Page 54 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“I don’t want a deal.” Her voice turned bitter. “Not like Laurent’s deal.”

“This is different, darling. I’m not threatening your life or holding you prisoner. I’m offering you choices.” There was a silence as Lily considered this. “I will give you whatever you want, so long as you promise to live here, not as a prisoner, but part of our family.”

Lily’s heart began to calm. “I don’t believe you.”

“I speak the truth.”

“You’d let me go to school?”

“You are enrolled in a Ph.D program for the fall, no?” Silence greeted those words. Lily must have nodded. “I see no reason why that should change. Laurent already took care of the press and cleared your name with the authorities. You can continue your education. Continue the things you enjoy. But you will need to live here, where it’s safe.”

“But how will I⁠—?”

“I would be happy to enlist myself as your bodyguard.” A snort—Lily’s. “I am serious, darling. You don’t think I could rock a suit? I saw some amazing ones by Pyre Collective this season.”

Their words continued back and forth, Lily hesitant, while Zola promised her whatever she wanted, so long as she remained within their grasp. He wanted to be angry Zola was taking this power from him. But considering how Lily had reacted to him, he wouldn’t have succeeded with her.

He returned to his study, only to cringe at the mess. He set about cleaning. The rugs had to be replaced⁠—

A knock made him pause. “Enter,” he said, turning to Marco.

“It’s finished,” Marco said, striding over to take a seat in one of the newly righted chairs. The space was still a mess, but Marco smartly kept his comments to himself. “The witch’s information checked out. We found the compound—killed all but three.”

Laurent took a seat, sighing. At least it hadn’t been all for nothing. But the price had been steep. Perhaps too steep. His mind went back to Lily, to the expression she wore upon seeing him. It was one he couldn’t bear to see again.

“You brought them here?” he asked, trying to distract himself.

“In the cells below. I haven’t questioned them. Figured you’d want to.”

“I do.”

“And Miss Shaw?” Marco’s voice softened.

“She’s awake.” Marco leaned forward slightly. “You’ll have to inquire about her condition with Zola. I’m afraid she cannot stand the sight of me.”

The admission tasted like ash in his mouth. In all his centuries, he’d never cared what a human—amplifier or not—thought of him. The fact that her fear affected him so deeply was...unsettling.

Marco snorted.

“What else did you find?” he asked. “Any other vampires? Blood?”

“Blood, yes. No vampires. There was equipment for bloodletting. Iron chains. Iron everything. A place modified to restrain us. But…it still doesn’t solve the bigger matter at hand.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He sighed, leaning back.

Marco studied him in silence. Things had been tense between them the past few days. Marco opened his mouth and said, “Forgive me, sire.”

He knew what forgiveness Marco sought.

Part of him wanted to refuse, if only out of spite. It’s what Laurent’s sire would have done—had done, on more than one occasion. He rubbed the back of his neck. “It is forgiven. I know things were out of your control. The fault lies with me. I will not make the same mistake twice.”

Marco jerked his chin, hiding his relief. “Well then, shall we head downstairs?”

“Yes. Let’s.”

They did exactly that.

Each demon had been given a separate cell, chained to the wall. They looked similar to humans, but there were subtle tells that set them apart. Each had an alternate form, similar to shifters, except where shifters turned to animals, demons turned to nightmarish creatures.