Chapter 32

We walked in silence, Pyra padding next to me, tail tucked between her legs as if she too had just been reprimanded and was being sent to her room. Dew had begun to coat the grass blades, drops sparkling like a sea of stars across the massive lawn. The skulking vampire who was given the unfortunate job of babysitting me, stomped behind us.

Crabby vampy.

I paused to look down at Pyra. She looked back and the mischief in her eyes had me reeling. "Girl, you and me, on the same wavelength. All of them are a bunch of crabby vampies. They really do need to pull those massive sticks out of their asses."

"Excuse me?" Bal said behind me.

"Oh, nothing. Just a Spirit Marked-Spirit Guardian thing," I said, waving him off. "But now that I have your attention," I glanced over my shoulder as we continued to walk toward the back of the house, "Is my lord always this much of a grouch?"

"Only around your kind," he growled.

"I see," I said, a tad disappointed he didn't find me amusing. Never mind a stick, this vamp had a trunk up his ass. "Let me guess, you don't like witches, either?"

He remained quiet, his face grim. Black hair slicked back and those sharp green eyes round as saucers, he looked like a shark on legs. He could've been attractive if he hadn't looked like he wanted to break my legs. I gave up trying to talk to him and continued in silence until we made it back to the patio outside my bedroom.

He opened the glass door and ushered me in. "I'll send Armand to your room with fresh clothes."

"I'm fine in my PJs."

"Not to walk around the manor at this hour. Get dressed, Miss Jaxon. And stop objecting to everything we tell you."

Crossing my arms, I stared straight into his big eyes. "And who are you exactly? Kane's bodyguard? His spokesperson?"

"His son and second-in-command." He stalked inside my room, his body seeming to absorb the shadows. "I'm not my father; I won't sugar coat things for you like he does. But don't for a second mistake his kindness for weakness. I don't know why he's chosen to keep you in the chamber next to his when he should've shoved you in a cell. You're a liability, Miss Jaxon, a threat to this world. You belong locked up or dead. If I'd had my way, I would've handed you over to the Shadow Knights and called this mission complete. Now, instead of going after Azrael and trying to find a cure for my brother, I'm stuck here playing lady's maid to a Spirit Marked who's about as clueless as a rock."

"Damn, Bal, tell me exactly how you feel."

He narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

"Well, I guess I should be glad that you are… what did you say? Oh right, second -in-command. Thanks to your daddy's kindness, I'm in a room fit for a queen instead of a grimy cell."

Glowering, he took in an irritated breath. "Be ready in thirty minutes." With that, he marched his bitchy ass out of my room.

Twatwaffle.

"Pyra!"

The fox pranced over to my bed and plopped her furry butt on the mattress.

"How do you even know what that means? Shadow was in human form and even he was oblivious about some things."

She laid on her back, asking for belly rubs, which I happily gave her.

Eventually, I laid beside her, looking up at the vaulted ceiling, recalling everything that happened in that forest and up to the moment when Bal walked me back. As awful as he was, he'd at least been honest with me. He hated me, that much was clear. But Kane? I couldn't decipher that man.

Despite kidnapping me, he'd been kind to me when I almost burned his house down. And then when he tackled me, he could've easily killed me and been done with me—if I was as dangerous as everyone seemed to claim. So why bother keeping me alive?

And when he said those things, in that voice… There was no way he hadn't felt it, too, the way our bodies thrummed synchronously, like the strings on a guitar.

But what he said after, like he was purposefully cutting me down to hurt me as deeply as he could, didn't make sense. It didn't feel like him.

What the hell was I even saying? I knew nothing about him or vampires or why the hell they all thought I was the antichrist about to bring forth Armageddon. All I needed to worry about was marching my ass back home. For so long, I'd wanted to know who'd killed my parents and why. Now, I had no interest in even talking to my mother. I refused to listen to her excuses, the reasons that would only make things worse because there was no fucking reason in this world that could justify abandoning your child like she did by faking her death.

I didn't even want to think about my dad. I wasn't ready to lift that lid.

Rolling out of bed, I decided to be a good girl and listen to the crabby vampies and freshen up.

