“But thank you, for what you did last night. You saved my life.”
His smirk dissolved into the echo of malice he emanated last night. “They are fools wielding a power they do not understand. And they will never touch you again.”
* * *
When the carriage dropped us off at the inn, we went in to freshen up and eat lunch before going to the portal. Sebastian had changed out of his Society uniform and into a black suit, though it was a bit different from the fashions I’d seen, and I wondered if it was the fashion of his world. It was sleeker, more fitted. I frowned at the color of his waistcoat beneath his jacket. It matched perfectly with the deep plum gown and cloak I was wearing. How was he even able to match the colors so accurately? I was starting to wonder if he had rifled through my wardrobe so that he could match anything I had.
Before we left our room at the inn, he stopped in front of me and paused a long moment.
“What are you doing?” I finally had to ask.
“Here.” He held up a blood red, velvet box that was open, in the center sat a ring. The band was silver with a vibrant ruby and small diamonds surrounding it in a teardrop shape. It was beautiful, what I never thought I’d ever receive. A sharpness pierced through my gut at the sinking realization that this was not even real. And it was still likely it never would be. I’d never have anything real.
“Do you not like it?” I looked up to him. He was scrutinizing my expression with a subtle confusion.
“Oh ... no, it’s beautiful.”
“Then what is it?”
“I guess I just thought when someone asked for my hand it would be more ... romantic. And with someone I loved, someone who loved me.”
He seemed to grow lost. Lost for words, lost in thought, lost in what to do next. And there was something else, a hairline fracture in his composure threatening to reveal what was deeply hidden.
“It’s alright.” My words pulled him back from wherever he went. I snatched the ring out of the box quite roughly and shoved it on my finger. I had admired it for only a short moment. I didn’t think I could ever look at it again as my throat strained against unshed tears.
After Sebastian created an illusion that drew the guards away from the portal, we stood before it. I was once again mesmerized by the writhing, shimmering rubies and the pitch-black vortex that would take me to another world.
“I’ll go first and alert the guards of our arrival.” He likely saw the fear in my eyes because he added, “You’ll be fine, killer. And if you aren’t, I have access to the best healers in Dreigo.”
“That was not the least bit comforting,” I said flatly.
“I could calm you, if you wanted.” The way he said it seemed to be laced with innuendo. I eyed him for a moment, and he held my gaze with a smirk.
I shook my head vehemently. “No. No, it’s okay.” I had a feeling I shouldn’t allow it that often. I could end up relying on it too heavily, and then I’d be a mess without him.
He shrugged and stepped up to the portal. He looked back at me over his shoulder. “If you’re not through after one minute, I’ll be back to drag you through.”
He took one step forward, and I gasped as he dissolved within the darkness. What would it feel like? I felt the creeping pricks of panic start to rise and spread through me. Maybe I should have let him calm me down. The anticipation built up within me like a stack of bricks, and my body became heavier as each second passed. My feet felt impossible to lift. I was sure he would make good on his threat to drag me through, but for some reason, I wanted to make the decision on my own.
I took a deep breath, and before I could think better of it, I stepped through.
CHAPTER TWENTY
My body quite literally hurled across worlds and crashed to the ground. My knees dug into the rough surface. I winced as something definitely embedded itself within my skin. I remained on my hands and knees panting, trying to grab hold of my body once more. Whatever I was prepared for, it certainly was not that. As soon as I stepped through the portal, it felt as if every part of me dissolved into a fine mist, like I was nothing but floating particles. And it was cold. A frigid cold not of any winter I had ever experienced. A different kind of cold. One I dread to ever feel again.
As soon as I caught my breath, I rolled over to my back and looked up to find five faces staring down at me. One of them was Sebastian. The other four were his guards. They wore impressive armor. Its design paid close attention to detail, like a gothic cathedral. It was made of shining gunmetal, with black leather accents. Intimidating black capes were secured to their shoulders. But their faces.
Their eyes seemed wide yet narrowed at the same time, if that were even possible. They had similar blank expressions as Sebastian, but there was a tightness to their features, as if they were restraining themselves.
“Not even a minute in vampire lands and you’ve already managed to bleed,” Sebastian said flatly.
I glanced down to the rock that did in fact imbed itself within my knee. I flicked it away to reveal a small pool of blood. I looked back to his guards warily.
“Don’t worry, they will control themselves.” It came out like a warning. “Let’s just get you to our room so we can stop the bleeding.”
He took my arm and led me through the trees. It was similar to the Lost Woods, yet everything here seemed so much more vibrant. A dreamy veil draped over the land to create a softness. A brightness.A liveliness. Like magic itself coursed through the air. And it was warm. I wondered if it was summer here, or maybe this was how the climate always was.
“Wait.” I stopped abruptly. “Ourroom?”
