Page 161 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

His hand darted out, taking my chin, lifting my face to catch the dim light seeping through the broken windows. The sun was just beginning to rise. Still, most of the nave was cast into shadow.

My stomach roiled at his touch, his closeness. He smelled of rotting wood and iron.

“You are a pretty thing, aren’t you. Blood and beauty. Hm? Perfect.”

I hissed, wrenching my chin from his grasp. He clicked his tongue, but his expression promised that I’d pay for that later. My eyes darted over our surroundings, frenzied, as if I would spot Laurent.

“You won’t get away with this,” Zola promised. “Laurent will never forgive you for betraying him.”

Lio barked a laugh. “Me? Betray him? Oh no, darling,” he sneered, “I was the one betrayed.”

Zola huffed, showing exactly what she thought of that. She flexed her neck from side to side, as if stretching with irritation. “How long is this going to take? I’ve got an appointment with my dressmaker later. Where is Laurent?”

“Always such a snarky little thing, aren’t you?” He slipped his hands beneath his collar. Before I could blink, he pulled free a chain, the blood ruby dangling on the end of it. It glistened in the light. Zola went rigid. A soft breathy inhale was the only sign that she wasn’t completely paralyzed. Still, it happened so quickly I didn’t know how to react.

I opened my mouth, only to snap my lips shut.

Every instinct tempted me use my voice. But if I did that, Lio would know what I could do. He’d find a way to use his numbers to silence me. I needed to get to Laurent. More importantly, I needed to separate Lio from his main forces so that our own could sweep in and take them down.

Seconds passed.

My pulse roared until my ears felt submerged beneath the sea. I was fighting the ocean’s current, trapped in that pivotal moment of indecision. Did I take a breath? Let the water rush in? Or fight against the pain? Hold out for just a moment longer?

I blinked, trying to clear my vision.

“When I consider my time under Laurent’s care, I don’t see every moment as a loss. I did discover some secrets, after all. This one was my favorite. You’ve seen this before, yes?” Zola only made a choking sound. “It was a shame when he managed to free you. It certainly slowed my plans. But no matter, it all worked out in the end.”

A vampire stepped forward. “Shall I take the girl?”

“No!” Lio hissed, keeping the ruby focused on Zola. I glanced at the others in the room. They didn’t appear affected. “No one touches the amplifier but me.” My stomach churned. “You can take Zola—but don’t kill her. I’d like her to join us later. Bleed her first. I’d do it myself but…well, I’m already rather full.”

His gaze fell to me.

I licked my lips, stalling. “Why isn’t it working on them?” The moment the words left my mouth, I realized I’d revealed too much. A typical pet wouldn’t know enough about the situation to ask questions.

“What? Oh. The ruby.” He clicked his tongue. “Smart girl. I wondered how much you knew about all this. Has he been spilling his secrets to you? Or his blood, perhaps?”

A knowing gleam lit his eyes. At that moment I realized Lio knew exactly what Laurent and I were to each other. Which meant—no! I couldn’t consider it.

I swallowed.

“I will appease your curiosity, since you are a curious thing. It doesn’t work on them because I have already fed it a bit of their blood. You see, it’s hungry, this ruby. It wants to taste a vampire’s essence when it comes near one. Once it has tasted, it stops its efforts to inflict paralysis.”

“And… You used that on…on Laurent.”

“Of course. Shame it doesn’t work on you, too. But I’d rather have you willing.”

The sound of breaking skin forced me to steel my spine. I didn’t dare look as Lio’s vampire tore into Zola’s throat. I ignored the nausea churning my stomach. She’s a vampire, I reminded myself. They weren’t going to kill her. Not yet.

“Are… Are you going to kill me?” The question was barely a whisper.

He barked a laugh, his gaze darting to Zola before returning to me. “Not at all, pet. I might have months ago—used you all up. Now I’m going to enjoy you, the same way he does.” He moved faster than I could follow, wrenching my jaw open and shoving a gag between my teeth. He wasn’t gentle. A small whimper fell from my open lips. I didn’t even have to pretend as terror shot through me.

“No!” I cried, but the word was no longer recognizable.

My words were all I had and somehow, he knew. He’d discovered my secret. Our entire plan hinged on my ability.

“Come, don’t you want to see your precious Laurie?” Lio began dragging me away and I let him, too shocked.