Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
KAEL
I watched her, unable to tear my gaze from the monitor where she roamed the confines of her luxurious prison. For three days now, her image had been etched onto my retinas, her scent imprinted in my memory. My office, a refined chamber of dark wood and leather, was usually a place of command, a cockpit from which I steered my empire. Yet, it was reduced to a mere theater, showcasing Ivy's every defiant move.
"Sir, your updates," a voice would interrupt, time and again, but the reports fell on non-listening ears. My focus remained fixated on the distraction of a woman who dared to challenge the invisible chains with which I bound her. Her spirit sparked something feral within me, igniting an obsession that distracted me even mid-battle.
Doubts crept into my mind like unwelcome shadows as I pondered the wisdom of bringing her here. She'd witnessed far too much, sealing her fate to mine. I could never let her leave, not alive anyway. The real question was why I hadn't gone in there and interrogated her. I'd never hesitated before. Even if I didn't want to mark her skin, which I had to admit I was aching to do, I could easily use my vampire power on her to make her talk. Except, I couldn't bring myself to do that. This little human confounded me.
But those doubts were lies, I told myself. The truth was simpler, primal… From the first sweet whiff of her blood, she was destined to be mine. Her safety was a convenient excuse to keep her close, to satiate this newfound hunger and obsession that gnawed at me with relentless urgency.
The rational part of me, the centuries-old survivor, questioned the risk I had taken. Yet, each time I caught a glimpse of her exploring her gilded cage, touching the walls as if feeling for a pulse within the material, I knew it was a risk worth taking. There was no mistake. With every breath she took under my roof, her life intertwined more tightly with mine, and my resolve strengthened.
She was the enigma I needed to solve, the temptation I longed to indulge. And as the days stretched on, the need to have her would grow into an undeniable force. One that could not, and would not, be ignored.
Fuck it. I was not a man or creature to avoid what needed to be done. With resolve, I glided from my office to the suite I'd stashed her in. The door creaked open, and I stepped into the impeccably designed room where she had been contained. For a fleeting moment, her eyes widened—a silent scream of terror—before she clamped down on her fear and transformed it into a glinting shield of defiance. Her back straightened and her chin lifted. She was ready for battle, not with swords but wills. I couldn't wait to have her at my feet, begging for mercy she'd never find.
"Who sent you?" My voice was calm, measured, as if discussing the weather rather than probing for secrets that could upend worlds.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" she retorted, her tone laced with contempt rather than the quiver of dread I was accustomed to hearing.
I leaned against the old mahogany desk, allowing myself a small smile at her bravado. Most would have crumbled under the weight of my gaze, but not this woman. No, she was an enigma, a puzzle demanding to be solved, a challenge I found myself unexpectedly eager to accept.
"You're sharp," I observed, circling her slowly like a hawk eyeing its prey. "Sharper than any journalist should be."
Her resilience intrigued me, kindling a desire within to unveil the layers that made up her essence. It was time to see just how unshakeable her courage truly was. A part of me wanted to protect that bravery, while another, darker side yearned to see it splinter.
"Perhaps you deserve a glimpse of the truth," I murmured, watching her closely for any crack in her armor.
Thoughts of her fear mingling with pleasure persisted in my mind, a symphony of screams and moans that would fill the halls of my ancient abode. The image of her writhing beneath me, the sweet puncture of my fangs in her flesh, blood and ecstasy intertwined—I chastised myself silently for such thoughts. They were distractions, yet ones I couldn't seem to banish.
"Maybe then you'd understand the gravity of your situation."
Her eyes locked onto mine, steadfast, unyielding. She was no ordinary woman. And in that moment, a twisted sense of admiration took root within the darker recesses of my soul.
"I know what you are." The confidence tumbled from her lips. "You're a vampire," she said, voice edged with a mixture of disbelief and accusation.
"Ah, the night does hold a certain appeal for me," I admitted with a playful tilt of my head. The charade was entertaining, but her determination for the truth was like a siren's call. I could deny her no longer.
