Page 4 of Fated In Ruin

Viciouswasthe plan.

She’dalwaysbeen the plan, since before she was born, something I bitterly regretted. But her involvement was not my doing and I was out of time to win Evangeline Silverwood to my side as an eager, willing ally.

I pinched the top of my nose.Two hours in and I was already doubting I’d succeed, which had to be some kind of record. I’d overthrown all of Rome, and never felt as outmatched as I did right now.

But after dreaming about this moment for so long, she was finally here.

The dark light from the chandelier cast her face in shadow, her hair glowing bright as spider silk, eyes sparking hot with anger, her temper unraveling. And beneath that anger lay a looming power capable of decimating my carefully constructed world.

Perhaps the entire world, if I wasn’t careful.

My gut clenched, having her in my castle, under my roof, breathing my air. Close enough to touch. Close enough to tumble into bed and sink my teeth and my cock in deep, losing myself in the absolute carnal temptation that was Evangeline Silverwood.

But…fun and games later. Killing Ravok took precedence.

And for that, I required her magic.

Magic powerful enough to be coveted by Caine himself. Magic strong enough todestroyan Elder, even one as strong as Ravok. Long before they’d been hunted to extinction, a Bloodmoon witch had bound Ravok to his iron coffin.

Her spell had lasted a thousand years, until fucking Silas had somehow broken the seal and brought my entire future—and Darkmore Castle—crashing down around me.

I had no idea how. That spell should have been unbreakable.

“Come with me.” I turned on my heel and headed outside, Evangeline followed with those light, prowling footsteps, stealth trained into her from such a young age, there were times even I hadn’t heard her coming.

Impressive, for a newly turned vampire, doubly impressive as a human. She’d hunted down and killed twenty-one vampires within a three-month period—all right under Tyrell’s sniveling nose.

Made me smile every time I thought about it. How she’d evaded everyone—Tyrell, her father, even me—then strutted straight through the front doors of Darkmore and blown Tyrell’s castle to bits. You had to admire the ingenuity, but I admired her sheer ruthlessness even more.

Perfectly willing to sacrifice every single vampire inside that castle to save her sister.

Now that was fucking loyalty.

“Stay on the path, follow the sound of the water.”

These gardens were my pride and joy, cultivated and sculpted over the centuries to exactly how I’d envisioned them when I’d set the first cornerstone of what would become my home.

We were halfway there when she stopped, trailing her fingers wonderingly over a single rose, the most unusual shade of black, those remarkable blue eyes flicking to mine before she kept moving, fingers curling tight against her palm.

I wanted nothing more than to read her thoughts, to know what she was thinking right now, but tonight I needed her trust, and trust was not won by deception. No, with Evangeline, I had to shed my mask and show her a male she could depend on.

If I could even remember who that was.

I chose a spot far away from the castle and wrapped a blanket of glamour around the moss-covered stone walls.

“Evangeline, look at me.”

Her pale eyes reflected the slivered moon overhead, until a cloud sped across the sky and turned her face into a shadowed secret, hatred burning brighter than any star. Soon enough her hate would fade. Soon enough, she’d understand why she was here, and everything she’d been told was a lie.

And I had no idea what that cataclysmic result would be.

“I will remove the block slowly, then help you maintain control as your magic rises. Tonight is only to gauge the levels of your power, and once we’ve accomplished that, I will re-block your magic so you’re not in any danger. Tomorrow morning, we will repeat the process, and I will show you some remedial tricks for controlling your magic.”

“That would be helpful.” she admitted reluctantly, gnawing so hard on her bottom lip it bled, and the potent scent of her blood…I turned away, hunger slashing through my chest.

I wanted Evangeline more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.

But I’d kidnapped her, dragged her away from her home, her lovers, her mate, and hunger was replaced by a rush of shame. She deserved so much better than this shitty hand she’d been dealt. After hearing only a hint of the pain she’d endured at her father’s hands, I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms… but Vicious was too proud for pity.

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