Page 63 of Deadly Alliances

“Mmm.” Marguerite moved her tongue around in her mouth. “I can see why Julian drank so deeply. You’re delicious. I’ll have to sample you myself.”

Fear washed over me like a winter wind. I had taken too much from Shea. If Marguerite got her teeth into her…

“After you’ve recovered, of course,” Marguerite added, clearly seeing the same pallor on Shea’s face that I did. “Make sure to hydrate yourself. I want to have my fill tonight.”

Shea nodded, and I thought I could see even more color drainfrom her cheeks. I was going to do whatever I could to keep Marguerite from drinking from her. I didn’t want her hands, or her mouth, anywhere near my Shea.

“Okay, you’re dismissed.” Marguerite waved her away like Shea was a pesky fly. “I’ll summon you when I have need of you next.”

Shea stole another glance at me before bowing her head for Marguerite, then slowly turned around and traipsed out of the room.

When the door closed behind her, I let out a breath of relief through my nose. I didn’t like this arrangement one little bit. As much as my soul ached for Shea, she wasn’t safe under Marguerite’s thumb. Why couldn’t she have been assigned to a different vampire? Any other vampire? They were all just as cruel and rapacious as Marguerite, but her jealous streak made her infinitely more dangerous.

“Her blood really becomes you,” Marguerite commented, looking fondly down at me. “You actually have color to your cheeks.”

She caressed the side of my face again, and this time I didn’t bother jerking away. I didn’t want to trigger her wrath now that she had a vulnerable Initiate to vent her rage upon.

A crease settled between her perfect golden eyebrows, a sadness shimmering in her eyes. “I really am sorry I had to subject you to such pain. Believe me when I say that watching you burn hurt me more than it hurt you.”

“Then why did you let Hadrian do it?” I snapped, my own rage flaring inside me. “If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t let anyone hurt me.”

She shook her head sadly. “You know I had no choice. If I had refused Hadrian’s orders, I’d have been in the Sunroom rightalongside you. And then you’d have no one left to protect you.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Some protection.”

“Hey, I restored you, didn’t I?” she whined defensively. “Hadrian would’ve preferred you heal slowly, suffer as long as possible. That’s why I insisted on the witch being assigned to me. With her at our disposal, we can accomplish so many great things.”

“And if Hadrian insists on killing me next time? What then?” I challenged.

Her expression hardened. “I would never let it come to that. He promised me that you would be mine.” But the doubt in her eyes told me even she didn’t believe that.

She climbed onto the bed and lay down beside me, propping herself up on an elbow to look down at me. “My offer still stands. Pledge yourself to me, and I’ll take you away. Love me, and I’ll never let anyone hurt you again. We could be happy together.”

She nestled into my chest, and I didn’t try to fight off her uninvited affection. I just lay there, letting her draw whatever comfort she could from my listless form.

I hoped Shea’s plan worked, and quickly, because if her safety ever came into question, I really didn’t want to have to accept Marguerite’s offer. But I would, for Shea.

Chapter 24

Arya

I knocked on the door, the sound very staccato, very direct.

Hadrian had never allowed me to enter his office. I’d come knocking twice before, and both times, he’d slipped out and closed the door faster than I could peek inside. I couldn’t help but wonder what he had in there that he didn’t want me to see. But I had more important things to worry about.

I heard the lock click, and once again, he exited in the blink of an eye and now stood between me and the closed door.

He cocked a brow, ignoring the guards standing behind me. “Hello, Arya. Is there something you need?”

Yeah, he definitely doesn’t want me to see what’s in that room.

“Actually, I was hoping I could talk to you about a delicate matter,” I began.

“Oh? And to what does this matter pertain?” He cast scrutinizing eyes down on me while wearing a playful expression on his perfect face.

I looked around the Grand Hall at all the vampires lounging about, and the guards standing behind me. “I was hoping we could speak in private.” I nodded toward his office.

“Ah, yes. We can go to the conference room.” He put a hand on my upper back and started to lead me away.

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