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Maybe it was my demeanor, the fact that I appeared delicate, acted so, and that made the males in my family see me as breakable.
I shook my head and continued to stare at my reflection, scowling, hating myself in that moment. Maybe if I’d been stronger, they wouldn’t have kept me from Luca. I didn’t know if things would work out between us, but I wanted to see if it would or wouldn’t myself. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to see him.
This was monumental, explosive, and it wasn’t something to take lightly.
That’s why I was so shocked that my father kept me from Luca. He knew the connection mates had, experiencing his own Linking with my mother.
My brothers, I could understand because none of them had found their Linked Mates, so their overbearing attitudes were expected, although not appreciated.
I wrapped my fingers around the long fall of my blonde locks, my knuckles turning white. I tugged hard enough that pain lanced along my scalp. For a second, I contemplated shearing it off, giving myself a bob, changing the way I looked because I had control over that.
But the hair would just grow back, and I was still the same person inside—delicate, fragile Ainslee who everyone thought was made of glass.
Then change it.
I reached out and picked up a tube of lipstick, the shade called Passionate Red. I took off the cap and set it aside, leaned toward the mirror, and ran the tip over first my bottom lip, the bright color ruby in shade, bright and in your face. I typically went with pinks and nudes, but this was a change I had control over.
I then ran it over my top lip, gave my fuller bottom one another layer, then put the cap back on and set the tube aside. I went for my eyeshadow palette, picking natural shades and working the pigment over my lids. I did the blush next, then highlighter. The end effect was subtle in everything except the lips, which stood out in a bold red shade.
Would Luca like this shade on me?
I added some mascara to finish it off, then leaned back to look at myself. Despite the light layer of makeup and the popping red lips, I was still the same person. I narrowed my eyes at my reflection and felt this wave of anger rise up inside me.
I looked over my shoulder at that plate of food. That glass of blood. My rage boiling over the surface. I was done waiting. I was done having protectors make decisions for me, carve out the path in my life and my future.
I could understand the reasoning of why they felt the need to take me away in Romania. Luca had seemed very unstable at that moment. But a week had passed already, and they’d made no contact with him other than to keep him away from me.
I curled my hands into tight fists, my nails digging into my palms hard enough I felt them pierce my flesh. I smelled the scent of blood, my vampire side rising up. I was a strong, independent woman, and I was about to prove that.
I stood and walked over to my closet, grabbing a thick cardigan, slipped it over my white T-shirt, then bent down and picked up a pair of shoes, slipping them on before I made my way to my door.
I curled my hands around the chilled brass handle, listening, trying to calm my beating heart and my rapid breathing. It was late enough I hoped my brothers had either gone into their rooms for the night or were in the other part of the house where the rec room was. My parents would’ve already retired for the evening and the staff gone for the day. But I still had the sentries to be mindful of, which, compared to slipping away from my Da and brothers, seemed like a piece of cake.
I pulled my door open soundlessly, listening, scenting the air, and when I deemed the hallway was empty, I slipped out and closed the door behind me just as quietly. I knew the grounds of our property better than anything else on this planet, knew the ins and outs, the secret hideout places that might be overlooked by others. I knew all of this from being a curious—coddled—child, and I was going to take advantage of that, use that to my benefit.
I was going to see Luca tonight.
I headed down the hallway, taking the back staircase and making sure to stay away from the rec room just in case the triplets were there. I went back toward the staff hallway, made a couple turns, feeling like I was doing something terribly wrong. And I hated feeling that way simply because I was going to my mate.
