Page 75 of Undying
I don’t have a death wish.
When I’m finally standing beside the couch, I hate how empty my arms feel, like my soul misses the feeling of him pressed against me. Even with just a few feet separating us, I ache like I have an open wound in my chest.
Stanton appears almost peaceful while resting, the full force of his personality muted, and I find it disturbing to see him looking vulnerable. The longer I gaze down at him, the more concerned I become.
Stanton is an ancient.
No fucking way would I be able to move without him being aware of it. Even standing over him should’ve triggered his senses, the air around him much like a spider’s web. Only one thing would stop him—if he were dead.
A sickening thought burrows into my mind like a virus and won’t leave.
What if I feasted on him while I slept?
Darkness swirls in my chest at the thought, and I don’t know if it’s offended or excited at the prospect. Humans are taught darkness is evil, but maybe it’s just because of what hides in the inky blackness. Now that the monsters have come out into the light, as it were, it’s not so easy to tell the difference between good and evil anymore.
I don’t feel evil, but do monsters really ever feel evil?
I curl my fingers into fists to keep from reaching for Stanton, wanting to strip him and check that I didn’t drain him by accident. Unfortunately, fear keeps me immobile, and part of me is worried that if I get closer, I might give in to the urge to feed.
I hesitate only a second longer before concern gets the best of me. I take a step toward him, needing to make sure he’s okay, when my common sense finally returns. He’s a fucking vampire, for crying out loud. If I killed him, he would be nothing more than a pile of sludge and ash.
Taking it as a win that I didn’t kill him in my sleep, I turn and scurry out the door. I shut it softly behind me, then I wilt against it and sigh in relief, feeling like I made a narrow escape.
The doorbell chimes again, and I jerk my head in that direction, then narrow my eyes in annoyance.
Someone is going to fucking die tonight.
I push away from the study and stalk toward the front door. I absently notice that, without blood decorating the mansion, the place has an old-world sort of charm. The old house was constructed in a time when things were built to last, and I can almost appreciate the beauty and understand why the guys wanted me to take over the place.
I almost lose my focus when I spot all the bags and boxes littering the front entryway. The scent of snow and ice reaches me before Castle speaks from over my shoulder. “Most of them are from Milo. He thought you might need some essentials.”
“E-Essentials?” I sputter, unable to do anything but gawk at the over-the-top extravagance. “There has to be like a hundred bags here.”
Castle just snorts and comes to a stop at my side. “Vampires have a different definition of essential. Packages have been arriving hourly. This is only about half of what’s been delivered.”
No one outside my family has ever bothered to give me a single gift, much less try to give me the world. They’re treating me like I’m someone special and worthy of love, and it’s fucking addicting. A little overwhelmed by the sweet gesture, I try not to let myself get cynical and wonder what it would cost me in the end.
Honestly, I already lost my life.
I really don’t have much else left to give.
Castle walks past me, angling his body so every inch of him brushes against me as he heads toward the door, effectively distracting me. A shiver of lust weakens my legs, and my eyes automatically drop to his luscious ass, loving the way he fills out the pair of jeans.
As if knowing I’m watching, his steps slow, and I swear to the gods, he’s flexing his gorgeous muscles on purpose.
Yummy!
As he reaches for the doorknob, he shoots a smirk at me over his shoulder, and I huff out a laugh, cocking an eyebrow at the big Viking. “You can’t fault a girl for looking. You’re built like a god.”
His green eyes darken, then his hand drops away from the door. He spins on the balls of his feet and stalks toward me with a hungry expression. My body ignites, tingling at the thought of his rough hands exploring every inch of my body. When the doorbell chimes once again, he snarls and stops just a foot away, and his fangs flash as he grits his teeth.
We both turn to glare at the door at the same time. When Castle takes a step toward it, I rush forward and press my hand against his chest and decide to be the bigger person…because if anyone is going to kill the fucker on the other side, it’s going to be me.
I storm toward the door, then wrench it open and glare at the two females waiting on the other side. The women are dressed as servants, but their outfits couldn’t be more opposite. The dowdy, dark-brown-haired girl is short and slightly plump, wearing professional black slacks and a black button-down shirt trimmed in an off white. In stark contrast, the blonde is wearing a classic maid’s dress so tight, her breasts are practically falling out of her dress. Not to mention, her skirt is so short, her hoo-ha is practically flapping in the wind.
I nearly swallow my snort at the sight and place my hand on my hip. “What do you want?”
The attractive blonde holds out a card, and I know the instant her eyes land on Castle. Her blue eyes spark with interest, a coquettish smile curling her lips, and she practically simpers, fluttering her lashes up at him. “We’re here as a gift from Master Julius for the new owner of Dafoe House.”
