vamp, but it had taken longer for them to pin me down. I would be able to elude them as long as I wasn't locked in a room with one. And once I was back to my old life, any street hood I ran into better watch out. I had to smile at that. Devon had been right. The skills I'd learned in the last seven days would serve me well. My gut lurched when I thought about leaving this place, but I tucked the thought away when I found the two women waiting for me.
Anna was already pulling out undergarments and jewelry, while Ingrid, the masseuse, stared at me with a frown. She was a lumberjack of a woman, who seemed out of place in this feminine room. I took a quick shower before I was oiled and massaged until my bones melted. Just barely, I made the short walk to fall face-first into bed. I had two hours for a nap before a steamy bath and the spackling of makeup.
The dream surprised me, but this time there wasn't a garden. We were on a balcony, and I was nestled in Devon's arms as we watched the sunset over the lake. His scent of cinnamon and cloves mixed with wood smoke, and I turned my head to see a fire lit in the enormous hearth on the far side of the bedroom. The glass doors had been slid back, and the room was just warm enough to counter the effect of the light breeze coming in from the lake. I laid my head on his shoulder as if we did this every night, and he held my hand, caressing it with his thumb.
The scene changed.
I was cold. The intense pain ripped a cry from my throat.
"You'll be okay, Cressa. Focus on me. Everything will be all right." Devon's soothing voice called.
I lifted a hand, barely able to raise it. Blood. All over my hand. Dripping.
Every breath was torture. I tried to sit up but didn't have the strength. Any movement tore through me with blazing agony. Tears leaked, streaming a path down my temples. I lay on something that pricked at my back: my insides felt like mush. On a second attempt, I was able to move my head enough to glimpse my gown, catching a quick flash of more blood. My beautiful crimson dress drenched in it.
Devon leaned over me. His face marred with fury—and worry. He pressed a hand to my cheek. "You'll be all right. You'll be fine."
His hands moved over me, and I moaned. A hot flash of searing pain like hundreds of nails pressed into me. I just wanted the torment to pass. He ran his blood-stained hands through his hair, his earlier rage overshadowed by fear.
My body grew cold.
He wiped the tears from my face. "There are no other options, Cressa. This must be done. I'm sorry."
Something was pressed to my lips. I rolled my head, shuddering as something sharp as razors dug deeper into my back.
"Just a taste. Then all will be well."
Unable to do anything else, I licked at the drops on my lips. But instead of the water I expected, the sweetest taste enveloped my senses. Exotic. Sinfully sweet like double-chocolate velvet cake. Honey straight from the comb. But underneath the luscious flavor, I tasted Devon. The memory of his kiss warmed the chill that had sunk into my bones.
More drops fell, and I sucked at them. The erotic flavor raced through me, and I gave in to the overwhelming sensations.
When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was Devon's face. The fear had subsided, replaced by something my brain refused to decipher.
"Hold on, Cressa. This next part will hurt."
My eyes flashed open, and I sat up, scanning the room and finding myself alone.
"What the fuck?" My hands shook, and for a split second, I remembered the pain. The sheer intensity as it drilled through every raw nerve. The fight to take each tormented breath. I touched my lips. This wasn't like my earlier dreams. It started out the same—kind of. I'd never seen Devon's bedroom at Oasis, but I knew with every fiber that was where I'd been.
Then, I'd shifted locations. That had never happened before. Once again, I'd been in a place I didn't recognize. Not much of a surprise, since I'd been on my back with nothing to see but the stark sky and Devon. His face was almost a blur beyond the sensation of someone trying to rip my spine out. Such deep, soul-crushing pain.
I dragged myself back to the bathroom and ran a cold washrag over my face, wiping the sweat from my brows before starting a bath. I tossed in the scented salts Anna had selected and eased my body in as if I still felt the pricks of daggers piercing my flesh. She found me there thirty minutes later. The water had grown cold and goosebumps covered my exposed limbs and breasts. I cared little for my modesty, my entire focus reliving the dream—nightmare—over and over.
She helped me out of the tub, clucking about something. We were back in the bedroom before any of her words found their way to my consciousness.
"I understand being nervous about this evening, but catching a chill isn't the best way to begin." Anna turned me toward the bed. "Now, wait for me to find a robe."
She disappeared into the walk-in closet as my gaze wandered around the room. My eyes snapped back to the dresser.
A single crimson rose in a crystal bud vase stood out among the disarray of jewelry and undergarments. It hadn't been there before. I was sure of it.
"Anna?" I called out. It took a moment before she rushed out with the robe.
"I'm sorry. I grabbed the robe then noticed your dress had arrived and got distracted." She held the robe open for me to step into it, and I gathered it tightly around me.