But when I opened the bathroom door, I nearly screamed. Kane stood in the middle of a stone and glass shower, stark naked. A cascade of water fell all over his muscled body, his golden skin glistening under the spray, and my mouth went dry. Thankfully, his very plump ass faced me, so I prayed he hadn't noticed my intrusion. I immediately closed the door, but didn't shut it, afraid he'd hear the click.

I may have left it open a smidge, but not because I intended to peek through or anything…

Definitely not that… and okay, maybe it was more like a crack, but it was completely unintentional.

So why was I standing right outside the bathroom door, shaking not with nervousness, but with thrill? What the heck was wrong with me? The guy had literally just said the worst things you could say to a person, but there I was, all giddy because I'd caught a glimpse of his naked ass.

But what a naked ass it was…

Though the fact we shared a bathroom was beyond insane. The vampire had told me how much I repulsed him, yet we were now sharing a bathroom? It kind of made sense if what Bal said was true and Kane had placed me next to his own chamber—but it really made me wonder …

If I was such a gross temptation, then why put me so close to him?

Heavens. Maybe he wanted me to see him… I mean, he could've locked the door. He knew I was literally right next door. The moral dilemma was really messing with my head. What was so wrong about secretly admiring a person's nakedness, anyway? Even if they were a complete asshole, unaware they were being watched…

So, so, so much was wrong. But I couldn't placate my curiosity. No matter how much I told myself I'd be mortified if the tables were turned, it didn't stop me from pretending all I was doing was innocently walking by when I just so happened to glance his way…

Pyra raised her head off the bed and cocked her head at me. I cocked my head back. I know, okay. Peeping is wrong. But he's just so ridiculously gorgeous.

And a complete royal prick, so I shouldn't have cared.

And I shouldn't have glanced, dammit.

The crack was narrow, but it was wide enough to give me more than a partial view of his body. Soapy rivers snaked down his tight skin, carving out paths over his slick, back muscles. Those massive shoulders bunched as he shampooed his long mane, scrubbing off blood both from his hair and body until the water ran completely clean. The burn wounds on his arms seemed to have healed completely, which hopefully meant the ones on his chest and abdomen were, too.

I hated that I even cared that I burnt him.

Right when I was about to do the right thing and walk away, he turned, and I caught a glimpse of his side profile. I didn't realize I'd held my breath the entire time since he'd turned around, but I finally released it very slowly, almost relieved he didn't turn around completely because I may have lost my sanity. Perhaps it was better that way. That I didn't get to see…all of him, because otherwise…

I'd be royally, irreversibly screwed.

So, when I let out another breath of relief, thinking I'd dodged a bullet, Kane reached between his legs and grabbed himself, the veins on his chorded arm visible as his hand pumped up and down several times until his length grew so thick and large, it jutted out of the top of his fist. I could've fainted.

There was zero doubt now that it matched the rest of his body in size. Standing there watching him pleasure himself, felt so freaking wrong, but also so incredibly fucking hot. My breath deepened and swaths of heat spread from the center of my chest to all my extremities.

The last time I'd seen a naked man in person had been four years ago. I'd never had a boyfriend, but I did have sex once. I was seventeen when I did it with this kid from school. But that was not this. This was… Kane was…

The embodiment of male perfection. Imagining what sex with a vampire might be like, I almost melted into a puddle of goo when his deep, throaty, breathy moans reached my ears, increasing in tempo as he pumped himself stronger and faster. I was convinced I would one hundred percent burn down the fucking house this time.

My lips parted a little as I inched nearer, wondering who he was thinking about as he brought himself closer to the finish line. His head hung back in pleasure and everything female in me throbbed with a need I didn't know could exist.

Heavens, he was so beautiful. And watching him like this, so vulnerable, so lost in the ecstasy his body was feeling, it was too much. This image of him would be forever branded in my mind. Thoughts of touching him scorched a path of desire straight to the apex between my legs.

I brushed a finger over my mouth, imagining that perhaps, maybe, he could've been thinking of…

A knock sounded at the door and a man's voice boomed so loudly, my heart leapt out of my chest. "Miss Jaxon, I have your clothes."

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Startled, I knocked into a piece of furniture and stumped a toe as I beelined it away from the bathroom. "Motherfucker," I whisper-screamed as I tried holding back a hollering wail. "Coming!" Fucking dresser was solid wood. Limping toward the bedroom door, I heard the bathroom door click closed behind me.

