Chapter 8

Kiara

"Nightmare?" Brown eyes hold me hostage as he tilts his head to the side. His face remains a blank mask as he studies me.

"Did you free my hands?" I ask, avoiding his question. The last thing I want to do is talk about my dream to a stranger.

"I did." He shakes his head, causing his blond ponytail to sway as he walks toward the bed, mumbling something about Mátyás being an ass under his breath. A thought we can both agree on.

I rub at the bruises forming, making sure there aren't any deep cuts from the iron that need to be tended to.

He steps closer, and I jump off the bed, ready to run. I gauge the distance between the bed and the door, wondering if I have enough time to make it out the door.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He holds his hands up in mock surrender as he shifts his stance and blocks my exit.

"That's what they all say." Vampires can never be trusted. They may not be as powerful as the Nephilim, but they can still turn humans into creatures like them.

He drops his hands and steps back when he realizes I refuse to believe him. "I'm Sebo. The bathroom is through there." He points to the closed door that Elek disappeared into earlier after he and Mátyás finished fucking in front of me. My thoughts must be written all over my face because he adds, "There should be a change of clothes in there for you." When I still do not attempt to move, he sighs. "You have five minutes to do what you need and then come back out here. Don't make me come in there after you. It won't be pretty if I do."

A part of me wants to defy him and stare him down, but my full bladder is screaming at me to pick my battles, which is the reason I do as he says.

The second I step into the bathroom, my jaw drops. It has been completely redone with modern finishes. A bright light hangs from the ceiling, illuminating the whole space. Behind a glass door on the far wall is a shower big enough for five. Slate-gray tile creeps its way up the walls and into the rest of the bathroom. Directly across from it is a full-length mirror. There's no mistake that it was put there intentionally. To the right is a farmhouse-style sink twice the size of a normal one with three faucets. Everything in here is set up for three people. That thought makes my stomach clench.

I brush off all of that mate crap they talked about earlier and use the bathroom. My bladder cries in relief the moment I do. After I'm finished, I wash my hands and glance at the shower. I know he's right outside, but my body is screaming for me to wash any traces of that nightmare away. If I could use my magic, it would take me half the time. I will find a way to break that enchantment spell and get them back for taking it from me. Unfortunately, the shower will have to wait until later when I don't have a stranger waiting for me on the other side of the door.

Keeping my gaze on the door, I remove my clothes and put on the purple nightie. Once I'm dressed, I walk back into the room to find Sebo leaning on the far wall with his arms crossed over his chest. If he's annoyed that I took a bit longer he doesn't show it. "Hungry?"

"No." My stomach chooses to protest the opposite, and he laughs.

A grin teases his lips as he pushes off the wall and opens the door. My stomach flutters at the thought of freedom and possible escape, but then he kills any hope of that happening. "Walk next to me. Stay close, and don't wander off. It's a big place and easy to get yourself lost. And remember, if you try anything, I have permission to restrain you by any means necessary. You understand me?"

"Got it." I swallow down the lump forming in my throat. I'll behave for now. Timing is everything, and I need to know more about my surroundings if I'm to escape this place.

"Good." Satisfied with that response, he steps out into the hall and waits for me to follow him. As we start walking, my greedy eyes take in everything they can and commit it to memory.

"What is this place?" Everything about it screams medieval.

"Halvány Castle." When I give him a blank stare, he smirks. "It's Magyar and translates to Pale Castle."

"Magyar?" My brows lift to my forehead.

"I believe the rest of the world calls it Hungarian." He shrugs, a bit annoyed that I didn't already know that.

"I'm in Hungary! Those bastards smuggled me into a different country?" My temper flares to life as the reality of my situation settles in. At least now I have a location.

"Watch it. Mate or not, I don't take kindly to insults of my sire." His face hardens as he develops a slight lisp. He flicks out his forked tongue, giving me a glimpse of his razor-sharp fangs and reiterating his threat.

I heed the warning and nod. There's no sense in provoking him so soon.

We continue walking down a set of stairs into a foyer and another hall. This one is much narrower than the upstairs. There's a decent-sized window with a metal covering over it, preventing you from seeing out.

"What the?—"

"They're metal shutters." He keeps walking as he answers my question but never spares me a glance. "To protect us from the sun. They're on all of the doors and windows. So, don't get any ideas about escaping. The entire place is secured."

"So that myth is true? Vampires and Nephilim are allergic to the sun?" Another piece of information to file away for later. I choose to ignore his comment about escaping because it will happen. It's a matter of time.

"For now," he cryptically responds as he walks through a wide archway with me trailing behind.

"How long have you all lived here?" If escape is out, I can at least attempt conversation and find out more. After all, knowledge is power.

"This castle was built for Mátyás's mother," Sebo answers as we continue on our path. "And this has always been our home."

"How old is Mátyás exactly?"

"No one really knows. We didn't keep track of dates back then, but rumor is both he and Elek were born during Attila the Hun's reign."

