Page 10 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

I climbed out. Shoulders back, I adjusted my dress.

“This way,” he said, motioning me forward.

I glanced behind me, toward the iron gates. How far would it take me to reach the city on foot? If I ran now, did I stand a chance?

“Today, Miss Shaw.”

Clenching my teeth, I stepped forward. It was impossible to ignore the staggering gothic architecture in front of me. It took my breath away. The dark gray bricks were water-stained in multiple places. I counted at least four levels. It was a miniature castle, complete with gargoyles.

“You really live here?” I managed to make it sound condescending to hide my awe.

“Obviously.”

“Let me guess, it’s all for show? A whole mansion for a pathetic little coffin in the basement?”

He stopped halfway up the stairs⁠—

There was a blur of motion. My head was forced back at an awkward angle. I gasped, all too aware of his long fingers tangled in my hair, grasping the strands just hard enough to send a wave of arousal dumping into my body. “You think you’re funny?” he said, tsking. “It’s a dangerous game you’re playing, Miss Shaw. Try me again. Find out just how much your blood is worth.”

“Priceless, apparently,” I snapped. “Or you wouldn’t have dragged me from a party like a desperate junkie.”

“A desperate—?” His voice turned colder, harder. “Be not mistaken, Miss Shaw. It would be so easy to drain you, right here on the front steps. It would take me less than thirty seconds to siphon your life from your frail little human body. It would certainly put an end to my troubles.” The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. “Or better yet, I’ll simply auction you off to the highest bidder. My enemies would find all sorts of valuable things to offer me, just so that I might be rid of you.”

My mind went blank.

He inhaled, nostrils flaring. Like he could smell me—smell my emotions and what I was feeling. “Much better.” His fingers slipped from my hair. “Now, come.”

I swallowed, wetting my lips, then forced my feet to comply. As long as I kept my face forward, he wouldn’t see my eyes water. Wouldn’t see the angry tears threatening to fall. Each breath was hollow, painful. But I couldn’t let him see how much his words burrowed beneath my skin. How much they hurt.

Snatching a few strips of paper, I plastered them over my heart, hardening myself. I’d done it so many times over the years, the entire organ ought to be a hard shell of paper mache. I shouldn’t have let his words affect me. Perhaps next time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.

We climbed the remaining steps. I didn’t miss the hand hovering at the base of my spine. A reminder to keep me from running. Vittorio appeared at the doors, one moment nothing, the next, reaching to open them.

I blinked to clear my eyes.

We swept into a dimly lit hall.

“Sire! I just got a call from—“ The female voice broke off. A woman materialized before us. She wore an elegant sequin gown reminiscent of the twenties, her dark hair cut in a bob. Only, I noticed when it shifted briefly that her ears weren’t pointed. In fact, Vittorio’s weren’t, either.

“Sire?”

“Find Marco. My study. Now.”

So, it wasn’t just me. He was a genuine asshole to everyone. That didn’t exactly make me feel any better.

The hand at my back pressed more firmly, but I didn’t move. The female didn’t move, either. Her surprised gaze remained fixed on me. Her nostrils flared, eyes dilating, blackening, like what I’d seen in the car.

If I needed any more confirmation of what I’d gotten tangled up with, here it was.

“Zola! Now.” The sharp order made me flinch. “And keep your fangs in your mouth. Anyone that touches her, dies. Understand?”

I blinked, my brows creasing.

Zola seemed to shake herself, regaining control of her features as her teeth and eyes returned to normal. “You found an amplifier.” Her voice was breathy, riddled with disbelief.

A…what?!

“If I must ask again⁠—“