Page 107 of Your Coffin or Mine
“Aubrey, I have to take care of this.” I cup her beautiful face in my hands, and she leans into my chest. “We will speak more later. But just know I will not rush you—I literally have all the time in the world.” I step back and right her cloak around her, securing it at her neck. The red clears from my eyes and I smiledown at her in hopes of calming her, despite my fury. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“Will everything be okay?” she whispers, her eyes wide.
“Vlad,” Doyle calls.
“Right. I’m coming.” I nod and take her hand in mine to kiss her knuckles softly. “Everything will be fine. You should go back to the party and have fun.”
She will be safer with the other humans.
I need to send Jekyll packing and get back to Aubrey as quickly as possible. I have a night planned she won’t soon forget.
Chapter 32
AUBREY
As I watch Vlad leave,emotions flow through me. I’m unsure if I should worry or not. He’s leaving me here, but he told me everything will be okay. I trust him, and that he wouldn’t leave me alone if I was unsafe.It’s probably something to do with the hotel.
I play over what he said to me, and my stomach drops and I squeal.
I’m sleeping with a gorgeous vampire who says he wants to date me.I’m smiling to myself like an idiot, practically skipping down the halls of the gallery to go back to the party.
What if I can have this? ... Him?My fingers trail over some bronze statue of what looks like a goat. I can see why they wanted to keep this wing closed off. There are crates and boxes everywhere, full of things that would look better in a museum.
What if this could be everything I’ve ever wanted? Normally I would be telling Bernadette all of this and let her sway me one way or the other, but I find myself wanting to keep this to myself, keephimto myself.
My relationship with Vlad is somehow different, not only because he’s a vampire, but because I find myself wanting toprotect him, as odd as that sounds. Protecting a vampire? As if. He can move me through the air with his mind, for Christ’s sake.
I reach for my cloak to find the pocket he put my phone in when my eye catches on something glinting in the candlelight. A bracelet matching the necklace he gave me lies on an old wooden desk, sitting on top of a collection of rocks. I remove one from the pile and bring it to the light, and my eyes grow round.Holy shit, I think these are uncut stones.I’ll have to tell Vlad to put the necklace back with this.Why would he have all this just sitting out here?The crazy man.
I sigh, thinking of how sweet he is. The way he stares at me never fails to make my skin flush in response, which I suppose makes sense because he is a vampire. When the man walks into the room, my downstairs pops up for attention like it’s urging him to play Whac-A-Mole with his dick.
I want to stay here and wait for Vlad in hopes we can continue our talk, but I make my way back to the party like he told me to.
When I arrive, the ballroom is completely changed. Instead of blues and purples, everything is red and black. The walls look like blood is oozing from them and the lights flash in different colors. Oh my god, who turned on the rave? People are shouting and laughing, obviously drunk on the dance floor, holding their drinks over their heads.
“Aubrey!” I hear across the ballroom and look up to see George dancing on top of a statue’s base.
He snaps his fingers and two waiters seemingly come out of nowhere to lift him off his perch. He blows kisses at the blushing boys. “Ciao, darlings!”
“Oh my god, George,” I shout over the music, shaking my head.
He waves them off, turns to me, and grabs my hand to pull me back to the entrance. “And what are you up to? Where’s Vlad? Tell me everything.”
I shake my head and look around, a smile filling my face. “I’ll have to tell you later.”
There’s so much to think about, and I still have so many questions for Vlad.
“Awww, pooh on that, tell me.”
“How much have you had to drink, George?” I ask, changing the subject.
I’m worried about how much he is swaying and how outrageous he’s being. Then again, it’s George; he really does stand out in a crowd.
“Not nearly enough yet. What do you think of Vlad’s surprise? Did you see the strawberry fountain?”
“No, where is it?” I spin, searching for it. I love strawberries, and I’m just so hungry I’m ready to start chewing on someone’s leg.
He points to where a fountain is stationed that looks as if it’s filled with blood. “It’s wine.”
