Page 52 of House of Crimson Kisses
“Annnnd I’m done. Do you know how expensive this shirt is?”
I roll my eyes at Xavier.
The vampire groans as his head lolls forward, his eyes drooping in their sockets.
“My, my, Xavier, have you been in the gym? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you land a blow like that.”
He shrugs. “Have to keep this body in exquisite shape somehow.”
“What the fuck do you want?” the captive vampire says.
“Your name, first,” Xavier answers.
It’s a tactic of course. Rhea already told us his name is Drax Clayborne, but he doesn’t know that. We need him to acquiesce, so he understands who is in charge here and that fighting is futile.
“Fuck you,” Drax says.
I laugh.
“Okay, fine,” Xavier says. “One more won’t hurt.” He lands another vicious punch to Drax’s jaw. This time, he’s knocked out for a solid minute before he rouses back to consciousness.
I pick up the goblet of hope Erin gave us, and I hold it just in front of Drax’s nose. Close enough to smell the sumptuous liquid, but an inch too far to actually drink it and heal himself.
“Name,” I say.
He growls under his chest. “Drax Clayborne.”
“Good,” I say and edge the cup to his lip so he can take a sip of blood. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? Now. Who are you working for?” I say and withdraw the cup after only a single sip. His tongue skitters over his lips trying to mop up every morsel of blood. The split in his lip mats back together.
He stays silent. I tut at him, “Come now, Drax, do you really want to make this harder than it needs to be?”
I slide my finger over his healed lip and down underneath his chin, resting it against a pulpy bit of flesh.
“I’d answer her if I were you,” Xavier says, leaning against the back wall.
“I work for… none of your fucking business,” he says.
I snarl and then I punch my finger through the pulp of his chin and up into his mouth. He screams and screams, and I ignore it as his blood spills down my finger.
I yank him forward by his chin and lean into his face.
“Now you listen to me, you spineless sack of shit. You are going to tell me exactly what I want to know, or I am going to make this…” I wiggle my finger around the flesh and muscle of his mouth making him scream all over again, “look like child’s play. I know a lot of fun ways to make you bleed, cry and beg for desiccation. But I’d rather not get blood all over this outfit. Play nice, and I’ll give you the rest of this blood so you can heal, hmm?”
He nods, gently, wincing the entire time.
There’s a rustling at the door and Amelia’s face appears.
“Evening, boss,” she says, her eyes bright.
“I’m busy,” I say without breaking eye contact with the piece of shit in front of me.
“I can see that, but I think I am going to head to the library,” she says.
That gets my attention. “Good.”
She lingers in the door, shifting from foot to foot.
“What is it, Amelia?” Xavier sings.
