She took her time replying, the orange tip of her cigarette only highlighting the gauntness of her face. “Sure.”
Confirming Hunter hadn’t gone home only tightened the ache in his chest. He knew Marshall and Hud had looked for him, but he needed to see for himself, had hoped they were wrong.
“Fuck!” Kace snarled when he stepped outside, ignoring the scared glances of a few walkers crossing the road. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”
“I take it he wasn’t there?” a familiar voice commented.
Kace growled at Axel, who leaned casually against his SUV. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Axel’s eyes flicked to the house before quickly returning. “Looking for you.”
“Yeah, sure you were.” Kace swung his arm out in the direction of the house. “It’s all yours. Careful though, you don’t want to share fucking needles.”
Axel pushed off the car, standing boot to boot as he snarled. “Don’t be a fucking arsehole K, I came to apologise.”
“Not interested.” Kace passed his brother, needing the walk. He had parked his motorbike a few miles away, knowing it wouldn’t be safe if left alone anywhere in The Bricks.
“It’s not an addiction,” Axel said, stopping Kace dead in his tracks. “I’m nothing like them.” He gestured in the vague direction of the house.
Kace paused. “I’m sure that’s what every addict says.”
“Fuck you,” he growled. “It’s the only thing that helps the noise.” Axel tapped his head. “I thought you would understand better than anyone.”
Pain wrapped about Kace’s chest. “How often are you on something, Axel?” When his brother didn’t reply he stepped forward. “Are you on something right now?”
“Fuck you,” Axel said instead, his eyes darkening with impatience. “Now shut the fuck up and come home, we have an update on the Pits. They’ve announced a special games, and I’m betting Riley can get an invite.”
Chapter15
Eva
Augustine’s hand tightened in her hair, tilting her head at a painful angle. “Look at yourself,” he whispered intimately against her ear, his fangs scratching her skin. “I said look at yourself!” His voice had sharpened to a bark, forcing her to face the mirrored surface of the lift.
Eva stared at the woman that she didn’t recognise. Her eyes were once again black, empty bottomless pits pinched with anger. Music played from the speaker as they ascended, an obnoxious orchestra that was far too upbeat for the chaos that surrounded her.
His smirk was cold in the reflection, his eyes void of anything but disdain. “I told you to wear the red,” he said as his free hand came up to swipe at her painted lips. His fingers gently brushed down until he gripped her chin, keeping her still as his fangs continued their path across her skin, scratching hard enough blood began to trickle. It was becoming a habit, his mark almost permanently evident somewhere on her body.
Her lips. Her throat. Her thighs.
It was as much a brand as the vipers.
Augustine’s smirk deepened, turning into a grin when he finally looked up. “I can feel your hunger. I wonder how long you’ll starve yourself before you beg me for it?” His tongue licked across the mark he had made, sealing the wound before he repeated once again with his fangs, but this time deeper.
Eva tried to swallow the needles that stabbed down her throat, ignoring the intense burn as Augustine’s fangs sliced through muscle. “I’ll never beg you.” Augustine had forbidden her to feed from anyone but him, knowing that she wouldn’t gain as much strength than from someone not a vampire. She refused, the final rebellion before he took the last piece of her.
“Oh,” he said, lifting his head. “But you will, because if you don’t…”
He let the warning hang in the air, licking the blood that dripped too close to the fabric of her dress. She expected him to heal the fresh wounds, but instead he left them as they were, her blood a bright contrast compared to the black of her ballgown. Not that it really mattered, because all anyone noticed were the tattoos that curled around her arms, ignoring the bruises, welts and tears that streaked down her face. She was property, for him to do with as he wished, and no one would interfere.
Fuck vampires,she cursed inside her head.Fuck everyone.
“You’re my fledgling, therefore an extension of my dominance,” Augustine said, his tone matter of fact. “As I’ve mentioned before, if you run, you will be simply returned to me kicking and screaming. Under vampire law you are nothing, and a fledgling without a master will be disposed of by The Elders. So disobey tonight and you will suffer for it. Understand?”
At her silence his smile deepened, and Eva fought the cry as his arm whipped up to pin her painfully against the cool surface of the lift.
“Do you really wish to test me on such an important night?” He pressed closer. “You’ve already seen where I’ll put you if you don’t be my pretty little bauble, to be seen and not heard. Do. You. Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered, his finger brushing along her jaw. “I understand.”
