Page 53 of Darkest Heart

“How else would you describe it?”

I shrugged, discomfort curling around my center. I’d never thought much about the terms. They’d always just been our food. “Some of the mortals like it, after they’ve been here a while.”

She tapped her chin. “I think they call that Stockholm syndrome.”

Surprised glistened in her eyes as I turned on my heel. Whatever I was feeling must have shown on my face. I quickly reoriented myself. “I’ve never conversed as much with a mortal before.”

She licked her thick lips, drawing my eyes downward. “How fortunate for them.”

“You’re not like the others.”

She scoffed a laugh. “You only think that because you’ve not given anyone else the chance to show who they are. Like you said, this is the longest you’ve actually talked to one of us.” She rolled her expressive, brown eyes. I hated that she got under my skin. Despised it. But a part of me enjoyed it as well.

We left the Blood Brothers wing, and headed down the dimly lit corridor. Her heavy breaths sounded in my ears as she tried to suppress the fear for her sister. Once we reached the room, I opened the door, then slammed it shut behind us. “You’re going to get yourself killed if you try to leave again.”

She bit the inside of her lip. “If you don’t help her, I won’t stop. Even if it gets me killed.”

She had that dangerous look in her eyes. The same one I wore when nothing was going to stop me. “I believe you.”

“Then help her.”

I rolled my eyes up. I did agree to it, my first mistake. “I won’t be told what to do by a mortal.”

She grabbed her dagger. “I won’t be held captive by some fuckboy vampire.”

My eyes widened. What the… “Is that some kind of slang?”

“Good god, this place is ancient.” She held the dagger in her hand. “I want you to turn me.”

I laughed. The audacity. “I thought you hated vampires…oh,” I realized. “You think you can save your sister if you’re one of us?”

“Like I said, I’ll do anything.”

“Becoming immortal is a gift.” I seethed. “One that many of your kind are about to fight to death for. Your disregard for it is agitating.”

“Just as is your disregard for our lives,” she snapped back, turning my own words against me. “Weren’t you mortal once?”

“Lifetimes ago. It’s not one I miss.”

She tightened her grip on the dagger. I couldn’t help but watch her pouty lips. A part of me wanted to kiss her, the other, to punish her.

“Fine.” She threw her arms up. “Then just help her, please. Bring her to a private room like you have me.” She exposed her neck. “Then feed on me,” she said. “I’m doing what you want,” she groaned, jaw tight. She put the dagger away, and the adrenaline rushing through me slowed. Why did I like this?

I lowered myself onto the sofa. What was I going to say? I wasn’t in the mood now? Truth be told, I was full. I’d fed three times this morning. We were brimming with fresh blood. I knew I should just let Elizabeth out, let Adrian keep her in the Blood Brothers room, to be used as a lord’s whore. She was too much trouble.

I ran my fingers down my face, dragging the skin under my eyes. She was the most frustrating person I’d ever met.

I had to get rid of her. This arrangement was ridiculous. Then I noticed the open book by the fireplace. “You’re reading that?”

“It’s my favorite fairy tale,” she admitted. “You don’t have a horrible collection.”

I picked up the book, letting it fall open at the middle. I touched the piece of paper she was using as a bookmark, and a part of me softened. I’d brought this one from my old life. When I killed my father, I took this from my old bedroom. It was the only real thing I owned that was mine then. I had to hide it. Reading wasn’t appropriate for young men. I touched the pages, transported back to a time when I would read the tale of the hero siblings who saved the world against giants. I’d dreamed of being like those characters then.

She sat next to me; the cushion dipping between us. The smell of the shampoo I’d left in the bathroom clung to her hair. I leaned closer. Jasmine and rosewater. It mixed well with her natural scent.

She placed her hand on the book. “If you lose my page, I’ll be furious,” she said, lightening in the mood.

I brushed against her thigh, desire filling me as she tensed beneath my touch. I shook my head, not even sure why I was saying the things I was. “I’ll get Carla her own room.” I closed the book. “If just to shut you up.”

---