Knox contemplates my question for a moment. I watch him war with himself as his face morphs back into the perfectly chiseled captor I’ve come to feel safe with.
“Not today.” He smirks, but this time, the expression doesn’t reach his eyes. Anger still swirls in their depths.
The questions forming in my mind make my skin itch. But the world suddenly turns to darkness, the kind that swallows a person’s hand when they try to see it in front of them.
All I see are gleaming red eyes staring back at me through the pitch black.
Someone is in my head. Someone is watching me.
20
Miss Collard
Present Day
“She broke the compulsion?”I ask, frowning down at my notes before glancing up at him for the first time in hours.
The shock factor of his story wore off the moment he mentioned the music box that had cast a spell over humans. I hung on every word. If this story gets published anywhere, our government will have a lot to answer for.
That was Danni’s wish, wasn’t it? To blow it all wide open so people would know the truth?
I hadn’t missed how his eyes glazed over whenever he spoke about her.
“She did.” Now, his eyes harden at the memory.
“But—how is that possible?” As I speak, the sun peeks through the window, casting a warm orange glow into the room. My eyes snap towards it and then back to him.
My hand finally takes a rest from the ferocious note taking. My joints ache from sitting hunched over the desk all night, and tightness dances along the muscles in my fingers. But I don’t want to leave. I want to hear the rest of the story, even though I know that will be impossible with the sun rising. Any moment now, he will leave for the safety of the shadows. I try to hide my disappointment.
“It wasn’t without effort. She damn near liquified her own brain. But Danni was never the type to do things by half. She was all or nothing.”
Was.
A strange ache settles over my chest before he continues, “I should have done better to protect her from Egor, but I couldn’t see much past the power of the bond. It was an oversight I’ll never forget.”
The sun continues its climb into the sky. I glance at him nervously as the rays begin to stretch towards him.
“You’re worried about me?” Knox asks.
His question catches me off guard. “I… um… I thought you said vampires burn in the sun? That the inbetween is—” I rifle through the pages of notes I’ve taken until I find the exact words, “—your own personal purgatory, in that sense?”
Knox grins, but there’s no humor behind it. The sunlight finally reaches his pale hand that remains steadfast on the table. I hold my breath, waiting for him to turn to dust, but it never comes.
“I think we’re done for the day, Miss Collard. We’ll continue tomorrow. For now, go home, rest, and eat. I’ll find you again.”
I scoff at his command. “No way! I find out you’re the most unreliable narrator I’ve ever met, and you expect me to just packup my things and go open the flower shop today? No way in hell!” I fold my arms across my chest, holding his gaze.
His crimson eyes flicker in amusement as they rake over me. I instantly regret being so bold in front of him. This guy could literally kill me without blinking.
“Humans need nutrition. And rest. You’re no use to me half-dead.”
It isn’t a lie, but I doubt I’ll be able to do anything until I hear the rest. Then again, my sister will be wondering where I am if I don’t open the shop today.
“Fine. I’ll wait for you to find me.” I rise from my seat, my head swimming with questions as I gather up the papers of notes I’ve taken. Knox’s hand slams down on top of the parchment, making me jump out of my skin.
“I’ll hold on to these. Should you try and tell anyone what happened here tonight, I’ll kill you. Do you understand?” His threat hangs in the air between us, and when his eyes meet mine again, they’re filled with pain.
I manage a nod and hesitantly release my grip on the papers.
