“Careful,” he warned, his hands flat on the table. “I don’t care whether you’re soulbound to my nephew or not.”
Hana smirked. “Why did you make me mark her? Why is she so special?” She turned to face Eva, attention piercing from her violet eyes.
Eva tried to remain calm, needing to know the answer too. She found herself staring at Hana’s throat, the pulse visible beneath tanned skin. She could even count the beats, her fangs throbbing in time with every thump. It beat faster than her own, her breathing too.
“You’re not a vampire,” Eva said before she could stop herself.
“Of course I’m not a vampire,” Hana said with a flick of her hand, dismissing the comment in disgust. “Augustine, what were you thinking?”
“Since when do I need to explain myself to you?” Augustine snapped, his tone glacial. “She’s my fledgling until I say otherwise.”
Hana set the glass down hard enough it cracked. “Of course.” Her smile was full of poison, aimed at Eva alone. “I guess I’ll just watch you break her then.” She swayed her hips as she walked towards him, her finger brushing down his arm. “Until you grow bored of her…”
Augustine stood, the table sliding from the force as he wrapped his hand in her long hair. Eva couldn’t hear what he whispered in her ear, her body bent at a painful angle as her face flushed a startling red. Hana said nothing as he released, her hands smoothing down the front of her dress as she walked out, lips pressed into a thin line.
“Repeat your question.”
Eva blinked, taking a second to realise Augustine had spoken to her.
“Ask me again, why are you here?” he shouted, loud enough it rattled the walls.
“Why am I here?” It came out a whisper.
“Because I take whatever I want.” He reached for a remote controller, pointing it at a painting of a ship at sea to her right, the storm violent. The picture flickered, and then changed entirely. “And right now,” he continued. “I want you.”
Swallowing the nausea that threatened she realised it was CCTV footage. The building was caught at an angle, as if the camera had been placed on the opposite side on a higher floor. She could tell it was early, the familiar lights that usually flashed were off around the marquee designed to blend in with the other theatres. ‘The Dollhouse’ was written across it, although the camera only caught up to the second ‘o.’
“That’s a live recording,” he commented, voice still threaded with anger as he watched her.
Eva could feel his attention, his eyes searing as they traced across her face. The Dollhouse exploded, the windows shattering as the sign crashed to the pavement below. She could hear the little pops, the screams and the crackles of the fire as it ate through the building as if an accelerant had been used. Minutes passed as the flames danced, brightening up the street as small figures moved out of the way. Only when sirens came did she finally turn away, tears burning down her cheeks.
“You are to be my pretty little bauble,” Augustine said, his face void of everything but disdain, his attention still hyper focused. “And when I finally get bored, you will dance and feed my business partners when I tell you to. Your blood will do all the negotiations, and your little pussy is going to seal the deal. So I suggest you keep me amused long enough that I never grow tired.”
His chair screeched against the hard flooring, his movements purposely slow as he made his way down the table.
“Every time you disobey me you will be punished,” he whispered closer to her. His hand curving along her cheek down to cup her jaw. “At first I will take my disappointment out on you, and when that doesn't work or it gets repetitive, I'll take it out on someone else, just like your friends in The Dollhouse. Nod if you understand.”
Liquid salt on her lips, but she nodded as much as his grip would allow.
“Good.” His hand brushed lower onto her throat, his fingers touching the bite that had finally begun to heal. “I expect you to be the perfect trophy on my arm. Now go re-do your makeup, you’ve ruined it.”
She jerked herself backwards, turning to the door as it opened.
“Oh and that was just a caution,” he said to her back, “I evacuated the building five minutes before the charges were set. Next time there won't be a warning.”
Chapter10
Kace
“Ihave a gift for you,” Eva, the beautiful brunette that seemed to hate him on sight said, her naturally thick lips curved into a suspiciously friendly smile. “Call it a truce.”
Kace narrowed his eyes while his beast stilled inside his mind, content to just listen to her voice. Kyra’s neighbour had ignored him for over a week, barely acknowledging his existence unless he purposely stepped in her way. He wasn’t sure why he did it, normally not giving a shit. But he couldn’t help himself, wanting to see her reaction when he ‘accidently’ brushed her arm when she passed him in the hall.
“Well,” she prompted when he remained silent. “Do you want to know what it is?” She held something behind her back, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out it was probably something baked, especially considering he could scent the chocolate. She had given cookies, cupcakes and other sweet goods to all the other Guardians who had stood guard. Everyone except him.
“No,” he said, just to see if her face flushed the same gentle shade of pink she had the first time they had met only a week before. She had threatened to hit him with a frying pan, and in retaliation he had crowded her against the wall, his growl low. He had wanted to intimidate her, to warn her away, but the colour had been soft against her cheeks, her lips opening on a surprised breath.
Eva’s eyes darkened, which was not the reaction he had wanted. “I made this,” she said, showing him the single cookie held between her finger and thumb. “You know, to help with your condition.”
