Page 44 of Twisted
“Because you all are still butthurt over the War of Light and Dark,” I say and playfully elbow him.That particular war took place over a thousand years ago.Witches and vampires went up against each other and the witches won—by a lot.They almost eliminated all vampires when some super powerful witch cast a spell that bathed the world in pure, white light.It burned almost every single vampire in existence at that time.
It’s still rare to find vampires older than the war.
“Kill or be killed,” he states.“We would all rather kill.”We stop near the floor to ceiling windows and Xavier turns so his torso is right up against mine.“Witches have the same mentality.And since you’re not part of a coven, I assume you don’t know the Grand Coven’s stance on witch-vampire relationships.”
“No,” I say as I shake my head.There’s so much about who I am and where I came from that I don’t know.“I don’t.What is it?”
“If a witch is caught entertaining a vampire in any way, the punishment is death.”
CHAPTER18
“You’re willing to risk me?”the words leave my mouth before I have a chance to even think about it.Of course, he’s willing to risk me.I’m nothing more than a breeder to him.
“You think I’d let anyone hurt my wife?”
I cock an eyebrow.“You married me out of convenience, not because you can’t stand the thought of living a day without me.”
“That was true.”
“Was?”
He steps in, closing the distance between us, with his large body towering over mine.My heart skips a beat in my chest and heat rushes through me at the thought of his cool skin touching mine again.I blink and get a flash of his lips pressed to mine and no matter how hard I try, I can’t fight off the desire I’m feeling for him.
“You are my wife, Florence.And I will do whatever it takes to protect you.”
I look up at him, breath hitching as he gazes back into my eyes.I want to believe him.Hell, I want to trust him, too.But in the back of my mind, I can’t forget that he’s a very bad man and has done very bad things.
And for the life of me, I can’t make myself hate him for it.
“Okay,” I whisper, voice small.Apprehensively, I reach out, letting my fingers touch the material of his suit.Overhead light glints off the rock on my left hand and suddenly I realize exactly what it means to be Mrs.Xavier Malus.
I have to act the part.I have to obey.
It scares me as much as it thrills me.
“Now,” Xavier starts, hands settling on my waist.My eyes flutter shut as the want for him threatens to take over.“I need you to be a good little witch and use that emotion-sensing ability.”
“On who?”I ask, fighting to catch my breath.Xavier is well aware that he’s turning me on, dammit.
“Kristina Davis,” he says softly, leaning in so his lips brush against my ear as he talks.Holy fuck, I want those lips on other parts of my body.“She works for the coroner’s office and has alerted us to any deaths caused by vampires.”
I tip my head.“Why would you care about that?”
“Part of building a bigger community of vampires is offering protection.”
Slowly, I just move my head up and down.“So you cover up murders?”
“It’s not quite that simple.”
Just nodding again, I keep my thoughts to myself.Not only is Xavier dangerous on his own, I’m realizing he has half—if not more—than Charlotte’s influential people working for him.
“What do you want me to suss out?”I ask.
“See if she’s lying.A body was found a few days ago and the cause of death was quite clearly exsanguination from two puncture wounds on the neck.”
“A classic vampire overkill.”
“Yes.”
