Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

As soon as I step into my bedroom, I sag against the door, my body still buzzing with the adrenaline of my near escape. That was too close. A shiver of revulsion ripples down my spine as I think of Chester's face, his greasy smile, his disgusting attempts to control me before our engagement even officially starts.

I escaped this time. But what about next time?

The weight of the unsigned betrothal agreement presses on me like a giant anvil. I won't be a pawn in their elitist games. Marrying Chester? Living my life shackled to that self-righteous, power-hungry family?

Tears threaten. I can't do it.

But could I live with the alternative?

I know which road I'll take if I must choose between prophecy and premonition. At least with Costin, I have a chance to fight back. To choose my fate.

I jerk the tiara off my head and toss it toward the bed. The bracelet soon follows.

It has to be close to sunset. I waste no time. I slip out of the gown, wriggling and squirming to free myself from its silky trap, before discarding it on the floor.

"You called for me?" Costin's low voice stops me as I reach for a dresser drawer. My breath audibly catches.

I spin around to face him. "Costin. How?"

How did he hear me? I didn't even say his name out loud.

"You called for me." This time, it's a statement, not a question. The seductive sound causes me to shiver.

"Now I can always find you." I vaguely remember him saying that to me once. Is this what he meant? We have some kind of supernatural blood link?

I'm not sure I like that idea.

My room is dark except for lights coming from the outside windows radiating from the city below. If the vampire is here, that means the sun has set, but there are still hints of dusky light in the darkening sky.

The azure hue of his shirt perfectly complements the shade of my dress. I find it an odd coincidence. He exudes a timeless sophistication that sets him apart. Unlike my brother, he's not following the latest fashion trends, but Costin's choices have a classic allure that withstands the test of time. Adorning his index finger is a substantial ruby ring set in intricately designed silver of the Gothic-style. This is not the first time I've noticed his penchant for wearing antique jewelry. His trousers discreetly reveal polished boots that exude a captivating sheen, adding to the overall aura of refinement and elegance.

Even if I didn't know about his vampiric nature, I would have to admit he draws the eye and commands attention just by standing in the room. Seeing him now, I could easily envision him as the ruler of a grand castle, surveying his domain from a lofty vantage point, looking down upon the common folk who could never aspire to his lofty status.

I dare myself to look into his eyes, even though I know that he's capable of mesmerizing me to his will. His gaze is intense, swirling with an angry red.

"I suppose well wishes are in order," he says. "Chester Freemont is a lucky man."

Is he… mad at me?

If so, he's going to have to stand in line. I'm not on too many favorite persons lists at the moment .

"Oh please," I dismissed with a wave of my hand. "Not you, too."

"Best wishes are not in order?" His expression lightens by a tiny degree. But I see it.

Is he jealous? That doesn't make any sense. I doubt he would even be here talking to me if my grandfather hadn't pressured him into a life debt.

"Chester Freemont isn't worth anyone's well wishes," I say, with a dismissing wave.

Costin's eyes narrow, and I catch the briefest flicker of something dark and possessive. "If that's true, then why are you marrying him?" His voice is smooth, but there's an edge to it, a sharpness that slices through the room.

"Power. Legacy. Survival. That's all anyone seems to care about." I pause, studying him. Is that what this is for him, too? Am I just another piece of the prophecy, another tool in his quest for power?

"And you?" His gaze locks on mine, unblinking. "How do you feel about this Chester? You seem rather... compliant."

He is jealous.

"Can we not talk about this now? We have to get out of here before they come looking for me to rejoin the party." I glance around the room, trying to remember what I was doing. It's unnerving having Costin in my bedroom with me. He makes it hard to concentrate on anything else .

"We?"

"Unless you want to stay in marry Chester in my place? I got to tell you that you would be doing me a huge favor if you did."

"I can drop him off the rooftop if you like," the vampire offers.

"Tempting, but that'll make things worse." Not much worse, but worse.

"If you do not wish to marry him, then why are you seeking an engagement with him?" Intensity radiates off him like a palpable invisible force.

"I'm not the one making the arrangements." Why are we talking about this? I don't want to discuss my future with him. It's none of his business who I marry or why.

"If you do not want it, say no. Mortality is no excuse. You are an adult. You should act like one. You do not have to agree." He gives a small shake of his head. "I thought you were made of stronger stuff than that."

I resist telling him to fuck off.

"How do you even know about this?" I demand, crossing over to see his face better in the shadows.

"I pay well to stay informed of what happens in my territory."

Territory. That one word reminds me of just how powerful this master vampire is. He controls all of vampiric North America .

Irritation flows through me. I just want all of this to be over. I can't take much more. "Mortimer had a premonition that somebody is trying to hurt my family. He believes that creating an alliance between us and the Freemonts will negate that danger. I don't know how to tell him that I think he's picking up on the alternate timeline where everyone died at my birthday party, except for Conrad and me. I don't think he'd even believe me if I tried."

