Page 94 of Stalked

We entered the family room, and all the witches, humans, and vampires were waiting for their master, who hadn’t joined them yet. Sarah was the first to speak when Maurice entered the room.

“Everyone, on your knees,” she instructed. “Bow!”

They all fell to one knee and bowed to Maurice. I didn’t move but glowered at him as he approached me.

“Mercy, you need to get down on your knees,” Sarah whispered while keeping her head down.

Maurice stood in front of me with a blank look, but when he sized me up, a slow smirk reached his lips—being in that dress obviously pleased him.

“You look stunning,” he said, holding out his hand.

“I won’t bow down to a vampire,” I scowled, only looking at his hand that I refused to take. “I don’t care what you can do to me.”

Gasps came from all corners of the room.

Maurice chuckled, and the vampires began to laugh uncomfortably around him while the humans and witches looked frightened for me. Maurice lifted his hand as if to strike, but I only stood there defiantly. I was done being afraid.

I will not give him the satisfaction of scaring me. Not anymore.

Once again, he didn’t hit me like I thought he would. Instead, he turned my head to expose my neck, running his thumb over my jawline. My heart pounded inside my chest. I thought he would see the wounds from Colin, but he only continued to stroke my skin with a gentle touch.

“No reason to give you any more punishment for speaking to me the way you just did. Especially when you’re about to be fed upon,” he said coldly, with a wicked smirk. The crowded room was silent, waiting for his instructions. “Come on, everyone, join me in the ballroom,” he ordered.

Maurice grabbed my hand softly and escorted me to the beautifully decorated hall. Everyone followed closely behind. As we reached the door, he leaned in until I felt a chill against my ear, and with a firm tone, he hissed, “I’ll not be disrespected in front of my clan like that again.” His warning made my skin turn to ice. “If you do, I’ll not only feed on your blood, but I’ll make you watch as I drain one of the dispensable witches I have at my disposal. Their death will be on you.”

Despite how brave I wanted to be at that moment, his words sent a sudden panic coursing through me. His threat wasn’t just a warning, it was a promise that he was going to punish me or others for what I had said, and he’d show me no mercy when he did.

He straightened up. “Noah will be here shortly with your friend, and you won’t have much choice but to abide.”

My heart told me it was just an empty threat. Abigail was protecting Shannon, and I trusted she’d fight to protect her at all costs.

“Fuck. You!” I fumed. “When I find a way to get this bracelet off my wrist, you’ll be the first to die at my hands.” I instantly regretted that threat. The look on his face was pure rage.

“Oh, Akasha. You threaten like a stubborn child,” he mocked. “When all is said and done, it is you who will be left defenseless and afraid. You’ll be undermycontrol.” He gestured to the large wooden door. “You belong here now … with me. Your friends don’t know where you are, and even if you were to escape, I’ll hunt you down and drag you right back here and into my bed, where I will keep you chained forever. You ought to tame down that arrogance of yours and enjoy the festivities that are about to take place.”

He squeezed my wrist harder, but I pressed my lips together in a flat line, trying to hide the fact that it hurt like hell. I didn’t have a comeback. My mind went blank for the first time since I arrived here.

I looked around the ballroom and focused on the other vampires taking their seats. They seemed ready?—or anxious?—to watch me get devoured.

CHAPTER 28

MY EYES IMMEDIATELYturned to a black dais holding up a low marble altar with gold patterns carved on its side. It sat right in the center of an extended platform—the floor covered in red and black roses. I was led to the altar and unceremoniously shoved down to sit and stay put.

This is too creepy and a little pretentious for my taste.I thought, trying to find any distraction to ease my nerves.

Colored stained-glass windows took up the wall, bringing color to the night sky. Smaller windows were slightly opened, letting the breeze blow through the room, shaking every leaf from the trees, some knocking right against the glass. I smelled the gentle scent of rain and the freshly trimmed, grassy lawn. The light from the room poured out through the windows, showing the juniper bushes lining the mansion walls. The need to be out of the mansion, taking in the fresh air, overwhelmed me.

I eyed the rows of seats and noticed every vampire had their human or witch sitting next to them. Most of the women had their hair styled up, just like mine. I knew then there was going to be a bloodbath the moment Maurice took a bite out of my neck, like a cult-like mass feeding.

Dorian stood next to the stage with his hands clasped together. He stared at me with his dreamy eyes. Ever since I had arrived, I’d noticed Dorian didn’t have someone to feed on, unlike everyone else. Once I made eye contact with him, he walked toward me and pulled the thin, red scarf off his neck that I had seen him wear several times before. He proceeded to wrap the scarf around my bun.

“What’s this for?” I asked him softly. Being this close to him again made butterflies flutter inside my stomach.

I inhaled the scent of iris from Dorian’s shirt as I stood so close to him. It reminded me of the flower fields I used to sneak into so we could see each other, or the woody bark of our favorite tree. He smelled like the lake we would walk across in the winter.

Dorian smelled likehome.

“It’s just tradition.” He tightened the scarf around the bun and stepped away from me.

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