Page 96 of The Guardian's Curse

“You look hot,” Ruby said appreciatively.

With her eyesight failing, she would have to take Ruby’s word for it. In the full-length mirror, Shoshanna’s reflection was nothing more than a blur. Her friend had fussed and primped over her makeup, as if they were just going out for a normal girls’ night instead of being mind-controlled arm candy for a power-hungry vampire.

She smoothed her hands over her stomach, feeling as if a puppetmaster operated her limbs. Somewhere inside her, a tiny voice was screaming in protest, but Elliott had commanded her to get dressed for the occasion. Therefore, she got dressed.

After Elliott enthralled her, he had freed her hands and left her with Ruby. When Ruby guided her to the kitchen for delivery tacos, Shoshanna caught a glimpse of the rest of the townhouse. It was clean and sparsely furnished, as if he’d rented a model unit without bringing any of his own belongings.

Blackout curtains covered all the windows, rendering it vampire-friendly. Elliott hovered nearby, but she was free to walk around. Even under his control, she still had her own thoughts and desires; she wanted to be back in the safety of Alistair’s home, preferably while someone cut off Elliott’s head.

But her objections were vague thoughts, rendered unimportant by her burning desire to please Elliott. It was like driving in Atlanta rush hour traffic and realizing she needed to pick up milk at the grocery store. A valid concern, but all of her attention would be devoted to keeping herself alive until she escaped the tangle of interstates.

While Shoshanna tore into a chicken taco, Elliott sidled up to Ruby and bit into her neck with no warning. Ruby whimpered faintly, and Shoshanna glared at him. “Hey. Don’t bite her,” she snapped.

“She likes it,” Elliott said, pulling away. “Don’t you?”

“Yes,” Ruby said flatly. Shoshanna watched in blank horror, the food suddenly turning her stomach. How far would Elliott push his power over them?

After dinner, he ordered Ruby to get ready for their evening plans. Pressing a paper towel to her bloody neck like it was simply a cut from shaving, Ruby had led her back to their shared room and pointed out the bathroom. Hanging in the closet were several dresses from Shoshanna’s closet. She felt a vague dismay at the thought of Ruby and Elliott in her apartment, pawing through her things. She’d pushed a short black dress into Shoshanna’s hands. “He likes this one.”

An hour later, they were dressed for a formal cocktail hour, complete with uncomfortably high heels and glittering jewelry. She might have enjoyed the glamour if she was headed to Infinity with Alistair, but her stomach churned with dread at the thought of Elliott’s plans for them.

Her voice was quiet and shaky as she turned to face Ruby, clad in a sparkling silver dress. “Don’t you want to leave?”

“Of course,” Ruby said, though her intonation was flat and dead. “But we have to stay. That’s what Elliott wants.”

“How did this happen?” Shoshanna asked.

Ruby was eerily calm. “He caught me coming home the day after I came to bring you tea. He forced me to drink and brought me here. He made me show him my texts and found out where you were staying.”

Revulsion boiled in her gut, followed by the nauseating rush of shame. “I’m so sorry,” Shoshanna said. “Did he...did he force you to do anything?”

Ruby glanced back at her. “Did he make me fuck him?” It felt as if gravity doubled in that pause. “No,” she said. “He wants you. He’s obsessed with making you his queen. He planned to come and get you last night, but put me up to it instead when you called for my help.”

Shoshanna stared at her, trying to make out her expression with her blurred, dim vision. If she hadn’t been so stubborn and accepted Eduardo’s offer weeks ago, this would have never happened. “Ruby, I’m so sorry about this,” she said softly.

“It’s not your fault,” Ruby replied. “Come on, I have to get you ready.”

“You don’t want to be here, do you?” Shoshanna asked.

Ruby shrugged. “No, but he does. And I can’t fight it.” She approached, gently wrapping a curl around her finger to smooth it out. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”

“I’m cursed. I have to break it, or I’m going to end up like that statue in Alistair’s house,” Shoshanna said.

“If we ask him, maybe he’ll let you,” Ruby said. Using her fingers, she gently combed Shoshanna’s hair away from one side of her face and secured it with a heavy metal comb. “But we have a big party tonight. It’ll have to wait. His priorities come first.”

The door creaked open, and she whirled to see Elliott’s lanky figure approaching. He touched her chin and smiled. “Don’t you look beautiful. Come with me.” He gripped her hand and led her out of the room. Her legs seemed to operate on their own. Even the subtle command of come with me resonated through her.

As they walked, she tugged on his hand. “Elliott, I need to break the curse.”

“It can wait,” he said.

“I don’t know if it can,” she said. “Please.”

He whirled and grabbed her throat. His hand squeezed tight enough to send a warning as he brought her close, red eyes flaring. “If I tell you it can wait, it can wait. Do you understand me?”

Fear prickled through her. “I understand. It can wait.”

Up close, she could see his scowl shift into a smile. “Good girl,” he said. He released her and gave her a once-over. “There’s no need for that look. You’re so much prettier when you smile.”

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