"Everyone?" Costin prompts.

"You. My parents. Anthony. Others." I busy myself frantically searching for the book, hoping it wasn't destroyed in the apocalyptic vision. It's not on the bed or nightstand. I feel behind the dresser before crawling across the floor to look under my bed. "Then, after my party, Conrad's birth mother. P-Paul."

I stumble over his name, realizing I shouldn't have spoken about it. The book isn't under the bed, so I sit back and look up where he watches me.

"Who is this Paul?" Costin demands.

"No one. Nobody important. It doesn't matter." I try to step around him, but he blocks my path. "Have you seen the prophecy book?"

"Behind you." He nods toward the corner of the bedroom. "You really should be more careful with that. Anyone could pick it up. "

"At least the floor is not lava," I quip, swiping it off the ground.

"You unlocked the image." He nods. "It is a bleak message of what the future will become."

"A warning would have been nice. I thought I was going to die." I take the broken amulet from my nightstand and set it next to the book on the bed. "Now I just need my phone."

"You do not need a phone where we are going tonight," he counters.

"Well, it has my wallet on there, so yes, I do kind of need it." I don't want to point out that I have no intention of leaving the house without some way to communicate with the outside world. Besides, I want to text my brother and make sure he's alright. However, I'm not too worried. I assume he's simply hiding from our mother.

"It is on your dresser," Costin says.

I go to retrieve it. "All right, that's everything. Let's go."

His lip twitches up at the side and his eyes narrow, a wholly seductive gesture. "As much as I appreciate watching you bend and stretch in that outfit, might I suggest something a little more comfortable for the underground? Otherwise, you will have more than Chester to fend off as a suitor."

Only then do I realize that I've been running around in my bra and panties. He interrupted me while I was changing, and I forgot to complete the task. Belatedly, I shield my breasts and stomach with my hands.

The action causes him to laugh. "Yes, good call. We wouldn't want to shock my delicate sensibilities."

I should be angry with him—angry for interrupting my life, for trying to make jokes when my world is falling apart. But instead, all I feel is a strange sense of comfort. His presence, the cool steadiness of it, is a balm against the storm raging in my mind.

"You're distracting me," I murmur, the words coming out softer than I intended.

In a split second, he's next to me.

"I should be the one complaining of distractions. I wasn't running around half-naked." His voice is low, teasing, but there's something else buried there.

Fingers glide along the small of my back, and I shiver. I expect them to be cold, but they're not. He leans his face close to mine. Our cheeks brush, and I feel his breath against my neck. A jolt of sexual awareness courses through me. It centers low in my belly.

I know I should push him away, should tell him this will never happen between us. The prophecy looms over us like a dark cloud. The vision of the world burning is still fresh in my mind. But at this moment, I don't care. I want to forget. I want to experience something that makes me feel alive.

"I have already dined this evening," he whispers against me. "But if you're offering other diversions…"

His breath is warm against my neck. He lets the suggestion hang between us.

Before I can stop myself, I turn to face him. The brush of his smooth cheek moves toward my lips. I stop as our mouths hover mere centimeters apart. I wait for him to kiss me, to make that final move. My breath comes in heavy pants. His fingers skate slowly downward as we stay locked in that otherwise frozen embrace. The tips of his fingers breach the top edge of my silk panties.

What am I doing?

What am I doing?

I can't concentrate. This is insanity.

I wait for his exploration, wanting his hand to dip further down, wanting him to pull me closer. When he doesn't, I say, "Everyone is in the dining room waiting for me to come back. We should leave before they come looking for me."

The words cause my lips to brush against his in a teasingly light caress. I don't know whether it's the stress of everything that's going on in my life, or the intense loneliness I've been feeling for the last several months. But I don't want to be alone. I want to feel something other than fear and regret. His kiss is right there for the taking. All I have to do is press forward.

Never in a million years would I have thought I'd come to this moment with Costin. He represents everything I've always tried to avoid in my life. His kind preys on humans to live. He's about as entwined in the supernatural world as I can get.

There is a monster inside him that terrifies me. He's lived centuries and will go on to live centuries more. I can be nothing more to him than this blip in time. Yet, in this moment, I am not repulsed. Quite the opposite, actually.

Oh, fuck it all.

It's possible that I'm on a fool's mission and will die tonight. Why not steal a moment of meaningless fun before I do? With luck, time will reset, and he won't remember it anyway.

I tell myself what I feel for Costin is carnal attraction, nothing more. It's my body trying to seek comfort through any avenue it can. Plus, he is the only one who knows the truth about the amulet's magic and the prophecy.

His hand moves lower, pushing the panties down my hips. It's almost as if he's testing my response. I close my eyes and wait, not asking him to stop.

He cups my ass and squeezes as he angles me to fully face him. The panties slither down my legs. The soft cashmere shirt presses against my skin, causing me to shiver. For a moment, I forget everything as I focus fully on how my nerve endings are beginning to tingle with anticipation. Every brush against my flesh is like a jolt of warning.

