“Apologies, I meant to sayhumans. Simple creatures who love a bit of blood and gore.” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.
“That’s disgusting.” A chilling reminder that vampires don’t have humanity and we’re all here only to fulfill the wishes and wants of these creatures.
Knox shrugs. “It is what it is. Why do you think the Romans were such fantastic conquerors? They gave the people what they wanted. Nothing has changed.” His eyes turn glassy as if he’s seeing another time in front of him instead of me.
How old is this guy?
“By the way, even though you impressed everyone, it brought some unwanted attention. The Five have decided to arrive early to catch another glimpse of you. Dinner starts soon. You need to dress appropriately.”
Great, another dinner where I’m the only one who eats.
“Do I have to? Can’t you tell them my skin is burnt to a crisp or something?”
Knox narrows his eyes at my bratty tone. “No.”
I narrow my eyes right back. “Well, you can’t make me go.” I fold my arms across my chest and raise my chin. His face twists with feral delight at the sound of my defiance.
“I think you’ll find I can. Youwillgo to this dinner. You’re not my Familiar yet; you don’t get privileges. It’s imperative they don’t discover who you are to me.” His deep red eyes harden. “You need to be perfect. Keep your head down, act humble, and answer questions truthfully when asked.”
Is he really so afraid The Five will do something to me if they find out I’m his mate?
“I won’t let them find out.” My voice comes out in a whisper. I fight the urge to reach out and touch him.
“Good. Now get dressed.” Without another word, he leaves the room, a million questions still burning on my lips.
How did I end up here? And why did he put me in his room instead of my own?
Barely a moment later, the door opens again, revealing a very irritating blonde vampire.
Shit, where is my stake?
I scramble out of the warm, comforting sheets and press my back against the window on the left side of the room.
“You won’t be able to escape us unless they want you to. You’re bound to serve him now, you must—”
I hold up a hand to silence her. “I am bound to no one, and Iwillfind a way out of here, Blondie.” My aching muscles complain as I cross my arms. I narrow my eyes at her, refusing to appear weak.
She raises one perfectly-shaped eyebrow at me and side glances out of the window. “Look outside. Endless desert. You’re not going anywhere.” She purses her lips and cocks her head to the side in a challenge.
“Why is there nothing but sand outside?” I ask, even though I’m not sure I want to know the answer.
“To keep the crops in. And to stop others from finding us. This hellscape is the gateway to our realm. Since the sixteen-hundreds, our city has been the best kept secret for a very good reason.” She sighs and looks longingly out of the window.
That expression is enough to tell me that Blondie is not happy here. I would feel bad for her if she didn’t have glowing red eyes, sharp fangs, and a bitchy attitude. She’s a monster and deserves to be hidden from the human world, but that doesn’t stop my journalist mind from realizing I’ve hit the jackpot. People who don’t close off their emotions to strangers are always the easiest to exploit.
“You’re unhappy.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “I am damned to an eternity of darkness, wouldn’t you be?”
Darkness?
Then it hits me. I step over to the window to scour the skies. Despite the suffocating heat I experienced while inside the inbetween, there is no sun. I can’t believe I hadn’t noticed before. Facts and myths endlessly spill into the forefront of my mind. Vampires can’t go out into the sunlight. Of course! The inbetween is an illusion, just like the circus. But the desert has to be a reflection of the vampire’s greatest fear, not ours. My mind reels at the possibility of this being true.
But if that is the case, then why did Knox drive through it to save me from the Rabbids? Did the mate bond override his greatest fear?
They are all trapped here, just like me. Surrounded by their worst nightmares.
I turn back to Blondie, and for the first time since arriving here, I see right through her sharp features. I look at her now and I don’t see a monster; I see a hint of the person she might’ve once been. A beautiful young woman with her whole life ahead of her in the sunshine.
