Page 6 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

From my first act of violence as a vampire when I’d drunk from her, something precious and pure had been forged between us.

When she opened her mouth, I slid my tongue past her teeth and took my time savouring her. But the desire to explore more of her was a burning urge. I wanted more. More touch, more skin, more of her hands on me and mine on her.

The carriage jolted, and I was shoved towards her. My lips and body pressed hard against hers, and the sudden, unplanned contact was too much. I shot away from her, gnashing my teeth. Burning pain sliced through me. My stomach roiled. What kind of person was disgusted with kissing the love of their life?

Her chest heaved. “Alex, take deep breaths.”

I did as told, angry with myself. “Are you hurt?” If I focused on her, it was easier to contain the fear.

“Just a scratch.”

“What?” I whipped my head towards her.

A cut sliced her bottom lip, and ruby drops of blood trickled from it. I must have cut her with my teeth.

“I’m sorry.” My gaze dropped to her lips.

The sweet, mouth-watering scent of her blood stirred my hunger.

She inched closer, a seductive glint in her gaze. “It’s nothing, and there’s a simple remedy for it. But you’d better be quick before my healing power makes it disappear.”

Just like that, desire roared loudly enough to silence the fear.

I kissed her hard and ran my tongue over the cut. It was shallow and short, but I lavished it with attention until it was completely sealed as I tasted her sweet, rich blood.

A moan eased out of her when I slid a hand behind her nape and deepened the kiss. The fear was pushed to a corner of my mind, but it didn’t go away. It never did. It waited and lurked in the darkness before assaulting my senses.

The bond between us tensed like a rope as the thought of never being able to hold her tormented me.

“I sense it.” Irene cupped my cheek. “Do not worry. You’re fighting it. You’re going to win.”

“I want to be faster. I’ve been frightened for too long. This isn’t the life I want.”

“Haste is of the devil.” She kissed me lightly, her skin radiating a glow thanks to her wili power.

My Irene always believed the future held happy surprises and joy.

I wasn’t so convinced, but if haste was of the devil, so was a vampire.

3

BROKEN PIECES

Irene

Raven Hall swept into view in the distance after the carriage drove through the quaint town of Crowsbury. The thatched roofs and half-timbered houses reminded me of fifteenth-century paintings. The town was part of Alex’s estate, and he took good care of it. The streets were even and clean. The school had been refurbished last year, and there was a new library on the High Road.

The mansion was a royal palace with more than two thousand rooms and over nine hectares of land, but the house didn’t seem that big from the outside. A spell hid its true size. Still, it was impressive with its turrets, large diamond-paned windows, and pointed gables.

Alex helped me out of the carriage, his beautiful silver-grey eyes sparkling. When I slid my hand into his, the bond gave a little flutter.

My lips were sensitive after the kiss, and as if reading my mind, his gaze dropped to them.

The familiar scent of lemon polish and beeswax welcomed me when we stepped into the entrance hall. The first time I’d seen it, I’d found it cold and stern because of the white marble floors, the imposing sweeping stairs, and the austere Grecian columns. But now only the beauty of the frescoes and the elegance of the soaring ceiling caught my attention.

Something else caught my attention—Darius’s multicoloured, star-shaped aura as he walked down the stairs.

As a wizard, his special aura shimmered, full of brightness, different colours, and glowing tendrils moving around. Just watching it lifted my mood.