Suddenly, her eyes flicker toward me. It’s like a bolt of lightning,striking fear into my heart.
“I’ve got better things to occupy my night. Now,get out of my office.”
Waylan snarls, but he gives me a pointed look out of the corner of his eye. Goosebumps prickle my skin at the thought of being alone with Crimson. Of what she’ll want from me. Of what I’ve agreed to do.
“As you wish,” Waylan mutters angrily, as he crosses to the door. “But you haven’t heard the last of me, RoslynNight.”
He spits out the last word, and slams the door loudly behind him.
Now it’s only the two of us. Crimson paces to a cabinet behind the desk and takes out a crystal decanter filled with dark red liquid, and a glass. I assume it’s wine, and wonder if she’s offering me a drink. But then she pours it. The liquid is much thicker than any wine I’ve ever seen, and it leaves behind a deep, ruby stain.
She takes a thoughtful sip, and I realize with horror that it’s a cup ofblood.
“What a fuckingasshole,” she mutters. Then she turns to me, raising an eyebrow. “Do you have any brothers?”
My mouth is dry, and I fight against the sickening twist in my stomach. “Um…just one…”
“Older, or younger?”
“Y-younger.”
“Does he ever plot to overthrow you and steal your throne?” she asks, her lip twitching.
I stare at her, completely tongue-tied.
She gives me a grin, and takes another gulp of the liquid in her wineglass. “No, I suppose he probably doesn’t. Good for you.”
With a sigh, she finishes off her glass, and puts it on the desk at the center of the office.
She crosses to the back of the office and sits on the leather couch, leaning back comfortably against the supple fabric. Her gaze finds me again.
“Come here,” she commands.
My legs shaking, I join her. I keep a foot of distance between us, not sure what to do.
She holds out her hand. “Let’s see.”
I furrow my brow, confused as to what she’s asking. But then her eyes flicker to my wrist, the one that I cut earlier. It already seems solong ago.
My heart races as I offer her my arm. Her touch is chilly, and gives me goosebumps. There’s a thin line across my skin where the cut was, but there’s no scab. It looks like the wound is several weeks old already.
“It’s healed well,” she says, with a satisfied expression. “You shouldn’t have a scar.”
“T-thank you,” I manage. “I…I didn’t know that vampires could do that.”
“Older vampires can acquire different magical skills,” she explains. She places my arm in my lap, and leans back against the leather couch again. Her eyes are no longer tinged with crimson, and her fangs are back in place with her other teeth, although I can still see how sharp they are. She regards me thoughtfully. “I haven’t seen you before. Are you new?”
“I just started tonight.”
“Have you ever been bitten by a vampire before?”
I shake my head.
She gives me a devious look. “I’m glad I found you first.”
To my surprise, there’s a warm flutter in my stomach at her words. I clasp my hands anxiously in my lap. “I…I thought maybe you were going to fire me…”
Her head cocks to one side. “Fireyou? Why?”