"Holy shit," I mumble under my breath as we enter a large dining room from both that tidbit of information and the room in front of me.

Inside is a long black table in the center of the room, with purple candles, the same color as my nightie, set in the center. Four black velvet high-back chairs are placed around it, but there's one place setting.

He motions with his hands for me to sit, and I comply. I'm going to need to pick my battles for now. I stare at the bowl of soup and glass of wine in front of me but make no move to touch either one.

"The gulyás isn't poisoned." He sounds a bit annoyed by my reluctance. "And neither is the wine."

"And I'm supposed to believe you?" I cock my head to the side as my eyes narrow at him. He has a bit of an attitude problem.

With his gaze locked on mine, he scoops up a spoonful of meat and vegetables. A grimace falls over his face as he shoves the whole thing in his mouth, chews, and forces himself to swallow it.

"See? Perfectly safe and not poisoned." He chokes out his words. "But don't ask me to do that again." He shudders.

"Noted." My lips twitch as I fight back the urge to laugh. I take the second spoon on the placemat and take a big spoonful myself. When the meat hits my tongue, the burst of flavor explodes in my mouth, and I can't help the moan that escapes me. I wash it down with a big sip of wine, and another moan leaves me. It's the sweetest ambrosia I've ever had.

Sebo clears his throat and steps back by the far wall, putting some distance between us. I'm about to ask him what his problem is when another vampire strolls in, wearing a black bodycon dress that shows off every inch of her voluptuous curves and accentuates her tan skin, paired with a pair of matching stilettos. Full breasts are practically spilling out of the top half of the dress. Her straight raven hair flows down her back, stopping at her waist. Inky eyes are lined with heavy black liner, silver shadow, and black mascara. Everything about her screams sex and sin.

"Little early for you to be out and about, Ysabel." Sebo sounds like a disapproving parent.

"I had a late night." Her red-painted lips curve into a wide smile, showing off white fangs with a few bloodstains. There's also a hint of a Spanish accent in her words.

"You better have cleaned up your mess this time because you missed an important meeting." His face pinches together as he stares her down.

Ysabel's back goes ramrod straight. She opens her mouth, ready to argue with Sebo, when her gaze drops to me sitting at the table, spoon in hand. Her inky eyes narrow as she sniffs the air, and then her face lights up. "This her?"

"Yes." Sebo rolls his eyes.

"Aye, Sebo. Why are you keeping her all to yourself?" She walks over and pulls a chair next to me. She leans down to sniff my soup bowl and wrinkles her nose. "And what kind of crap are you feeding her?"

"Guylás isn't crap. And I made it myself." The veins on Sebo's forehead throb as he glares at her.

"Whatever. You and I know I'm a much better cook. After all, I was a renowned chef before I was turned." She winks at me before folding her arms and staring at Sebo.

"You were also a loose woman who let any dick in her holes," Sebo growls back.

"I've always known how to have a good time." She throws her head back and laughs. "You should try it sometime."

"Mátyás and Elek should have left you to burn in that church with the rest of those sinners." He shakes his head.

"That hurts me right here." She presses her hand over her heart. "It's a good thing my tits are big enough to support it."

"We can put you out of your misery right now. Just say the word," he taunts back.

"I've survived the Spanish Inquisition. What makes you think your little threats scare me, estúpido?"

"If only." He rolls his eyes.

"Well, since you've fed her and quenched her thirst, we get to have some girl time. You know, to see who she likes better. The whore or the tightly wound prick." She gestures between the two of them.

"Not happening." Sebo's hands ball into fists, and I have a feeling they'd be having it out if I wasn't in the room.

"Afraid you'll lose?" She rests her elbow on the table and rests her chin in her hand.

"No. I was given direct orders. Her care is my responsibility." Sebo's face hardens.

"Always such a good boy, doing what you're told, aren't you, Sebbie." All humor disappears from her face. "But you'll never be what he needs. None of us will. It's time you start understanding that." Without another word, she shoves to her feet and storms out of the room, her stilettos clicking against the stone floor as fast as she appeared.

Sebo's jaw clenches as he watches the space where she was. He appears lost in his head, and I let him be. What happens between this coven is none of my business.

I take another big sip of my wine and accidentally hit the stem of the glass on the table. The clanking sound draws him out of his head, and his brows pinch together.

"Stay away from Ysabel," he orders.

"Why? She seems nice." I shouldn't poke the bear, but I've never taken kindly to being ordered around. Plus, it was nice to have another woman around.

He shakes his head. "Foolish girl. Remember this. We aren't like Elek and Mátyás. You may be their mate, but to the others, you're still an outsider. And we don't trust outsiders."

"And what am I to you?" The wine sours in my throat at the implication.

He holds my gaze, showing off his fangs. "You're a means to an end."

My grip tightens around the spoon as his threat sinks in. It heightened what I already knew. I have to find a way out of here fast before I end up on the menu.