Page 73 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

“She does. Her mate is a goblin.”

“What do goblins look like?” A measure of hesitance crept back into her voice.

“I can assure you, they don’t look like little green creatures yay high,” he drawled, motioning with his hand. When she didn’t laugh at his joke, he said, “I promise you that it will be completely safe. But if at any time you feel uncomfortable, I want you to tell me and I will remedy that.”

She nodded, keeping her lips pressed together.

“Thank you,” he said, slowly rising to his feet. “I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“Oh. You’re going?”

He hesitated, taking in her…disappointment? No, that couldn’t be right. “I am afraid I have a few matters to settle for tomorrow,” he forced himself to say. “Good night, Miss Shaw.”

It was a lie. He simply didn’t want to subject her to his presence any longer than necessary. He was across the room, his hand on the doorknob, when she called for him. “Laurent?”

The sound of his name on her lips made him freeze. He couldn’t have moved if he’d wanted to. “Yes?” He kept his back to her, staring at the door, picking out each detail in the wood.

“Thank you for the sheet music.”

For the second time that night, his heartbeat changed. This time, a faint warmth accompanied it. Softly, he said, “You’re welcome, Lily.”

Then he went in search of something to distract himself. The library was blessedly empty when he entered. That was one benefit to clearing out his house. He encountered very few souls these days.

Lily’s journal was still sitting out with her things. She hadn’t moved it since he’d left it for her. Shamelessly snooping, he flipped it open, staring down at the lines and lines of equations. His brow furrowed, trying and failing to follow what she’d written. It looked like gibberish when he knew it was anything but. She was brilliant, fucking brilliant, and he’d nearly killed her.

His lips pressed together.

She’d filled nearly half the journal already. He’d get her ten more, or even a hundred if she wished it. If it meant keeping her here.

Close to him.

The following morning rushed by. He visited the kitchen, only to find all of his apple fritters gone.

He growled with irritation. “I would have liked a few.”

Vittorio merely shrugged, explaining that Zola had enjoyed an entire plate of them after she’d gotten back last night.

Their guests arrived mid-afternoon. He stood on the manor steps, waiting to greet them. Lily’s rich vanilla and floral scent hit him from behind, making his fingers twitch. Zola emerged, arm in arm with her. Hassan and Marco emerged thereafter, flanking him.

His eyes roved over Lily’s figure. She wore a lavender sun dress that fell off her shoulders with fluttery sleeves and skirts. Her shoes were delicate heeled summer sandals that clicked against the stone with each step, taking up a position beside him. She looked…utterly beguiling. Their eyes met and her heart kicked up, the scent of fresh panic washing over her. Yet, her shoulders remained straight, proud. That defiance, despite the fear he caused, made something akin to pride wash over him.

She was so damn strong.

“It’s all right, darling,” Zola cooed, also picking up on her scent.

“Thank you for joining us,” he murmured before turning to face forward. His luxury town car worked its way up the manor’s drive, Vittorio at the wheel. He stopped before them, cutting the engine. Then he was out of the car and moving around it, opening the door. Bastian Croft unfolded his huge frame, emerging first before helping his mate. A soft gasp came from Lily—the evidence of her surprise.

Bastian stood, fussing over the pink haired human, whose belly was slightly rounded, just enough to be obvious beneath her long skirt and fluttery blouse. He waited for just a moment before he was striding forward. “Bastian-fucking-Croft.” He extended a hand as he reached the male.

Bastian turned with a slight warning growl, taking a single step closer to his mate, but took Laurent’s proffered hand and shook it. Those keen eyes darted over the massive edifice behind them as he said, “Laurent Sarkas. You vampires and your fucking castles.”

There came not one, but two feminine chuckles. One from Bastian’s mate. The other, from Lily.

“You going to introduce us?” Laurent asked, careful not to let his eyes linger over Bastian’s mate.

Bastian’s arm wrapped around her slender shoulders, pulling her protectively to him. “My mate, Elle. Elle baby, this is the fucking asshole I told you about.”

Dr. Kennedy’s eyes widened. “Bas!” she hissed, smacking his stomach with the back of her hand.