Page 111 of Undying
My hair is full and lush, the shine to the strands making it almost shimmer under the light. My pale face is unblemished, my cheekbones sharper, my nose narrower, the combination giving me an almost regal look.
I touch my face hesitantly, the warm skin slightly reassuring. I’m not sure I trust the image reflected back at me, hating to admit that I actually look better than I ever did during my human life. My eyes catch on the bite mark on my neck, and satisfaction fills me. I tilt my head to get a better look, loving that the bold claim is visible.
I no longer look human, no longer weak, and a hum of satisfaction fills me.
Almost like I was made for this life.
The thought is enough to drag me out of my maudlin thoughts. Makeup of every kind fills the drawers of the bathroom—bottles, brushes, dozens of compacts, and every type of doohickey imaginable. Since I could never afford anything but the basics as a human, I keep it simple with mascara and bright red lipstick that resembles blood. It’s such a stark contrast to my pale skin and black hair that it makes the color even more vivid.
I don’t do anything fancy with my hair, allowing the wavy strands to fall around my shoulders, not experienced enough to try doing any special updos. When I walk into the closet, it takes me a good ten minutes to riffle through the assortment of clothing Milo purchased.
There have to be over a hundred different outfits, and I’m not used to such luxuries. Even mixing and matching my clothes from my human life, I would only have enough clothes to last a week before I needed to wash them.
Ballgowns are out of the question, then I dismiss the kick ass leather outfit with a sigh of disappointment. Though I’d look amazing in the outfit, it’d send the wrong impression. I don’t even look at the skimpy clothes, reserving those for time alone with my mates, not wanting anything too constricting in case I needed to defend myself.
A shimmering dress in the back catches my attention. I pull it out, and my breath catches at the deceptive simplicity of the outfit. When it catches the light, the black undertone shimmers red, and I love it. I drop the towel wrapped around my body, then step into the dress, quickly lacing up the corset.
The material clings to the curves of my body, shimmering with every move. It flows around me, the deep slits in the sides revealing my legs with each step. The cleavage plunges low, displaying the girls, but the halter top and corset keep them in place.
I feel both badass and sexy at the same time.
The strappy heels are a modest four inches, matching the dress like they were made for it specifically.
The outfit had to cost a fortune.
Just as I step out of the closet, I barely catch my image in the mirror when a knock thumps against the door. Feeling almost giddy with anticipation, like a girl on her first date, I take a deep breath and open it.
I’m stunned speechless to find Stanton waiting on the other side, dressed in a white shirt and a deep red corset-like waistcoat that accentuates his strong, lean waist. The black filigree pattern of his vest matches my outfit to perfection. His hair is slicked back, accentuating the thin lines of coal that darken his eyes.
He looks fucking magnificent.
He slowly peruses me from head to toe, then smartly turns and offers me his arm like a gentleman. Feeling like I passed some sort of test, I gently place my fingertips on his sleeve. He immediately catches my hand and brings it to his lips.
He looks at me over the tops of my fingers, his eyes practically smoldering as he kisses them. “You are ravishing, as always.”
Apparently, even vampires still blush, because heat blooms in my cheeks under his attention, and I glance away, suddenly bashful. A tiny smirk curls his lips as he guides me down the hallway, and I nervously clear my throat. “Where are the others?”
“Already waiting in the truck.” His tone is businesslike as he guides me down the stairs. “We’re only allowed a dozen guards, so we’ll be taking three vehicles.”
Instead of the normal SUVs, a luxury Cadillac Escalade is waiting. It’s a sleek, dark diamond gray color and built like a tank. Stanton gallantly opens the door and stands back, offering me his hand to enter. I take it gratefully, gathering the material of my dress, and step inside…and very much feel like Alice in Wonderland.
The bench seats in the middle are backward like a limousine, leaving the two rows facing each other. Tobias, Castle, and Milo are already ensconced behind the driver as I enter. The wolves are in matching outfits, their muscles straining the dress shirts so much, they look ready to burst out of them. The shirts are light gray, their ties medium gray, while their vests are dark gray.
They look fucking delicious.
Milo is wearing a black turtleneck, black pants, and a shimmering red jacket over the top, reminding me of a very dapper man from the 1950s, and I can’t stop the way my heart skips a beat at how much care he took on his appearance.
It’s only when Tobias reaches down and not so subtly adjusts his cock that I realize I stopped at the sight of them, leaving me hunched over and giving the three of them a great view of my cleavage. A blush heats my cheeks once more as I slide past them and settle into the empty seat across from them, but it has much more to do with lust than embarrassment.
I’m very conscious of Stanton following me and claiming a seat at my side.
The door closes with a muffled thud. I don’t even hear the engine start before we’re moving. A black glass divider separates us from the driver, leaving me with nothing to do but observe my surroundings.
The windows are tinted so dark, it’s like we’re in our own separate world. Lights slowly twinkle along the ceiling like stars. Muted lights come from along the floor and behind the door paneling. The seats are a light, buttery gray leather that invites a girl to run her hands along the surface.
Silence fills the confined space for a full minute before I notice the tension. I glance at my mates, only to find the three of them glaring at Stanton. Trepidation has my spine stiffening, and I slowly turn to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
A grimace crosses his expression so fast that I almost miss it. A deep sigh leaves his chest, and he reluctantly turns to face me. He surveys me with dark eyes, his emotions locked away so tight that I’m unable to guess his intent.
