Page 95 of Trapped By the Blood Ruby

Laurent was in the middle of the group, doling out orders. Marco and Vittorio stood beside him. I heard hushed snippets like “Get in and get out,” and “Don’t be reckless,” and “trap,” before those words cut off.

“What’s happening?” I asked. If anything happened to Zola… No. I couldn’t allow myself to consider it.

Laurent’s gaze fell upon me, unreadable. “This does not concern you, little flower. Please, go upstairs.” It was a request rather than an order, spoken softly. So unlike the way he’d just been barking orders at the others.

“But…Zola’s in trouble?” My words were barely a whisper.

“We’ll find her.”

“Is it the demons?”

He studied me. “Yes.”

I shivered, recalling the last time one of the vampires had been taken by demons. I was standing in the exact spot I’d first seen Hassan, when he’d returned to the manor near unrecognizable. My eyes darted toward him.

“It will be all right, Miss Shaw,” Hassan said, as if reading my thoughts. His expression was soft but determined.

“How can you know that?” How could any of them promise that? Zola could already be dead.

“Lily…” Did Laurent smell my rising fear? The vampires around me held unnaturally still.

“Laurie,” I rasped, “can I talk to you for a moment? In private?”

Someone snickered. I didn’t care.

Laurent regarded me. “All right. Marco, get them organized. We move out when I return.”

“Yes, sire.”

Laurent placed his hand at the base of my spine and led me down the hall to the library. He shut the door and turned to face me. “What is it?” There was nothing impatient about his question, even if his words were curt. “Zola will be all right, if that is your concern. So long as we get to her in time. I’ll make it so.”

“But…you can’t promise that. There will be danger. Risk.” It was impossible to control the rise and fall of my chest.

Laurent sighed and reached for me. I didn’t flinch as he took my shoulders, cupping them. “Lily, I am strong. It is unlikely that anything will happen.”

“But you said it could be a trap.”

“That is a possibility.”

“Then why are you standing here telling me… What if… What if they’re trying to use her to get… To get…” I couldn’t finish.

His expression softened. “Little flower,” his voice was barely a whisper. I stared at him, trying to memorize the way he looked at me. He seemed to be doing the same, memorizing my expression.

“Will my blood make you stronger?” I asked. “Will it guarantee that you get Zola back?”

His arms dropped and he took an abrupt step back, eyes darkening.

“Well?” I demanded.

“I cannot ask this of you right now.” He put even more space between us.

I moved my hair, exposing my neck. “Take it. If it means bringing her back, take it.”

His lips parted. I studied him as he fought it, fought the change. I watched as he lost the fight, as his body transformed into the thing he’d once shown me. The statuesque version of him was even more lethal and deadly, more beautiful than before. Twisting my long hair around my hand to keep it secured, I tilted my head, exposing more of my throat.

“Please don’t…tempt me, Lily,” he hissed.

“There isn’t time.”