Page 89 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

My throat closed up but I managed a weak “Thank you” as I turned to look at him.

His expression broke, melting into something I wasn’t used to. Those silver eyes darted between mine, taking in the tears. I wished I could read his thoughts. “Don’t ever thank me for anything, Lily.” For a moment, he looked almost human. Then he stood and walked out. I was left blinking after him, trying to understand what the hell was happening. Something fundamental had shifted. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to embrace it or run in the opposite direction.

23

Cinnamon, as it turned out, was an absolute fucking nightmare. Perhaps that made her easier to tolerate, because she reminded Laurent a little of himself. Good looking on the outside, but a terror within. He tried to remind himself of that when he found the corner of an antique chair leg gnawed to bits. Or one of his favorite rugs ripped to shreds.

Lily was with Cinna most of the time. She did well to clean up her messes, and Vittorio helped, too. But sometimes the puppy got out of sight. It was easy to get lost in a large manor. The crate was kept in Lily’s room. Cinna had yipped her head off, crying bloody murder the first night. The second was a little better. The third, he hadn’t heard a peep.

He stood at the large window on the first floor landing, arms clasped behind him. The back grounds stretched out before him. He watched Lily and Cinna in the garden outside. Four days and already the puppy had grown. Four days and Lily looked happier than he’d seen her…ever. Except, perhaps, in those photos he’d dragged up.

His gaze traced Lily as she and Cinna chased each other. She was trying to teach the puppy to play fetch, but so far Cinna had only given a couple of hops after the ball before getting distracted. Lily moved the ball in front of Cinna’s nose, then gave it a little toss. Cinna bobbed toward it, then spun in a circle and plopped down. “Cinna, no!” Her voice wasn’t scolding, but exasperated. “You’re supposed to chase it.”

“You’re smiling. Did you realize?” Zola appeared beside him.

His expression wiped clean. “I don’t smile.”

“Apparently you do.” He cut a glare in Zola’s direction. She shrugged. After a few more moments where both of them watched Lily and Cinna, she added, “You did good, getting her the dog. She’s happy.”

“I hope to keep her that way.” He felt Zola’s stare boring into him. “What?”

“Don’t hurt her, Laurent.”

“I have no intention⁠—“

“That’s not what I mean and you know it.”

“Hurting her is the farthest thing from my mind.” Zola’s gaze lingered before turning back to Lily.

“How are you holding up?” he thought to ask.

“Careful. You sound like you might care.”

“Zola,” he growled.

“All it took was a little guilt and a few baking lessons⁠—“

“Zola, enough!”

Her laughter was all that remained, floating in the air as she darted off.

He lingered on the landing, watching Lily for a few minutes longer before disappearing down the hall.

As usual, he met Vittorio in the kitchen at eight sharp. The ingredients he’d requested were already set out. He removed the folded recipe from his pocket and smoothed it on the counter. “I should be fine for this one.”

“Of course, sire.”

He was already anticipating her company. Dare he admit, eager? Things had shifted between them. She wasn’t pushing him away anymore, and the more she gave of herself, the more he selfishly wanted. Last night, an entire hour had passed with them in comfortable companionship. He watched her eat the banana muffins he’d made, then play with Cinnamon on the floor. He’d been content to sit silently and soak up her presence.

At the kitchen island, he busied himself, feeling more comfortable than ever in this environment. Vittorio sat with a glass of wine, observing with carefully laced amusement. He measured everything, poured the batter into a bread pan, then poured himself a glass of wine as well, taking a seat to wait out the hour.

“You sent Zola to search for the demon nest?” Vittorio asked, bringing up the latest development in their efforts to uncover what was happening.

“I don’t expect her back tonight. But if anyone can find them, it is her.”

“I do not have a good feeling about it, sire.”

Neither did he, but he wouldn’t voice his concerns just yet. Instead, he steered the conversation away, talking of Lily and Cinnamon. Vittorio spent more time with her than anyone, and he hated to admit his growing jealousy. She was comfortable around Vittorio in a way that drove him to try harder.