Page 5 of House of Crimson Hearts
Her eyes well up, but I don’t have time because I glance behind me and Octavia is crouching, ready to spring up after me.
I leap from platform to platform until I’m a few feet from the balcony. Octavia is on the first platform, leaping to the second.
Cat and fucking mouse. This is not the game I came here to play.
I crouch down and spring up, jumping through the air until I land against the balcony railing. The air bursts from my lungs, making me groan. I give a quick look over my shoulder. She’s already on the second platform.
Shit.
I scramble over the railing and out the balcony doors. But there’s no easy access to drop to the ground from this balcony.
“For Blood’s sake,” I growl and crane my neck up. “Roof it is.”
I grab the drainpipe and clamber my way up to the roof, hauling myself over the lip and onto a flat area. I sprint across the flat section of the roof and have two choices: clamber across the sloping sections and up the turrets or down.
I peer over the edge. There’s another balcony and a porch beneath that. Down it is. Octavia, thankfully, isn’t using vampire speed, though I know that just means she’s toying with me. But I’ll take any advantage I can get.
I clamber over the edge, grab the drain and shimmy down the balcony. Another leap and I smack into the porch roof, but I keep rolling. I stretch for the edge but lose my grip and drop over the edge, collapsing with a thud to the ground.
“Fucking vampires,” I growl. But I don’t hang about. I haul myself up and run through the market, weaving in and out of the stalls, dodging humans and vampires alike.
“Shit.” I say and feverishly glance around the market. I can’t see Octavia. My heart thuds in between my ribs like the beat of a drum. I just need to get back to hunter territory.
My skin tingles like she’s still following me. I’m a fool if I think my running is enough to dissuade her. I can feel her scratching at my skin like fangs.
I run onto a bridge over the canal. If I can cross and veer down the main road through the Peace Territory back towards the Academy, I’ll be in public view the whole time.
I reach the peak of the bridge and halt.
Heat simmers at my back. My shoulders stiffen.
“Fuck,” I breathe as a river boat full of drunk humans drifts under the bridge.
“Actually,” Octavia says from behind me. “I’d love to.”
I blink and my hands are on the bridge handrail, laced tight with a rope cuff.
I’m trapped.
My whole body sets alight. Goosebumps flicker down my arms, down my back. I yank against the rope cuff. But I’m well and truly stuck. Mother fucking vampire speed.
Another boat drifts beneath us, this time two lovers entwined, the boat meandering across the canal.
I wrench around to see her, but I can barely see, even twisting my body to the point of pain. She could kill me from this position. Drain me. Fuck me—that thought should disgust me the most. And my brain is screaming that it’s a vile thought, my body, though…
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Traitorous little cunt. I hate Octavia. What I want is to punish her for what she did to my sister. Edge her into oblivion so she never comes again. So why is the thought of me tied here, submitting my pleasure to her, making me wet? I shake my head clear, realising it’s just about submission, not her specifically.
Octavia leans into my back, pushing my hips against the railings.
“I can smell how much you want me,” she purrs in my ear. “Deny it all you want, but the only person you can lie to is yourself.”
She runs her tongue along the underside of my earlobe, sending a bolt of pleasure straight to my clit.
I scream in frustration, yanking my cuffed hands harder. If only I hadn’t put my blade away, I could have sliced my way out of these cuffs.
There’s another boat, a longer one this time, filled with drinkers and people in various states of undress. It drifts towards us.
