The Darkest Crown (The Eternal Darkness Duet #2)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

I opened my eyes and saw the ceiling above me. I was in Julian’s bed, but had no memory of how I got there. I turned my head and saw him sitting on the bed beside me. He was leaning against the headboard, looking through a stack of papers in his lap.

When he noticed I was awake, he smiled softly. “Hi.”

I sat up, confused. “What happened?” I asked, pushing my hair out of my face.

He raised an eyebrow. “You passed out.”

My eyes widened with disbelief. “ During sex?”

“Yep.”

I looked away, shocked and embarrassed. “That can’t be normal.”

He chuckled. “Nothing about you is normal, and I mean that in the best possible way.”

I shot him a look, then I remembered Allie. “How long was I out? I need to check on my sister.”

“Allie’s fine,” he said, placing his papers on the bedside table. “You were only out for an hour.”

“Oh.” I shook my head. “I can’t believe I passed out.”

He smiled suggestively. “If I were an arrogant man, I’d take it as a compliment.”

I laughed and punched his thigh. “ If you were an arrogant man.”

I slid off the bed, taking the comforter with me. He watched me with an amused expression as I wrapped it around my naked body.

“I’m gonna get dressed and go find Allie,” I said, hugging the blanket to my chest as I backed towards the door.

I left the bedroom, praying no one was in the hallway. Everyone knew what was going on between Julian and I, but I still didn’t want them to see me like this. As I turned down the hall towards my room, I saw Allie’s door was open and heard voices from within. I cringed, gripped the blanket tighter, and darted past as quickly as I could. I ran into my room and heard Allie call my name just as I was closing the door.

“Be right in!” I called, practically slamming the door shut.

Well, so much for stealth. I dropped the blanket and headed for the closet. I put on a loose flowy sundress and pulled my hair into a ponytail, then headed to Allie’s room.

“I guess your clothes arrived,” I said with a laugh as I stepped into the room. The floor was covered with boxes, and clothes were strewn everywhere. Allie stood in the middle of it all, wearing an oversized robe, looking as happy as I’d ever seen her. Maria and Helen were there, helping her unpack, and they both smiled warmly at me.

“Can you believe all this?” Allie asked excitedly. “I mean, there’s ballgowns and everything. Ballgowns, Sarah!”

I walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. “Yeah, I know.”

“This isn’t even half it! You should see what’s in the closet!”

“I can imagine.”

Allie bent and lifted a slinky black dress out of the box at her feet, then held it high for me to see. “This is literally the sexiest dress I’ve ever seen. Where am I supposed to wear this?”

Her eyes danced when she said it, and I could practically see the wheels in her head turning, imagining the places she’d wear it.

She dropped the dress back into its box and flopped down on the bed beside me. “We’ve been at this all day, and we’ve barely made a dent in it.”

“Do you want to take a break?” I asked.

“Sure.” Allie shrugged when she said it, then she scrunched her face. “Actually, I’m just now realizing I’m starving.”

Maria set the sweater she was folding on the table next to her. “Why don’t you two go relax on the veranda, and I’ll have some dinner sent out to you.”

“Thank you, Maria,” Allie said, as she slid off the bed. “Guess I’d better get dressed. Don’t want all those guys outside to see me in my robe. Or do I?”

She wiggled her eyebrows at me, and I laughed. “Get dressed,” I said, shooing her away with my hand. “And put on something decent .”

The way she carried on about the guards, I wouldn’t have been surprised if she changed into a bikini. But she put on a pair of shorts and a tank top, and we headed downstairs.

A short while later we were relaxing outside. Maria had sent out enough food for ten people, and Allie gave it her best shot. Maria also sent out a glass of blood for me, and though I tried to refuse, Allie insisted.

“I know what vampires eat, Sarah,” she said, as she popped a grape into her mouth. “You don’t have to feel weird about it.”

She was right of course. We were living together, she was going to see me drink eventually. I grabbed the glass and leaned back in my chair and took a long sip, and Allie popped another grape in her mouth, looking pleased with herself.

“So I went to your room when I woke up,” Allie said sweetly, “and you weren’t in your bed.” She raised an eyebrow at me, and I took another long sip to hide my smile.

She leaned forward in her chair. “You were with Julian, weren’t you?”

I lowered my glass and grinned.

“I knew it!” she exclaimed. “Tell me everything!” She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “And I mean everything .”