His lips move against mine, and I feel the tiniest scrape of his fangs pulling out my bottom lip. He doesn't cut me, but I feel the danger in him. My lip springs back, and I wait for him to kiss me. It's torture, those seconds of intense longing. I wonder if he's toying with me or if this is some type of test.

My brain struggles to find a logical reason to pull away from him. But my body doesn't listen. I can't move. If this is magic and he's mesmerizing me to feel this way, I don't care.

I can hear myself drawing in a shaky breath. I'm hungry for his touch. I want him to move his hand around my stomach to find me wet and waiting.

The hand on my back glides upwards, and I feel the clasp of my bra release. He holds my back firmly as if to steady me as his free hand reaches between my breasts to hook my bra and pull it down my arms. I'm left naked and exposed.

Everything about him is so calculating and measured. The more frenzied my need becomes, the more I want him to prove himself the monster I know him to be. I don't know what he's waiting for .

My hands tremble as I pull up his cashmere sweater to expose his waistband. I dare another glance up. He's watching me, waiting. The full length of his arousal lets me know that he's interested, and that this is not a test.

I unbutton his pants, wanting to take the same slow, torturous time he took with me. But the need is too strong, and I end up fumbling in my rush to undress him. I shove my hand down the front of his pants. The monster does not disappoint.

His lips open wide, baring his fangs as if it's an involuntary reaction to my touch. I know he wants to bite me. I think I might let him.

I need this. I need to feel something that isn't doom. And if I'm honest with myself, I need to rebel against all that is expected of me. No one wants me to have the vampire. That only makes me want him more.

I stroke his cock, liking the smooth feel of it against my hand. But it's not enough. The back of his fingers grazed lightly over my nipples, keeping them erect.

What is he waiting for? I think my invitation is pretty obvious.

"Are we going to do this?" I challenge. "What are you waiting for?"

His kiss is sudden, fierce. There's no hesitation, no second-guessing. It's like we're both feeding off each other's desperation. I let the need, the fear, and the urgency of it all take me over.

His fingers skate their way up my breast to my shoulder. He pushes me down, as if wanting me to get on my knees before him. It's not what my body wants. It wants to be filled and taken.

Still, I don't deny him as I get on my knees. His cock is in front of my face, and I take hold of it. I take him into my mouth, sucking lightly. He gives me complete control, not forcing himself deep into my throat. I look up at his body to see his face. His eyes are closed, and he rocks his hips forward as I take him deeper.

I release his length from my mouth. "I need you."

He moves with supernatural speed, swiftly maneuvering behind me. I fall forward on my hands and knees. He presses my back to force my chest lower on the floor. The carpet cushions into my palms and tickles my nipples. My ass is in the air, and I feel him take my hips.

He brings his cock against my opening and thrusts. I gasp in surprise as he fills me. He rides me like a wild animal, pumping so hard that my knees burn against the carpet.

All I can do is hold on as he fucks me. There are no soft, loving gazes or light caresses, only the powerful, primal need. It's almost as if he's punishing me, but I don't care. I want him to. I cry out softly in surprise. Oh fuck, it feels good.

I can feel myself on the brink of climax. I want to come so badly. I need it. I need him to give it to me.

Intense pleasure rockets through me. I quiver and shake. I swear I feel him jerking his release, but he pulls my shoulder upward and brings himself against my back. His mouth clamps against my neck, and the sharp pierce of his fangs only adds a pleasure-pain to my release.

When he lets go, I fall to the floor. I can barely catch my breath. Nothing about this moment makes sense. I can't fathom what I've done and with whom.

"We should go," he says. I hear soft movements behind me, and I roll to the side to see him straightening his clothes. "As you said, the others will come looking for you soon."

It's not exactly champagne, roses, and love songs. But then, I don't expect those things from a vampire. However, a few sweet words of reassurance would be nice.

My muscles are weak, but I force myself to stand. I ignore my discarded clothes on the floor as I pull fresh clothes out of the dresser.

He walks into my ensuite bathroom, and I hear water running. When he returns, he hands me a washcloth. "For your neck. "

I disappear into the bathroom, partly to hide from him while I check my neck. Blood smears my throat, and I wipe it off. The bite mark is unmistakable, but it already looks like it's healing. I pull on the jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt before rejoining him.

His back is to me as he stares out the window. It's almost as if he wants to pretend nothing happened. I put my phone in my back pocket and shove the book into my waistband. When I pick up the amulet pouch, a whisper of cold air snakes around my ankles, sending a chill up my spine. I shake off the unease, but a nagging suspicion remains. I fear that evil magic something behind that amulet is stirring, watching what I'm doing with a hungry impatience.

"Think you can get us out of here without getting caught?" I ask, nervously needing to fill the quiet as I force the amulet into my front pocket.

"As you wish," he mutters.

It's a strange response, and I wonder if he was even listening to my question.