“Depends . . .” she finally said and held her right hand up, wiggling several fingers in the air. “In this scenario, do I still have my fingers?”
“What do your fingers have to do with anything?” Demetri snarled.
“Oh.” Lucian laughed and gave Samara a nod of acknowledgment. “I see why you don’t want to marry him again. Anyone who doesn’t understand why fingers are useful probably has no business fucking anyone.”
“I think that’s enough for tonight.” Carmilla gave Lucian a mildly chiding look before giving Samara a much sterner one. “If you promise to behave and not leave without guards, you may stay in one of the guest quarters.”
Any amusement she’d felt at putting Demetri in his place slid off Samara’s face. “Either way, I’m a prisoner. I’ll stick with the dungeons.”
Carmilla eyed her niece, clearly trying to figure out why she had chosen a hard floor over a soft bed, but Carmilla knew the politically savvy side of Samara while I knew the side that was survival first. This was enemy territory to Samara, and the dungeons were less guarded in a lot of ways. Only the door in and out had guards posted. If she stayed in the main house, she’d have no idea where the guards were, and she’d be farther away from Draven.
Samara was plotting something, and I needed to convince her to tell me so she didn’t get herself killed.
Chapter Five
Samara
My body feltlike it was on fire. I’d never denied my needs like this before. In fact, usually the days after my menstruation wereveryfun. It was a perfectly solid excuse to stay in bed and ignore any responsibilities while getting fucked into oblivion.
When I was at Drudonia, I’d often find another scholar, or several, to keep me entertained. After my marriage to Demetri, I’d been a little more limited. He’d been adequate in bed, not the most creative, but I tended to get a little . . . aggressive . . . when I was like this and made it work.
But now, I’d sooner cut off my arm then let him touch me, even if I had no other options. My fingers were going to be fucking aching by the time this was over.
Vail was a silent presence at my side as we made our way back to the dungeon. It’d been difficult, but I’d managed to mostly concentrate during dinner, and I’d been rewarded with lots of useful information between things both spoken and unspoken.
Carmilla was keeping her coup quiet. She couldn’t completely control the flow of information from the Sovereign House—there were almost a thousand Moroi living here on apermanent basis and another thousand rangers who regularly rotated in and out.
But she’d been busy these past couple of weeks, ensuring that the key players were loyal to her and her alone. On my way to dinner, we’d passed several advisors who hadn’t batted an eye at me being led through the halls with guards in front and Vail at my side.
The other Houses had no doubt heard rumors, but Carmilla Harker had a reputation as being an honest and respectable House Leader. They would give her the benefit of the doubt.
And their Houses would fall because of it.
Lucian was a bit of a mystery to me. He hadn’t spoken enough to suss out his motivation or wants. That worried me. I didn’t like having such an unknown adversary.
We passed a hallway that I knew led to some living quarters, and briefly, I regretted not taking Carmilla up on her offer—just so I’d have better access to the rest of the House and therefore a greater chance at escape. But I dismissed that notion a second later. Carmilla would have put guards on me at all times, and I wasn’t going anywhere without Draven.
Aside from Vail watching over me directly, the guards were only stationed at the entrance to the dungeons. They did periodic checks of the levels, but there would still be less eyes on me down there. I was sure Draven and I could come up with something—once I made it to him.
That would have to wait another couple of days though because despite my belief that I could work through my stupid horny thoughts, that seemed to be growing more unlikely by the second.
More than once, my gaze had drifted back to Vail during that dinner, and I’d remembered everything he’d done to me in that cave . . . and then the cabin. My thoughts had scattered, and I’d lost track of the conversation.
I couldn’t afford to slip up like that during an escape, and based on the way I was feeling, it seemed likely that I’d throw rationality out the window and just jump Draven as soon as I saw him, caring way more about getting his cock inside me than getting the fuck out of here.
My core tightened at the thought, and I knew if I reached beneath my dress, I’d find myself hot and wet.
“Fuck,” Vail cursed under his breath and started walking faster.
I had to lengthen my stride to keep up with him, which meant even more of my skin showed with every step. Based on the way Vail’s jaw was tightening, I knew he was seeing the flashes of my golden brown skin out of the corner of his eye and it was getting to him.
I should hate him—and I did. He’d betrayed me after everything we’d gone through. After everything we’d done. I’d thought we’d finally gotten past all our bullshit, only to find out it’d all been a lie. My brain and heart were very much on Team Vail Can Eat Dirt and Die.
My traitorous pussy, on the other hand, was very much Team Vail Can Eat Us Out And Then Die.
“Fuck,” I muttered and picked up my pace. I needed to get back to my cell and away from Vail, because while Demetri had zero chance of me hate fucking him, I wasn’t entirely sure I had the willpower to resist Vail for much longer.
Why did he have to smell so delicious? Like the forest after a thunderstorm. That thread linking me to him practically purred as I breathed in more of his scent, though it felt more faint than it had a few weeks ago. Like it was fraying at the edges.
