When I peered through the archway that led off from the chamber beside the desk, I smiled.
The royal vampire nest opened into a bathing chamber, which was filled with steam and lit by bronze lamps that hung from the ceiling by rope. The walls were covered with beautiful murals of blue fishes, seahorses, and mermen.
Were the Bloods allied with the vicious Shadow Mermen?
Was Lanlin?
I stepped further into the bathing hall, beginning to undo my robe. I wafted the strongly lotus perfumed steam out of my face, along with the curling incense smoke.
Then I froze in shock.
Lanlin was already sitting in an alabaster tub, surrounded by lotus petals. He was leaning back with his arms on the sides, and his neck was bared in a way that an Alpha’s never should be.
Did he truly trust Daire and me this much?
My chest tightened.
I hadn’t seen Lanlin without his makeup, jewels, and clothes before.
He appeared to need every inch of his skin covered, but now, he was naked. And he was every bit as beautiful as I imagined in my dreams — and nightmares — he would be.
I should look away.
I couldn’t.
I should turn and walk away.
I couldn’t.
Instead, I stood rooted to the spot.
Mesmerized.
This is why vampires were so deadly. This was what they did to their prey.
My mouth was dry.
I watched, as Lanlin ran his long, elegant fingers down his muscled chest, washing the soap from it.
His hair was wet, floating around him like dark tendrils.
Then my mouth became even drier, when he turned around and stood. Water glistened, streaming between his powerful shoulder blades down to his narrow waist and then to his tight ass…
But that was when I finally caught up on what I was seeing.
Words had been carved on the small of his back.
Ugly, jagged letters that looked like maybe Lanlin had been held down and struggled, while they’d been carved.
For the letters to have scarred, they must have been cut with cursed silver.
My eyes widened. I covered my mouth to hold in my gasp.
LITTLE MONSTER
Who did that to him?
Who scarred him with such cruelty?
