“Never,” he growled, letting his head fall back into the foliage.
“Never?” I challenged. His dark hair shook with the rest of his head. “Never is a long time for a vampire.”
Dommik nodded silently, his lips upturned beneath his stubble. “It is, my lady.”
His eyes dropped to my chest, now pressed to his. I was crossing a line, and he was letting me. His jacket was covering most of my skin. Hecould touch me, create space between us if he wanted to, but he didn’t do that, either.
“My lady? Not, lovely?”
He adjusted his stance and a darkness settled over his features. “No, my lady.”
Fine, if this was the truth he wanted to live with, I would let him. I had much larger concerns to attend to. Dommik’s denial was his burden to carry.
“You’re a talented actor, Dommik Thorne. You remember your lines, youmostlylook the part,” my lip curled as I lowered my voice into a near growl, “but you will not fool me again.”
I ripped my body from his, feeling like I’d won the exchange somehow, and marched away. My triumph lifted my lips into a proud smirk.
Dommik fell in step behind me, silently following as I retraced the steps I’d taken with Rhazien through the Moon Garden. The sounds of the party grew louder with each turn. I’d expected guards to be in sight by now.
They had followed us to the garden, hadn’t they?
“Reyva. Stop,” Dommik instructed in a harsh whisper.
I complied, startled by a tense shift in the air.
“Something… isn’t right,” I said as he closed the gap between us. The sounds of the evening insects had disappeared and an uneasy, eerie energy loomed.
We stood still and listened. My human ears strained but only found the muffled sound of the strings playing from the party still in progress.
Dommik’s hands found my shoulders and he whispered, “Listen. We’re going to walk slowly and calmly back to the ballroom. Eyes forward. Donotturn around. My jacket is masking your scent. Donottake this off. Do you understand?”
I nodded, mustering as much bravery as I could. What could possibly be lurking about that would make the Commander of the Hive this nervous?
Dommik placed his hand on the small of my back and urged me forward. We walked together, slowly, just like he’d instructed. His thumb traced my spine. I might have brushed him away if we hadn’t been in danger. I kept my breath even and eyes peeled.
We continued forward, passing stone planters, and approached the garden exit. When we reached the unprotected, open walkway to the doors of the Hive, it was empty.
Where are the guards?
The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as a chill crept down my spine.
Something was nearby. And whatever it was, it was close. Too close.
Just a few more steps to safety.
But my dress…my long, elegant, constraining dress betrayed me. The beaded fabric caught under my shoe and I tripped as we climbed to the staircase landing.
Dommik reached to help me up and when I looked at him, I saw it.
And I couldn’t help but scream.
A shadowy mass loomed behind Dommik. Its floating wisps of darkness curled into a fluid, shapeless figure, illuminated by the nearby torches and moonlight.
But its eyes.
Evil overflowed from the crimson center of its burning red eyes.
“Thereeee youuuu areeee,”it hissed. The shadow stretched a misty claw toward my throat.
