Page 87 of House of Crimson Hearts
“Shit,” I say.
“And she would never admit that publicly because it would damage her reputation, make her look like she’s not in control. She said ‘moth to flame’ and she slipped it in so subtly I didn’t even notice. I think she’s using this competition as a cover to draw out whoever is trying to take the boundary down and hoping we get to the cure before them.”
The carriage jerks suddenly, and my feet knock into hers. Her eyes flick to where our feet now touch but she doesn’t move away and neither do I.
“Dhampirs are magical. They represent a threat because they have the best strengths of a vampire and the best of witches. Theoretically, they could be more powerful than Cordelia is. I was born as magic drained away, so I don’t remember what they were like, I only have secondhand stories. But she was already an adult. And I can assure you, she won’t take too kindly to someone being more powerful than her.”
“So do you think she’s really doing this to find out who the dhampir is before anyone else? To what? Kill them?”
Octavia takes a deep breath, a sigh rippling through the air. “You know what? No. I think she wants to get to them first so she can control them. She wouldn’t want to lose access to that kind of magic. But she also wouldn’t want it in someone else’s hands.”
“Well, I’m still not convinced that’s reason enough for me to move into your house.”
“Castle.”
“I’m sorry, does your ego need to be told how big your house is?”
She fires me a dirty look. “The point is, we don’t know anything. And we are a team, therefore, you need my protection.”
I frown at her. “No, I do not. I’m perfectly capable of looking after m?—”
She uses her fucking vampire speed to bolt across the carriage and pin me in place by straddling my lap and forcing my arms up and above my head.
Her chest heaves up and down as she stares at me, “Really? Is that so? You know what every vampire is going to do, do you? You can anticipate everything? Defend yourself from every move and strategic play?”
The scent of oud and spices and crisp winter winds wraps around me. But it’s more than that. I can smell her blood under her skin. The sugary iron, the taste of delirium and hysteria and ecstasy. I swallow a thick lump, my tongue skittering over my lips.
She narrows her eyes at me.
“How long have you had a problem with blood?” she says, reading my every thought.
“Not long. It’s gotten worse since Amelia tried to drain me to be honest. I started using a couple of years ago. But my addiction seems so much worse than most people I know.”
“I’m sorry,” she says as if she’s trying to solve all my problems.
“It’s not for you to apologise, it’s not your fault I’m addicted.”
She stiffens and rises off me, returning to her seat opposite. But the carriage draws to a slow halt as we have entered her castle’s courtyard.
“Home,” she says, smirking at me.
“Not. My. Home.”
“It is for now.” And with that she whips her shoes on and speeds out of the carriage, holding the door open for me.
“Oh, and that’s the other little confession I should have told you earlier.”
“Hmm?” I say as I take her hand and step down from the carriage.
“I took the liberty of having your stuff brought here already.”
“WHAT?” I shout. “But I hadn’t agreed.”
She just smiles at me, those crimson eyes glinting like she has not one fuck to give about what I wanted or not.
“Octavia fucking Beaumont,” I growl, but she’s already turned on her heel walking away from me.
“Don’t walk away from me, dammit.”
