Page 16 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

If they lost Hassan, it would be like losing Lio all over again. He knew better by now. And yet…

“What do you need?” Marco rose to his feet.

“Go back to the party.” He glanced at the clock. “See if you can track Kath’ur’s scent. Reach out to our contacts. Bribe them, if you must. Get more blood, if it means answers. I want Hassan found, Marco. If he’s alive… I want him found.”

Marco stood. “All right. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Call me if anything comes up.”

“I will.” Marco disappeared.

Silence stretched long and fraught with tension. He took several deep breaths, then called for Vittorio. A few moments later, his study door opened. “Yes, Sire?”

“Find Zola. Have her check on our guest. Make sure she’s settling in and has what she needs.”

“Of course. Anything else?”

“No, just—good work with the tea service. That was thoughtful. I’m sure Miss Shaw appreciated it.”

Vittorio hesitated. “Of course, Sire.” He left the room.

Laurent walked across his study, stopping before the chair Lily had occupied. He placed his arms on the back and leaned in. Breathing deeply, he allowed her scent to settle over him. His body began to change. He clamped down on the transformation. The mere smell of her left him ravenous.

It had been nearly a week since his last meal. Normally, that would have been more than all right. At his age, he could go a month or longer. But there was an amplifier in the house now.

He glanced at the clock again. Dawn was several hours away. He considered leaving, going in search of a fresh body. The idea was discarded just as quickly. Only a careless warrior left their sharpest blade sitting out for anyone to use.

He left his study, descending to the kitchen. Behind a latch, stairs took him into a cellar. There were two. One for his rare collection of wines, the other for his more exotic tastes.

House Sarkas had a massive reserve of blood. He sifted through the frozen bags, finding his preferred age, sex, and type. He slapped them down on the warmer, glaring at them offensively. He knew without a doubt this diet wouldn’t keep him sated indefinitely. He’d need to find a better solution, or he’d be drinking from Lily’s neck, and no amount of control in the world would stop him once that happened.

5

Istood motionless until Laurent’s footsteps faded down the hallway. Only then did I allow myself to breathe. My hands were shaking. I clenched them into fists, forcing myself to think clearly. First things first, I needed to know my options.

I worked to open the windows. They swung outward, giving me a good view of the manor’s gardens. I groaned at the distance below.

I looked at the manor’s outer walls. There was nothing I could use to climb down. But that wasn’t enough to rule out the idea. I could use the bedsheets to make a rope.

I went to the door, next. When the handle turned, my heart skipped. I popped my head out into the hallway. Empty.

He’d left the door unlocked?

I shut it and frowned. Laurent didn’t strike me as careless. So, he’d done it purposefully. Or he was simply that confident in his ability to hold me captive.

I moved around the rest of the room, taking it in with wide eyes. Teenage me would be screaming with excitement right about now. This defied even my wildest dreams.

I exhaled, running my fingers over the bed’s silk comforter. I’d heard Laurent say red room earlier and expected a bloody monstrosity. This was…elegant. Dark wood walls and furniture to match, with deep red upholstery and bedding. I examined the paintings on the walls, set in gold frames. They were signed—all of them. But I didn’t know enough about art to know how valuable they might be. Probably more costly than my mathematics degree.

And then there were the amenities. Fluffy robes, house slippers, a beautiful bathroom complete with a giant claw foot tub and shower, toiletries, et cetera. There were even extra blankets in baskets near the sofa.

A familiar ache twisted in my chest. This was the kind of life I’d fantasized about as a kid—getting adopted by a wealthy family, waking up to silk sheets instead of hand-me-down everything. The irony was bitter. I’d finally gotten my fairy tale, complete with a monster who wanted to devour me⁠—

A knock sounded.

I whirled, my pulse accelerating. “Uhm. Come in?” I called.

A head popped in, short black bob swaying. In the light, I noticed beautiful streaks of red throughout the strands. The woman in question stepped over the threshold. “Well, now, he certainly wants you comfortable.”