Shit. He must've realized the door had been open. Oh God. What if he knew I had been spying on him…

Heat as hot as the sun surfaced to my face. Someone knocked again. "I'll be right there," I said more loudly. "Maybe if this bedroom wasn't the length of a football field, I might be able to get to the door quicker."

When I finally threw the door open, a tall and slim older man, probably in his sixties, stood right outside dressed in a very formal black suit. His gray hair was combed back neatly, and he held a silver tray stacked with folded feminine clothes. "Evening, Miss Jaxon. My name is Armand, Woods Manor butler." His polished English accent made me feel like I should cursty.

"Hi," I said out of breath.

"Is… everything okay, Miss Jaxon?" he asked, nonchalantly glancing inside my room.

I smiled too widely. "Perfect."

"Very well. Unfortunately, I did not have time to prepare for your arrival. These are some clothes I was able to gather from our staff. Anya and Ice are busy handling details for tomorrow's convening, and Balthazar is hardly a lady's maid, so I have arranged for a proper lady's maid to arrive tomorrow, along with a fresh wardrobe." He eyed me from head to toe. "I'm not an expert in these matters, but I think I assessed your size correctly. Please let me know if there is anything else you need."

It took me a long minute to register everything he'd just said, but I didn't want to be rude and simply accepted the clothes without issue. "Thank you, Armand."

"If that is all, Miss Jaxon, I shall return for you in twenty minutes to bring you to Lord Kane's study."

A mirthless smile danced on my lips. "Splendid. See you then."

As soon as he left, I shut the door and sank to the floor, holding the silver tray with the stack of brown and beige clothes. My face still felt flushed, and shame coupled with humiliation radiated all over my body. What was Kane going to think of me if he knew that I'd been spying on him taking a shower? Watched as he touched himself…

I shut my eyes and tried not to recall the size of him or the sounds he made, but it was impossible not to see his image transposed in vibrant color right before my eyes, like my visions did after I woke up from a dream. My lady parts literally throbbed thinking about him, about how much I would love to draw him. To trace every single perfect line of his body. I had to jump to my feet to shake my arms and legs to dissipate the tingly energy skating all over my skin.

Twenty minutes was hardly enough time to get dressed and compose myself, but I rushed to slip into the knee-length brown skirt and black leggings Armand had brought me. A modest beige cable-knit sweater and a pair of black loafers completed my librarian-at-a-snooty-university look.

Honestly, all I needed was a pair of black-rimmed glasses and I'd be set.

Would've been nice if I could've at least picked my own clothes. Seemed my lord loved to dress me like I was his doll. I'd already been undressed and dressed a couple of times by his vampires since being kidnapped, and it seemed it would continue if I was getting a lady's maid. But also, who still hired lady's maids? This was borderline ridiculous. I didn't need anyone helping me get dressed.

Staring at myself in the long antique mirror beside the bed, I twirled left and right, cringing at my outfit. A pair of jeans and an oversized sweater were more my style. And if Armand was now to play my stylist, I could only imagine what the wardrobe he'd arranged to be delivered tomorrow would be full of if what I wore now was any indication of what I could expect.

A spiny claw traced down my neck. The idea of being trapped in this house long enough that I needed a lady's maid and a proper wardrobe made me realize Kane expected me to stay longer than a few days.

He'd said I wasn't his prisoner, but this sure felt like he was planning to keep me here for a while. Guessed it was time we ironed out the details of my stay because there was no way I was staying longer than a week.

Armand arrived punctually twenty minutes later and guided me and Pyra down the long, dimly lit hallways toward Lord Kane's study. I softly giggled at the presumptuous title.

The hardwood floors of the home were adorned with expensive-looking rugs that seemed like they'd been around for centuries. Paintings and tapestries hung on the dark paneled walls, depicting battles and landscapes. Iron candelabras and chandeliers glowed throughout the home, illuminating everything in warm candlelight. Massive stone hearths raged providing warmth in front of velvet-lined chairs and fancy tables. The home was immaculately clean, but also devoid of life. Where was everyone?

Armand walked ahead, hands clasped behind his back as I followed. "So, how old is the lord vampire?" I asked, glancing at every gothic detail of the mansion, from the stained-glass windows to the absurdly large quantity of gargoyle figures perched on the doorways. "Was he a king or something?"