I laughed and sat up straight, ready to thrill her with all the juicy details, then I hesitated. Was I really going to tell her what happened in the shower? As far as I knew, Allie had never even had a real boyfriend. The kinky details about vampire sex might freak her out. Besides, why should I brag about sex with Julian when I didn’t even know if I wanted to be with him. I mean, I obviously wanted to, but should I?

“What’s wrong?” Allie asked, placing her hand on mine. “A second ago you were all smiles, now you look like you want to cry.”

I sighed loudly and flopped back in my chair. “I don’t know what I’m doing, Allie. Julian and I flip back and forth between enemies to lovers so fast it makes my head spin. That can’t be healthy, right?” I looked at her, and she shrugged.

“Under normal circumstances, I’d say no,” she said. “But nothing about your circumstances are normal. Nothing about vampires is normal.”

I snorted. “You’ve got that right.”

“Seriously though. Julian lives in a world where it’s okay to own people. Where it’s okay to kill people for no reason at all.” You can’t expect him to behave like some regular guy,” she continued. “He’s not even human.”

I shook my head. “I can’t be with someone I can’t trust.”

“Well obviously you can, because you were with him last night.”

“I know!” I cried, burying my face in my hands. “What am I going to do?”

“Talk to him. Tell him exactly how you feel. And if you don’t know how you feel, tell him that. If you need time to think, tell him. If you want to start as friends and take things slow, tell him. If you want to tear his clothes off right then and there, tell him.”

A surprised laugh burst out of me, and Allie grinned. “God, I love you,” I told her, as I pushed myself out of my chair.

She smiled sweetly at me and popped another grape in her mouth. I patted her shoulder, and left to find Julian.

I went inside and went to his office, but the door was closed, so I turned to leave.

"Come,” his voice whispered in my mind.

I smiled and opened the door. “You like doing that, don’t you?” I asked as I stepped into his office. He sat behind his desk, and the look on his face had me instantly on edge. “What’s wrong?”

He leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his jaw. “I’ve received a message from the Strategoi.”

My heartbeat sped up, but I waited for him to continue.

“We’ve been summoned,” he said. “Apparently, Adam killed quite a few vampires in his attempt to rescue you.”

Adam.

Julian’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “Yes, he’s still alive.”

I let out a shuddering breath and stepped forward to grip the back of the chair closest to me. “Why do they want us ?”

“Well, you’re the reason he went berserk, and I’m your new sire, so apparently we’re all in trouble.” Julian shook his head. “Damn him.”

My hands tightened on the chair. “He was trying to save me.” Julian’s eyes narrowed further, but I didn’t back down. “He thought you were going to kill me. You told him, remember? What was done to Valentina would be done to me. That’s what you said.”

Julian’s face hardened. “I can’t believe you’re still defending him.”

“What would you do?” I asked softly. “If someone took me from you, and promised to kill me?”

His eyes flared. “I would destroy them, and any who stood in my way.” He placed his hands on the desk as he stood. “But you belong to me now. What happens to Adam is no longer your concern.”

“I do belong to you,” I said, struggling to control my growing anger. “But I still care for Adam. I’m sorry if that upsets you, but I’m not going to lie and pretend I don’t care if he lives or dies.”

Julian’s eyes went black. I knew I was in dangerous waters, but I was tired of tiptoeing around the subject of Adam. I raised my chin defiantly.

“What about Allie?” he asked, his voice deceptively calm. “Do you care if she lives or dies?”

I froze, all bravado gone. “Allie has nothing to do with this.”

“Allie is to stand before the Strategoi.”

“ No! ” I cried, rushing around the desk to throw myself at him. “Don’t let them take her! Please, I’ll do anything!”

He sighed, and pulled me into his arms. “I’m sorry, Sarah, but even I must answer to the Strategoi.”

I pulled away and looked up at him through the tears in my eyes. “You could tell them we escaped?”

“ We? ”

Shit, that was the wrong thing to say. “I’ll come back!” I assured him. “I promise! Just let me get her someplace safe!”

Julian grabbed my arms. “You will never leave me.”

My body tensed. “You’re hurting me.”

He released me instantly, and I fell back against the desk.

We glared at each other angrily. Fuck him. I was done begging. Done crying. “If anything happens to Allie,” I growled, “I’ll kill you.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “I almost believe you.”