Page 6 of Blood Moon Bound

Constantine thwarted my retreat with one of those massive hands around my wrist and pulled me back in.

“Is there a problem here?” Douglas’s uncle said, joining us.

My stepfather’s expression changed instantly, the anger dropping from his face, and he smiled. “No, problem. Just offering my congratulations.”

His uncle’s brows lowered. “It’s not done, Douglas. You’re interrupting the ceremony.”

My stepfather flushed. “Apologies. My emotions got the better of me.”

His uncle ushered him back to my mother, and I couldn’t stop myself from taking another retreating step. Again, Constantine halted me, then dipped his head. “No one here will save you, little rabbit. But if you run, I’d very much enjoy catching you.”

He sounded so calm, even as the hunger in his eyes burned brighter. “Are you going to hurt me?” I asked.

“Only a little.”

There was no concealing the fear now.

“Are you going to walk out of here with me, Delphine, or will I have to carry you?”

Fighting would only make this worse. So I straightened my spine. “I’ll walk.”

He gripped my elbow as if he expected me to make a run for it anyway, like one of the other girls had, but I knew how pointless that would be.

There was no outrunning this male.

Three

DELPHINE

Constantine’s grip was firm as he strode through the maze of gardens behind the castle, leading me deeper and deeper into the grounds. A scream of terror made me jump. It came from one of the brides, and was not the first I’d heard since we left the castle. Oh god, what was happening to them? What was about to happen to me? But then the screams faded, and in their place, moans and growls filled the night.

Those sounds were not from pain but pleasure.

My heart hammered in my chest, and the cool night air lifted goose bumps across my flesh. Constantine strode on, his grip on my wrist unrelenting as I stumbled after him. Soon, I could no longer hear the others. We were all alone.

He stopped in a small clearing surrounded by dense trees that blocked the cool breeze and formed shadows that made the garden look as if it were draped in black lace.

The silence was heavy. The only sound now, my wild breaths. The perfume of lavender filled my head, mixed with something dark and rich—Constantine.

“Your heart is beating so fast, little one, what do you think I’m going to do to you?” he said, his voice a low rumble.

“I…I don’t know.”

“No one told you?”

I shook my head, the racing of my heart making me dizzy.

Long, cool fingers gripped my chin and angled it, tilting it to the side. He gripped my throat with the other hand lightly before slowly sliding it lower. His thumb brushed over the fluttering vein there. “I’m going to sink my fangs into your virgin skin and drink.”

There was no stopping the way his words made me tremble. I was a confusion of thoughts and feelings. Fear was there, and something else, something that made my belly swirl and tiny electric zaps shoot through my veins. I’d heard the screams of the others, but I’d also heard their moans of pleasure. “Will it hurt?”

His violet eyes bore into me. “Only if I want it to.”

I fought my fear. I could take it. Whatever came next, I could take it. I wouldn’t let it break me. The alternative, remaining with my stepfather, was so much worse. I gathered my courage. “And do you…want to hurt me?”

His gaze traveled over my face, dipping to my mouth, then slowly lifted again, locking on to mine. He still had hold of my chin, and he lowered his face to mine. His scent filled my head, so rich and enticing.

He was utterly still, silent. I couldn’t even hear the sound of his heart because it wasn’t beating, which meant he was either extremely old or at some point had been so weak and starved, or so badly injured, that his heart had stopped. Somehow I knew, even though he was old, it was the latter.