We descended a long, winding staircase and came to a stop in a grand foyer. "His Lordship comes from ancient Scottish baronage. If you wish to know more of his family's history…" he nodded to a set of wooden double doors behind me, "you'll find plenty of books in the library."

"Library?" I didn't bother waiting for Armand to object and marched my ass in the opposite direction he was headed, toward those double doors instead.

"Miss Jaxon," Armand called after me. "The study is this way, please."

"Yes, but I want to go this way. Tell His Lordship I'll be in the library."

"Proper business is discussed in his study. Please, Miss Jaxon."

I spun to face him, a small smile on my lips. "Books bring me comfort, Armand. I'm sure you understand; you look like a well-read man. Plus, being in the principal's office… it gives me anxiety."

His face sagged. He already knew this battle was lost. "Very well, madame." Proceeding to lead me through, he watched me ooh and ahh as I stepped through the heavy oak doors, a shiver of anticipation running down my back. The circular room was comprised of two levels, the top encircled by an iron banister, and both with towering shelves and dimly lit corners, sparking a mysterious allure that drew me deeper into the room.

Each creak of the floorboards echoed in the cavernous dome, adding a sense of grandeur and solemnity that permeated the air.

Pyra scurried into the middle of the room, curling into a donut on top of a burgundy area rug adorned with golden and green threads. She looked around, eyes wide, seemingly as awed as I was.

"Make yourself comfortable," Armand said. "I will inform His Lordship you've decided to have your meeting in here."

"Thank you, Armand."

The butler closed the double doors, living me alone with Pyra. My fingers grazed the spines of ancient-looking tomes as I made my way even deeper into the heart of the library. The scent of old paper and leather enveloped me like a comforting embrace. So many times, when I was on the streets after having run from a foster home, I'd spend my days sequestered inside the local libraries.

It was a way of finding solace and refuge from the tumultuous chaos of my youth. Along with my sketchpads, old books had always been my sanctuary, their weathered pages a tangible link to worlds far removed from my own. Inside their stories, I found escape, companionship, and a sense of belonging.

As I wandered up to the second level, my gaze was drawn to the vaulted ceilings soaring overhead, decorated with elaborate carvings and stained-glass windows that filtered the moonlight into ethereal patterns of shadow and light. Massive dark-stained oak bookcases lined the walls, their shelves stocked with hundreds of books, probably centuries worth of stories and knowledge.

The furnishings were also dark and imposing. Wingback chairs sat nestled in the shadows, their velvet upholstery worn and faded with age. Even the air was thick with the scent of polished wood and ancient secrets, stirring something primal and elemental within me. That churning vortex of power that sat at my core seemed calmer, cooler. Its own curiosity piqued, as if something in this room was calling to it.

I wondered what I would learn if I opened a single page in any of these books. Would I finally get a true glimpse of this ominous world of vampires and witches that had been hidden from me for so many years?

I reached for a book when a puff of wind flipped a lock of hair off my shoulder. "Avery…" a rich, deep voice whispered in my ear, a brush of warm breath tickling my skin as the voice trailed behind me.

I spun around but there was no one there. What the…

"Enjoying my books, Miss Jaxon?" Kane's commanding voice piped up from the lower level.

Caught off guard, I dropped the book I was holding as I fumbled with putting it back on the shelf. "I'm so sorry."

"No worries. I'm sure I've read it already, anyway."

Peering over the edge of the banister, I finally spotted him sitting on one of the velvet wingback chairs. Although covered in shadows, I could see his silhouette. Hair half tied back, but loose on the shoulders, he leaned on the chair, an ankle over a knee, as if he'd been sitting there for quite some time. He was clearly also wearing a suit and shiny black shoes, which made me feel really underdressed, though my librarian outfit was probably the most dressed up I'd ever been.

"Um, how long have you been sitting there watching me peruse your bookshelves?"

"Not nearly as long as you were watching me in the shower."

My cheeks flushed when he leaned forward, letting the moon's light wash over his face. His darkened gaze met mine, and a string pulled in my stomach.

He knew.

"Tell me, Avery," he said in that deep, growly voice he'd used on me back in the forest. "How wet did it make you, watching me play with my cock?"

I choked on my own saliva and almost toppled over the railing of the second level and onto Pyra who looked up from below with an I told you so gleam in her eyes.