Page 29 of Bloody Kingdom

“No.” I stop her in her tracks. “I’ll deal with this. Go back to Ira.”

Della nervously rubs her arm while she pleads, “Silas, don’t kill her.”

That depends solely on how far Quincey feels like pushing me tonight.

It doesn’t takeme long to find her. The sweet scent of her blowing through the wind might as well have been a ship’s beacon in the night. Part of me that I don’t want to acknowledge knows that even without my powerful senses, I would still be able to find her. Her blood calls to me so intensely, I’m sure I could find her while blind.

The anger I felt when I first discovered she was gone hasn’t lessened. No one disobeys me or my orders. She was told to stay in the house and at the first opportunity, she slipped away. This is my fault. I’ve been too soft toward her, making her believe that she’s more than just another possession of mine. She’s forgetting her place.

Under a moss-covered tree, she sits with her legs bent to her chest, her chin resting on her knees. She stares out at the pond that sits on the back side of the property. The moonlight reflects off it, casting a glow on her. When the wind picks up, gusting around her, she lifts her chin and closes her eyes, almost as if she’s savoring the moment.

Quincey hasn’t heard me approach, none of my victims ever do. If I wanted to, I could have her in my grasp and my fangs in her slender throat before she took her next breath. Despite my anger at her for disobeying me, I don’t want her dead.

Watching her from the shadows for a moment longer, I wonder how someone built of sunshine and warmth can look so at peace in the moonlight. She’s not meant for this world, but she looks beautiful in it.

Finally, I step into the light and announce my presence bytskinglowly. “You had me fooled, Miss Page. I thought you had found a way to follow my rules, but here you are, blatantly breaking them.”

Quincey is on her feet in a movement shockingly fast for a weak human. Panicked eyes collide with mine as she hastily pushes the long strands of hair that had blown into her face away. I can almost smell her fear.That’s right, sweetheart, you fucked up.

Her lips part, I’m sure a justification or worse, an apology sits on the tip of her tongue, but I silence her by holding up my hand and cutting her a stern look. “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t much care for excuses and while I’m sure you believe you have a good one, I simply do not care. I instructed—ordered—you to stay within the walls of that house and yet here you sit,” I seethe as I slowly stalk closer to her. “I don’t know what has given you this misguided belief that you are able to do or say as you please.”

Once I’m close enough to her, my hand snaps out and my fingers wrap painfully tight around her forearm. A small gasp comes from her when I yank her harshly to me. “Was there some kind of miscommunication that I’m forgetting about that made you believe you could go on nightly strolls?” I ask, but don’t really want an answer. Without remorse, I pull her with me as I stalk briskly back to the house. Thoughts of locking her in chains filling my head as I go. “It was a kindness when I allowed you to leave Ira’s bedroom during the day. It was a kindness when I allowed you to venture through parts of the house. You think this has been your prison? You just wait.”

With an angry growl, she shoves at my torso as she attempts to break free of my hold. She only causes my fingers to dig deeper into her flesh. It’s not until she cries out my name that I stop dragging her behind me. “Silas! Let go! Just stop and listen to me!” she pleads. “Silas!Stop.”

I stop but I don’t let go of her. “Don’t call—”

Quincey releases an exasperated groan. “Yeah, I know! I’m not allowed to call you by your first name. I get it and I get why. When I call you by your first name, it humanizes you and we can’t have that because you need to remain the big scary monster in my eyes to keep control over me.” She has the audacity to roll her eyes at me. “You can stop trying to prove to me just how scary and powerful you are.I get it. I know what you’re capable of, I know you’re more than capable of hurting me and that you’re more than willing to get your hands dirty. What you don’t get is that you don’t have to beMr. Laurent—the terrifying man who feeds off my fear—for me to do as I’m told. I’m more than willing to listen to Silas. And yes, I’m aware that’s hard to believe since I’m currently breaking a rule, but you have to understand...” Her hand points at the house in the distance. “I’m going insane in there. Being cooped up is making me feel crazy. I wanted to come out here for a little while and just breathe, I thought it’d help me feel more like myself again. I’m sorry I broke your rule, I won’t do it again. I promise.” I can’t be sure if her voice is shaking with adrenaline or fear. “Della once told me you prefer respect over fear. I can’t say I respect you yet, but I can tell you I’m done giving you my fear. So, if you’re going to kill me or hand me over to Gallo, do it. Just fucking do it, I’m tired of your threats hanging over my head.” Her chin lifts, and she bravely meets my eyes once more. “You’re the king on this chessboard of yours. I know I’m nothing but a pawn, so just make your move already. I’m tired of waiting, Mr. Laurent.” She spits my name at me like it’s venom.

I knew she was cooped up in the house, I just hadn’t realized how much it was affecting her. This discovery eases the burning rage inside of me until it’s a bearable simmer. I can’t quite remember the last time someone yelled at me the way she just did. Duke, Ira, or Della haven’t once been brave enough to do something like this. She’s made of something else, an iron resolve masked in a sunny disposition.

“Did it help?” My hand releases her arm, but she makes no move to step away from me. Her hand however does rub the spot where I’d grabbed. I’m sure I’ve left bruises. The primal side of me finds that I quite enjoy knowing I’ve left my mark on her.

“Didwhathelp?”

“Did coming out here help you feel more like yourself? Did it help you feel better?” I clarify for her.

“For a minute there it did, but then you showed up and ruined it.”

“Then I’m glad it was worth it to you in some way to disobey me.” Taking hold of her arm in a less punishing grip this time, I pull her toward the house. “Let’s go, Quincey.”

A look I can’t quite understand crosses her face before her chin dips in defeat.

She keeps her head down as I lead her back inside. She doesn’t say anything to me again or even acknowledge Della who’d been waiting in the kitchen for our return. The unmistakable look of relief fills Della’s eyes when she sees that Quincey is unharmed. Silently, Quincey disappears back up to her quarters when I let her go at the base of the stairs.

I stand and watch her go until I can’t see her anymore. Sighing heavily, I roll my neck and shoulders, trying to work out the stiffness I feel in my muscles after dealing with her.

“You’ve got to give her some props—going toe to toe with you like she does isn’t for the faint of heart.” Duke appears from around the corner, a half-eaten apple in his hand. “Hell, I’ve seen big scary criminal types almost shit their pants when you go at them like you do her.”

“She’s too bold for her own good,” I mutter, rubbing my face.

“Nah.” Duke makes a dismissive sound before taking another bite of fruit. “I think she’s exactly the right amount of brave. If you’d brought in anyone else in the manner that you brought her in, they’d be so afraid and timid they wouldn’t be able to do their job. They’d be focusing on their own life instead of Ira’s. She’s exactly what you needed, and you know it.”

“She’s disobedient and she’s got a mouth on her.”

Duke’s face splits into a shit-eating grin. “Are you upset she’s like that, or are you upset that you’re starting to enjoy it?”

My muscles stiffen and a low growl emanates from my throat. “You’re out of line, Duke.”

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