That was the last thing I wanted to hear from a demon.
He leaned forward and closed the curtains, casting us in darkness. Only a sliver of light peeked through the edges so I could still make out bits of his face. This had officially become the oddest date I’d had so far.
We rode in silence. As the carriage jostled across the uneven road, our knees brushed together every now and then. Every time it happened a wave of electricity shot through my thighs, warming my center. I spent most of the ride keeping my legs away from him, desperately avoiding any further contact. But the carriage would inevitably lurch violently, and I was beginning to choke on the tension in the air. Anytime I met his eyes, I could see his smug smirkthrough the dark. It made me want to jump on him and strangle him, and I was not a violent person, though he would only become more amused at my hostility.
“Why so tense, Charlotte?” His words drifted through the dark, landing on me like a delicate caress that made me suppress a shudder.
“Hmm, I don’t know. Perhaps, it has something to do with my plan for a normal life completely shattering, leaving me with an absolutely abnormal life that is sure to only get worse in a matter of time. And Alaric stuck his finger in my mouth.” My voice hitched near the end, and I cringed as I hoped the driver, also a Society member, didn’t hear.
“He what?” he asked flatly.
“He doesn’t like that you’recourting me,” I said in a mocking tone. “He dropped by to threaten me, and then he put his bloody finger in my mouth.”
“Is that just an expression, or was his finger literally bloody?”
“Yes. Actual blood.”
Sebastian always had a statuesque appearance, and I didn’t think it was possible, but he grew even more rigid. He looked to the window even though the curtains were still closed. “He’s moving faster than expected.”
“What do you mean?”
He looked back to me with a solemn expression, though the subtle rage took over before I could process his worry. “He plans to turn you,” he said simply.
The blood emptied from my face so quickly I nearly felt faint. Ash filled my mouth, tainting my tongue with a bitterness that left me sick. All I had ever wanted fled me as if it were eager to get away. I was a terrible hostess. It would never return. A new void opened up within me. And I thought of Olivia painting. It was a simple thing. Maybe I’d try it. Everything slipped from my grasp like soil threaded through loose roots. It had nothing to hold on to. But I stillattempted to hold on, even though I would inevitably fall away with the debris.
“No,” I whispered. “I don’t understand, what ...” I trailed off. From what I had read, when a vampire bites a human, their blood is then enchanted with venom that would cause a human to turn. But if the vampire immediately drinks following the bite, the venom is extracted, so the human does not turn.
“I know what your father believes, and it is mostly true. Except he’s missing a piece. A vampire’s blood must be in the human’s system before they are bitten. If a human is bitten without vampire blood in their system and the venom remains, they just die a painful death.”
“How long does vampire blood remain in our system?”
“Forever.”
“Why didn’t he turn me then?”
“I’m sure he has a plan. He derives enjoyment from others’ suffering. He’s playing with you.”
Thought eluded me as the slow uproar clashed within my ears.
“Charlotte, our courting may be a ruse but my job to protect you is not. He will never have you.” His eyes appeared black through the dark, and they only seemed to deepen. For a moment I couldn’t look away. His darkness melted into me like a warm balm, soothing the fear that ate away at the edges of the void.
Before I could process anything, the carriage lurched to a halt. The light stung my eyes as the door opened, and he stepped out, waiting for me. I peeked through the door. A townhouse was before us. We were in the city. The clopping of hooves against cobblestone stacked on top of each other in an unending cacophony, topped off with various boisterous shouts and the clicking of heels. I had never heard so many sounds overlap one another.
Sebastian leaned back into the carriage. “Do you require my assistance?” His dark hair fell across his eyes that held nefariousintentions. With that and his sly smirk, I knew I certainly did not want his assistance.
I scrambled out of the carriage. My heel caught on the step sending me careening forward. Instead of falling face first into stone, my face went into a hard chest, which might as well had been stone. His strong arms wrapped around my waist to steady me, and I gaped up at his smug face with widened eyes.
“I suppose you did require my assistance.” He grinned darkly, and the sight made my knees so weak that I slid down his chest a little. His arms tightened around me, tugging me upright. I finally got a hold of my senses and swatted him away, taking a large step back when he finally released me.
I huffed out a sigh, running my hands down my cloak as I glanced around. “Where are we?”
“My home.” He nodded towards the brownstone we stood before, and I looked at it in horror.
“I amnotgoing in there.”
Amusement colored his eyes. “It’s not a dungeon. That’s located in my real home back in Svealin.” He winked, and I quickly averted my eyes from him.
“Why are we here?” I said to the side of the carriage.
