I chanced a quick look at my sister. I had to know. I was dancing with the devil myself after all. But one look at her glittering, blue eyes and face frozen in disbelief was all I needed. She didn’t know.
And Edward took his chance. Before I could look back to him, I was already beneath him. He clutched my jaw tightly in his hand and inhaled deeply up the column of my throat. As he rose, he looked down to me with feral eyes.
“Death may be worth it for a taste.” His voice was far from the charming man I knew. It was rough, taunting, slimy. My eyes widened as he fought to maintain control, and a breath escaped me as he seemed to come to his senses.
Before I could blink, he was off me and had Olivia enveloped in his arms. He lifted her chin with his forefinger, looking deceptively lovingly into her terrified eyes. “I’m sorry it’s come to this, my love.”
I heaved myself off the floor, stepping onto the coffee table, nearly slipping in the spilled tea, and leapt off, wrapping myself tightly around his back. I snaked both arms around his neck, tightening them with as much strength as I could muster. He laughed at my efforts, but he released Olivia.
My back collided with the wall as he rammed me into it, leaving my lungs vacant of air. I attempted to gulp down a wheezing breath. I couldn’t hold on the second time. My body slid off his, but he caught me by the throat and shoved me back so hard I fell onto the coffee table, this time it broke.
I struggled to get a hold of the slightest breath, gasping as I rocked back and forth, trying to find any bit of strength left in my body. He crouched over me with a devilish smile. And then he was gone. Another shriek from Olivia accompanied his sudden disappearance.
With a great heave and a shooting pain down my back, I sat up. My mouth gaped slightly at the sight of Sebastian. He had Edward up against the wall pinning him by the throat. And what was truly unsettling was how hard Edward was laughing.
“Olivia.” The sharp yet strangled sound of my voice was enough to break through her shock. Her head snapped to me. “Do not run. Walk away. Now. Get as far away as you can.”
She backed away slowly, bumping into side tables, sidestepping them with a vacant look on her face. As I heard her steps disappear down the hall, I turned back to Sebastian and gave him one weak nod. This time I did not look away.
He took his black tourmaline blade and plunged it into Edward’s chest. The metallic stench of blood filled my nose, and I suppressedthe urge to retch. His laughing faltered but his sadistic grin did not, and he died with it marring his face.
Sebastian sank down to his haunches beside me. His sharp eyes examined every part of me, inspecting the damage. I winced as I attempted to sit up further. It hurt to breathe.
“I’m okay,” I gasped.
His dark eyes narrowed on me. “This is not okay,” he deadpanned.
And I knew he meant many things. His eyes fell to my sheathed dagger at my hip. Once again, it hadn’t even occurred to me to use it.
“Charlotte!” Pari fled into the room, her teal gown flapping behind her.
She came to an abrupt stop before Edward, her eyes rounding as her mouth fell open.
“Edward?”
I gave her a solemn look before looking to Sebastian. “He was a newborn right?”
“Yes.”
Both Pari and I breathed in relief, though maybe it would have been better if he was a Dreigian vampire all along. But it was seen as a greater tragedy to have a hidden vampire within our midst than to have one of our own turned. For some twisted reason, the deceit was worse than murder. Which meant Sebastian’s position was all the more dangerous, and my position was of the utmost treason.
“Pari, we need to find my sister.”
She nodded, though she moved around me cautiously.
“We need to get you to a doctor.” Sebastian’s tone left no room for argument, but I’d find room.
“After I find her. Her world is falling apart right now. She loved him.”
He eyed me for a moment, challenging me, and I held his gaze without wavering. I could see Pari glancing between us in myperipheral vision. Finally, he let out a sigh, and I could have sworn he stopped himself from rolling his eyes.
“Can you stand?”
“Yes,” I said firmly. Though as I attempted to stand, I gasped at the shooting pain that pierced through my ribs. “No.”
I gritted my teeth against the pain as he scooped me up, cradling me in his arms. If he knew how much pain I was in, he’d take me straight to the doctor. But this wasn’t about me right now.
His lips brushed against my ear as he whispered for only me to hear. “There’s no need to hide your pain, mannyenska. I can scent it.” Of course he could. It benefited the hunter to know when their prey was wounded.
