Page 79 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

There was a long hesitation. I thought I felt his thumb brush against the back of my sleeve. “All right. Shall we continue?”

The remainder of the meeting was painful. Each minute felt like it dragged for an eternity. I was acutely aware of Laurent’s every movement, of the way he smelled, the way his pulse fluttered at his throat. He didn’t touch me again, but his decision to sit beside me, which forced him to lean around me every time he addressed Bastian and Eleanor, was not coincidental. My fear of him had somewhat diminished, only to be replaced by the strange itching sensation. Like I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

I spent most of the time fighting the urge to flee.

Whenever I caught the thread of conversation—the discussion of different artifact magic, how it worked, what the ruby might be capable of—I lost it almost as quickly.

I nearly sagged with relief when Laurent suggested we adjourn. He invited Bastian and Eleanor to stay the night, but Bastian forcefully declined. “Elle will work better from her office at the university. We’ll call you when she comes across anything.”

Laurent didn’t argue.

Everyone stood and I slowly followed. “You really have to go back tonight?” I asked Eleanor, keeping my voice down.

She sighed. “Mates are overprotective creatures. No matter how much your Laurent reassures him, Bastian wouldn’t dare let me sleep here. He wants me home behind the safety of his wards.”

I couldn’t help the way my stomach sank.

“Here,” she handed me a business card. “My cell is there. Text me. Call me. Whatever you need. We can talk more.” It didn’t sound like a suggestion.

“Thank you, Eleanor.” The unexpected warmth that bloomed in my chest was a welcome surprise. For a moment, I felt almost normal.

“Please, just Elle. And, you’re welcome.”

We made our way through the manor. I could see Elle’s hungry gaze taking everything in, Bastian at her side. The protective male kept a hand on her at all times.

Laurent walked beside me. I tried not to fidget in his presence. Soon enough, I would retreat to my room and disappear, be gone from his presence so that I might breathe again.

Once outside, Elle gave me a tight hug. “Don’t forget to reach out,” she said. “And remember what I said, okay?”

I wouldn’t forget it—ever. That she’d offered me such kindness, to whisk me away from this place without even knowing me. How many times had I dreamed of someone doing exactly that when I was a child? It made my throat close up.

Vittorio opened the door of Laurent’s town car. Bastian guided Elle in, then followed after. I felt her disappearance like a prick to my chest. But I had her phone number and I intended to use it.

A familiar, friendly arm slipped through mine. “Shall we go inside and indulge in a bottle of wine, darling?”

I offered Zola a wide smile. She always knew exactly how to⁠—

“Zola, you haven’t forgotten your assignment tonight, I hope.” Laurent’s voice made us pause.

Zola rolled her eyes, bringing a smirk to my lips. “There he goes, ruining all our fun.”

“I’m quite certain Miss Shaw will manage in your absence.”

She rolled her eyes again. “Yes, all right, sire. I will go prepare. Until next time, darling.” She dropped my arm and disappeared. Once more, I felt a little prick of loss in my chest.

“Miss Shaw?” Hassan’s calm voice pulled my attention to him, appearing at exactly the right moment, as if he’d sensed my need for rescue. “May I escort you inside?”

I dared not let my relief show as I slipped my arm though his. “That would be perfect, thank you.”

Laurent’s gaze lingered on us as Hassan led me back up the steps and into the manor. I looked over my shoulder and caught sight of the town car disappearing down the manor’s drive, taking the only human who could perhaps relate to my predicament, far away from me.

Just before I turned forward, I caught sight of Laurent. He was still watching me, hands in his pockets, something unreadable but determined in his expression—like he’d made some kind of decision about me. When our eyes met, he held mine for just a second, then looked away. I didn’t question it. Didn’t wonder why so much had changed between us. I simply allowed Hassan to lead me back into the vampire manor, all but certain I would be seeing those eyes again soon enough.

21

Ichecked my appearance in the mirror, running my fingers through my hair before glancing at the clock. It was twenty past ten. This was stupid, really stupid. So what if Laurent was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen? It was nothing more than a shell to hide the monstrous thing inside.

Never mind the way he made me feel.