Page 136 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

The path before us widened. I caught sight of a raised dais. A small throne held a figure cloaked in shadow. People milled about like courtiers.

Laurent’s hand wrapped around my wrist. He squeezed, then leaned in to say, “You will stay by Zola’s side.” I nodded. His thumb brushed over my pulse before he stepped away.

Zola crowded in close. Vittorio stood at my back, Hassan at my front. Marco filled the spot Laurent had vacated. They stuck to me like glue. We filled in at the edge of the crowd, getting a good look. Laurent swept into the middle of the open space before the demon’s throne. He gave an exaggerated bow, then tossed something at the base of Drazgus’s throne. It rolled, then clattered to a stop.

Some of the shadow faded from Drazgus, enough to make out a humanoid figure. He was bald, with tribal markings covering his skin. Drazgus leaned forward, dark eyes narrowing on the item, a golden wristband. He straightened and said in a grating voice, “Laurent Sarkas. A token for me, I presume?”

“Took it off a trespasser.” Laurent slid his hands casually into the pockets of his pants. “Thought you might like it back.”

Drazgus tutted, leaning back on his throne. “Bands like that are easy to come by. It is nothing to me.”

“As are the servants who wear them? I do not take kindly to uninvited guests in my home, Drazgus.” Whispers broke out around us.

“Is that a threat, vampire lord?” Drazgus leaned forward. The black shadows about him churned. It set the hairs of my arms on end.

“Hardly. Just stating facts. While I am at it, another for you. I do not part so easily with that which is mine.” I swallowed, knowing that he referred to me. “We vampires are fiercely protective creatures. You ought to know that.” At Laurent’s words, Drazgus’s eyes flicked in my direction. I felt the chill of his gaze. It made me want to squirm. I steeled my spine, standing tall. “Ah, yes. You see to whom I refer. She is mine—stay away from her.”

Drazgus lingered over me a moment longer, then pulled his gaze away. With its retreat, I breathed a little easier. Something about the demon unsettled me deeply.

“I care nothing for humans,” Drazgus said, shrugging. “And I care little for your facts.”

My eyes darted about the gathered crowd, eager to witness the spectacle unfolding. I found a pair of blue-green eyes and blond hair. Unlike most onlookers, he was not looking at the transaction but directly at me. A spike of recognition blazed through me. I gasped, blinking.

Laurent whirled in my direction, then followed the direction of my gaze. It was too late. The man I’d seen was already gone. I blinked again, but I must have imagined it.

“Perhaps you’d like to introduce your pet?” Drazgus was saying. I pulled my attention back to him. “She is human, after all, and all humans must receive my express permission to visit the night market.”

I noticed the subtle clench of Laurent’s jaw. He gave a brief nod, encouraging me forward. I stepped over to him, flanked by my group of vampires. “Pleasure to meet you,” I said, feeling brave with so much power at my back. I purposefully didn’t give him my name since he knew who I was. He had to know, given that he’d sent demons after me.

I offered a mocking curtsy, then looked him over as I said, “I haven’t met many demons. The one I did meet didn’t impress me, but perhaps he died too quickly for that.”

Laurent’s lips twitched. “Careful, little flower.”

“Ah. Unfortunate,” Drazgus murmured. “As with every kind of creature, there are always some better than others.”

Was he referring to himself?

“Of course,” I said, dismissively. “Do I have your permission to be here? Or shall I depart?”

Drazgus flicked his fingers. “Very well, little flower,” he said mockingly. His use of Laurent’s pet name made my nose wrinkle. “Enjoy the market. I’ll be seeing you again very soon.”

Chills skittered down my spine.

I shot Laurent a wary glance. His eyes flashed with malice, gaze so dark his silver irises had disappeared. Every line of his body screamed predator, barely leashed violence waiting for an excuse to strike. “Come,” he said to me, reaching for my hand. I took it, and we swept into the crowd. It didn’t matter how far we retreated, Drazgus’s threat seemed to follow me all the way home.

34

Idreamt of a sinuous mouth on mine, tongue dipping between my lips as heat flared between my legs. My eyelids fluttered open, only to find that it wasn’t a dream. The heat came from the heavy length pressed against the apex of my thighs. I moaned, the sound swallowed up by Laurent’s lips. “Good dreams, sweetheart?”

My breath hitched. His words were accompanied by a flex of his hips. Sparks shot up my spine and I was panting.

Our trip to the night market had turned into a whirl of scattered memories and confused thoughts. We’d returned in the early hours of the morning. Something about the night market had twisted my perception of space and time, leaving me struggling to grasp reality itself. Zola had explained that this was normal for humans. I’d fallen into a deep sleep shortly thereafter. The disorientation was so complete that even now, hours later, I couldn’t quite piece together everything.

Laurent’s busy mouth moved to my jaw, kissing and nipping until he found the spot just behind my earlobe. “Yes,” I breathed, squirming. I lifted my fingers into his hair and tugged impatiently. He pulled back to look down at me. There was hunger in his gaze. A question, too.

I swallowed.

“I want to feed from you while I fuck you,” he decided. Heat rose to the surface of my skin at his blunt honesty. “But I’m going to wait until the moment just before you come. Is that all right?”