Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

37

37

I peruse the library shelves as I have most nights for the past few months, and select a slim volume, opening it up to read the first page just as I hear the door snick open.

Turning, I grit my teeth and slam the book shut as Viper seems to slide across the floor towards me.

I’m here late. Dinner finished hours ago, and I’d played my usual role. Every aspect of my life now feels like I’m an actress on autopilot, a prisoner on death row just marking time. Only the books take my mind off my terrible existence. Tonight, I’d wandered back down to this area of the castle to find something I could read that would help send me to sleep. I’ve already exhausted any book I could find that might offer a glimmer of advice or help with escaping this castle, from the map of the sewer system to the type of tiles on the roof. Nothing had offered a solution so far. I’m in the history section now hunting down what I can learn about this family and vampires in general.

“A little bird told me,” Viper sniggers, walking too close and staring into my eyes, “that my brother thinks you’re Spider’s minion.”

I step back, scowling, and turn to go, but his hand shoots out and grips my upper arm, spinning me back to him.

The book falls from my hand as I raise my arms to push him away.

“What the fuck? Let me go!”

“And I couldn’t help but wonder,” he goes on as I struggle against his iron grip, “how my brother has any doubts at all — because if you bear his bite, you can’t hold any secrets from your husband.”

I stiffen as he pulls me closer, his chest touching mine as he stares into my eyes.

“Unless you don’t bear his bite,” he murmurs, his eyes widening slightly as I gasp and pull away from him.

He releases me so suddenly I almost fall, and startles me with his humourless, barking laughter as I spin for the door.

“Ah, dear brother, what a wicked web you weave.”

I don’t wait to find out what he means; all I know is that I’ve made a huge mistake venturing to this side of the castle this late, and I need to get back to my wing. But as I reach for the handle he’s suddenly in front of me, his back against the door, evil grin widening.

“Always so eager to keep your distance. You think yourself too good for me, don’t you, bitch.”

“Falcon will hear of this,” I hiss, my face red with indignation at his audacity.

“That’s just it,” he smirks, his eyes narrowing, “I don’t think he will.”

Before I can react he snatches my arm and bites me on my scar, his other hand slapping across my mouth to prevent my instant scream from being heard. His bite is vicious and painful, and using one of his legs he knocks mine out from under me and I fall to the carpet, where he pins me with his body, one hand still against my mouth. I scream against his hand in horror as he bites his own wrist and drips his blood into the wound on my arm. I feel the sting and burn of his blood as though hot wax is being dripped into my veins.

“Quiet!” He snarls.

I stop screaming and begin to whimper as a minute or more passes and he pulls away, jumping smoothly to his feet and staring down at me with disgust.

“You taste revolting,” he grimaces, wiping his mouth on his arm. “Get up.”

I don’t want to. I want to tell him to go fuck himself. But I can’t.

I literally, can’t.

Struggling to my feet I stand before him, swaying slightly from the shock of the assault and the strange, thick feeling in my head, as though I’m drunk, but not.

“If you were Spider’s minion Falcon would simply have asked you. And bearing his bite, you would have been compelled to tell him.” He smirks. “I happen to know for a fact you don’t belong to Spider. You belong to me.”

I shake my head and struggle to find the words to tell him how much I despise him, that I’ll never be his, but his next words chill me to the bone.

“You will tell no one of our union. Not a soul. You will come to me here every night on the stroke of midnight. You will not try to escape. You will not harm yourself or attempt to harm me. You will do everything I tell you, say everything I tell you. Now kneel.”

My knees buckle against my will, and I fall before him.

He laughs as he unbuckles his belt.

“I’m going to fuck your face,” he sneers, “and you’ll swallow and thank me afterwards.”

I whimper as he grips my hair, and I open my mouth.

“You love this, bitch, you love it,” he snarls as he slams into my mouth again and again, and I choke and cry.