My mind wanders back to Knox again and I try to ignore the stabbing feeling in that hollow part of my heart. He has no say in his fate, either. We’re tied together whether we like it or not. I suppose he did give me a choice, albeit a shitty one: take part in the training or die a slow and painful death.
But didhehave a choice in giving me that ultimatum? Not really. The bond is clearly the driving force behind his decision making. That thought gives me little comfort.
Wait! Do I want him to actually like me? Am I really defending this monster?
As I walk slowly through the corridor, I try to pay attention to the named doors to keep my bearings, instead of wallowing in the head fuckery that comes with being associated with Knox. This hotel is a maze. Corridor after corridor, all decorated with the same outdated beige wallpaper. It feels like I went to dinner with Knox a lifetime ago, not just twenty-four hours.
But was it?
There is no sun moving across the sky to dictate the time.
I’m losing my mind.
At the end of the hallway, I hear the muffled musical strains of a string quartet coming from behind the largest door. I smooth down the nonexistent crinkles in my dress and force myself to breathe deeply.
Tonight, I’ll play along. Pretend I’m bewitched so I can gather all the information I need to break the spell and get the humans out. Someone behind this door must have loose lips after a drink or two; I’ll use every single bit of flirtatious charm I possess to get the knowledge I need.
My heart skips as I turn the handle.
Will I come face to face with my mother’s killer behind the door?
Slowly, I push it open.
All false confidence vanishes as I take in the scene in front of me. My mouth hangs open in shock. I didn’t know exactly what to anticipate when it came to attending a dinner party with the five rulers of this realm, butthiswasn’t it.
A woman, the one with bouncing curls who was first in line for the trials, lies on top of a banquet table, completely naked,body spread eagle on the tablecloth. Dark leather straps bind her wrists and ankles. Silver buckles glint in the dim candlelight. Men and women gather all around her, each taking turns to ignite the woman’s pleasure with their praises, kisses, and the eager touch of their fingers.
A tall, dark-haired man with a smirk that would send any woman over the edge picks up the nearest candle and begins to pour hot wax over her exposed chest.
The woman’s back arches off the wood. “Fuck yes. More, more!” she screams, then catches her bottom lip between her teeth.
Another woman I recognize from our training happily obliges, sliding her fingers deep inside of her pussy.
What the fuck is going on here?
I clasp my hands over my eyes as I mutter quick apologies for entering the wrong room. My cheeks flame as the moans get louder. I blindly fumble with the door handle, trying not to trip on my skirts as I attempt to flee the room.
“Megan, calm yourself or you’ll scare away our new friend,” one of the men surrounding her says, but I don’t know which one. I’m too afraid to remove my hand and look.
“Oh, no, you’re fine. I was just leaving,” I say awkwardly as I take another backwards step into the hallway. My back collides with something hard and warm, preventing my escape.
A pair of hands gently grasp my arms to hold me steady. The tingles shooting over my flesh tell me exactly who is behind me.
18
Knox
Danni was supposed towait for me. God, how this woman makes me rage. What kind of thoughtless human has the universe tied me to?
She spins around, removing the hand covering her face. Her emerald eyes sparkle in the candlelight of the hallway sconces—not with surprise, but with fear. I didn’t need the ability to smell the change in her blood to understand that.
I didn’t have her down as being a prude, but then again, the delights my coven indulge in are a little more eccentric than a typical human’s preferred tastes.
Humans by nature crave monogamy. It’s society’s standard after all, but deep down, something inside of them hungers for more. To explore without guilt or repercussion.
Their sinful desires are what lures them to us and why they all choose to stay in the end. The darkness we offer is irresistible to a human’s fickle heart. But Danni has surprised me thus far.I thought perhaps she’d fail my test when I presented the ruby necklace to her. My belief is that all women want to feel like they mean something to somebody, usually in a materialistic sense.
But Danni didn’t waiver. Her mind is so focused on escaping captivity that not even the finest jewels could tempt her.
