My breath labors, not expecting such a visceral response. “I . . . I’m sorry, Skar.”
His deadly gaze rips over to me. “You and I musttalk, love.”
Chapter 15
Sephania
“Close the door behind you,” Skartovius growls as Vallan is on his way out.
The massive vampire ducks under the frame and looks over his shoulder. “Careful what you do to our girl, brother.”
Lord Ashfen’s nose wrinkles with disgust. “Is that a threat, Vallan?”
“A warning, I suppose. Break her too badly and she may never recover.”
Skar’s eyes move from the door to me, eating up my soul. “I know just the right amount ofpressureto apply. Our little temptress is much more pliable than you give her credit for.”
Vallan grunts, and then he’s gone, with the door to the study closing gently behind him. Goosebumps run along my arms once I’m alone with Skar and Garro, feeling like I’ve lost an essential protector with Vallan leaving.He must know Skar wouldn’ttrulydo anything horrible to me, to leave me alone with him . . . right?
My throat is dry when Skar straightens from the broken table. The hole where his fist punched through is a jagged reminder of his capability.The refined nobleblood vampire, losing his composure. I’m in a world of shit, aren’t I?
The master of the manor rounds the table to stand in front of me. I don’t back down, though I feel small in his gaze, his overbearing stature a head above me.
From my side, Garro’s gaze snaps from me to him. “Master—”
Skar’s hand springs out impossibly fast, clamping on his thrall’s neck and squeezing. Garroway lets out a befuddled gasp, eyes bulging as Skar lifts him from the ground with one hand.
When Garro kicks the air, his boots inches from the ground, I yell, “Skar!” and reach out to grab his straightened arm, which doesn’t budge. “Stop it! Your quarrel is with me.”
He lets go of Garroway’s neck, but not before voicing in a menacing tone, “I’m far from finished with you, cub.” Then he pushes Garro’s chest, forcing the dhampir to stumble back a few steps as he hacks and coughs.
To his credit, Garroway immediately rushes forward to defend me—
I put a hand up to stay his advance. My eyes never leave the sinfully handsome visage of Skartovius Ashfen. Danger radiates off him, and in this moment he looks every bit Lord Ashfen, the ruthless commander of his castle. Skartovius, the man who tutors me on the politics and goings-on of Olhav like a prudent teacher, is nowhere to be seen.
“Tell me exactly what happened,” he demands. His voice is raspy and clipped, barely holding back his rage.
The words tumble out of me, explaining how I went to bathe after my tumble with Garroway on the roof. There’s no sense hiding anything from Skar with the way he’s intently watching every twitch and breath. “Lukain says he’s been shadowing me for years, even since reinventing himself as Overseer Verant,” I explain.
“He came out in daylight to speak with you?”
“Almost. The sun was minutes from showing. He wore his cloak and hood.” I chew the inside of my cheek, desperate to spill the truth but worrying how much it might anger Skartovius.
I decide he deserves to know, if only so my punishment might be lessened. A thrill of mingled anxiety and anticipation rises in my breast, thumping.Do Iwanta lesser punishment?I wonder.
“He says he’s obsessed with me still, sir,” I eke out. “That he’s tasted me, and we can never escape each other because of it.”
Garroway, just behind Skar’s shoulder, nods along. Like he believes the same thing.
“We all feel it,” Skar grunts. “The pull to take you, have you, keep you. The half-blood swine is not incorrect.”
“Please don’t call him that.” My brows arch helplessly. “He is still a man I care for—even after everything. Even after I’ve tried to forget him and erase him from my memory.”
Skar’s chin twitches but he keeps his composure past his firmed lips. “The man groomed you, taught you many things at a young, ripe age.” He reaches out, clasping my chin gently, rubbing with the pad of his thumb. I’m tempted to close my eyes and fall into his embrace, his heated, hateful body . . . but I resist. For now.
“It seems all I can do,” he whispers in the shell of my ear, “is try to break the man out of you.”
My breath comes sharp, nearly making me choke as Skar’s hand gently closes around the column of my neck. I flex instinctively, until Lord Ashfen hums in my ear, which has the effect of calming my nerves.