With a swift motion, I bared the elongated canines. She'd seen them before, but still let out a sharp intake of breath at the sight of them. Yet she stood her ground.
"Are you afraid now?" I taunted, leaning in closer, eager to see if her bravado would crumble under the weight of reality.
Her gaze flickered to my mouth, then back up to meet my stare. "I don't want you to bite me," she stated, a tremor in her voice betraying her outward calm.
Laughter rumbled from my chest. "In time," I whispered, inches from her neck, "you'll crave my bite." The promise hung between us, heavy with the anticipation of her eventual surrender. "You'll writhe beneath me, begging for the sweet release only my venom can provide."
She swallowed hard. It was the most delicious sound. My mind spun with visions of sinking my fangs into her tender skin, tasting her essence, watching her come undone at the mere brush of my lethal grace. Soon, very soon, she would be mine.
"John," I called out, my voice resonating despite all the opulence and fabric in the room. The door creaked open, and a familiar figure entered. With a bow that spoke volumes of the hierarchy between us, he approached.
"Kneel," was all I murmured, the command uttered with an authority that brooked no argument. He complied, dropping to his knees as if it were the most natural act in the world. I felt her gaze upon us as she watched him.
As my fangs sank into the soft flesh of John's neck, a myriad of emotions danced across his features. Pain contorted his face for the briefest of moments before giving way to a sense of relief so palpable, it nearly filled the room. Then, pleasure crept in, erasing all traces of discomfort. His moan, low and guttural. No one watching could argue that he wasn't enjoying my venom.
Withdrawing just enough to speak, I let my eyes wander over to Ivy. She stood there, the horror and fascination warring within her eyes. The only creature she'd had contact with since I'd first locked in her three days ago was John. He brought her anything she required, but even that set off my jealousy. I wanted no other creature, human or supernatural, to even dare to gaze upon her, let alone provide for her.
"This is the nature of our world," I explained, my voice steady even as the taste of John lingered on my tongue. The opportunity to test her was too tempting to not take. I let a minuscule drop of John's blood go to waste on my lip to see if she would lose her composure. "There is a balance of power, a delicate dance of predator and prey. Your knowledge, involuntary as it may be, makes you a player in this game. Dangerous, but undeniably compelling."
John, still under the influence of my bite, seemed oblivious to the weight of my words. But Ivy... she understood the gravity of the situation, or at least began to grasp it.
John took another moment before he silently swayed as made his way from Ivy's chambers. Her gaze locked on him until he was out of sight. I watched her process the scene, mesmerized by the way her chest rose and fell with quicker breaths. Turning to her, I laid down the inevitable truth. "Until my enemy is dealt with, you're confined to this estate." My voice was as smooth as aged whiskey.
Her gaze didn't waver, the deep blue of her eyes clouding momentarily with frustration that she quickly masked. "I'm not your guest," she said, her tone betraying a hint of understanding, "but neither am I truly a prisoner, am I?"
"Indeed." The word felt like silk over gravel. "You are something... undefined."
"Then I want access to your mansion. To walk freely within these walls."
"Free rein..." My brow arched, considering the weight of her demand. "That will require some thought. For now," I gestured toward the sleek panel on the wall, "the intercom awaits. Whatever you wish for, within reason, will be yours."
She studied the device as if it were a lifeline—or perhaps the chain binding her to me. The air between us was thick with unspoken words and tension that one could carve with a blade.
Leaving her room, I shut the door behind me with a soft click. The scent of her still clung to the air around me. A potent, haunting aroma that whispered of mysteries yet to unravel.
I refused to let her go—no, I couldn't—even as the thought clawed at the edge of my conscience. She would be mine, in every sense the word promised. My fangs ached with the need to pierce her skin, to taste the rush of her life force mixing with mine. It wasn't a matter of if, but when. And when that moment came, I knew no power on earth would compel me to release her from the sanctity of my embrace.