“And then the human willdie, in her arms.”
CHAPTER 30: HOLD ME A LITTLE LONGER
Paige
Trembling, I pull my arm out of Sabina’s grasp. It takes everything in me to collect myself, as I try to understand what she’s saying.
The violet goes out of her eyes, and she smirks down at me.
“What’s the matter, pretty one?” she asks playfully, one eyebrow arching. “Did my words surprise you? Did anything…resonatewithin you?”
“I…itcan’tbe me,” I whisper, although the quiver in my voice betrays me.
“Can’t it?” Sabina asks, waving a careless hand in the air. Her nostrils flare as she sucks in a breath. “I always did think your blood smelled veryfloral.”
I shake my head emphatically, terrified to dwell on what this could mean. But then Sabina’s eyes flicker over my shoulder, and her demeanor immediately shifts, the mirth disappearing from her face.
“Good evening, Crimson,” she croons, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning ever so slightly away from me.
Relief floods through me as I turn toward Crimson. She’s staring at Sabina with a fierce, dark gaze.
“Get away from Paige,immediately,” she snaps. My heart flutters at the possessive tone of her voice.
“No need to gettesty,my king. We were just catching up,” Sabina hums, the twist of a smile in hereyes as she floats down the steps of the raised platform. “Good night, Crimson. Good night,pretty rose…”
Crimson growls, and lurches forward, but I catch her by the elbow.
“Please don’t hurt her, sir,” I request, shocked at my boldness.
“Did she upset you?” Crimson asks, sharply.
“No, not at all,” I answer. I hate lying, but I don’t want to worry her. I put my best smile on, trying to distract her. She looks like she might pursue Sabina after all, but then an upbeat song reverberates through the thick air. It’s one of my favourites. “Oh! Will you dance with me?”
She tilts her head, intrigued. Before she can say anything, I take her cool hand, and pull her down onto the dance floor.
It’s dark, and the air is thick with the smell of sweat, blood and wine. There are many other couples dancing, twisted in each other’s embrace. Many of them are kissing, one vampire already has her fangs deep in the throat of the human she dances with.
I sway my hips to the sound of the music and Crimson’s grey eyes travel over my body. The bass is so deep I can feel the vibrations through the dance floor. It electrifies my skin and calls forth a radiating warmth deep inside me.
The vampire bends down over me, claiming me with her touch, pulling my body closer to her’s. But she moves slowly, carefully, as though I’m something precious to her.
Could it beme? The one that’s meant to give myself to her, to complete her, toloveher…
Todiein her arms…
The thought is impossible to wrap my head around.
Sabina said that the human in the prophecy would be her soulmate. Destined to find her, to be her undoing. But that’simpossible, right? I don’t believe in prophecies, in telling the future…do I?
Everything has changed so much since I’ve come to the mansion. I had no idea about the complex, magical forces that were at work. Could it be possible that I’m intrinsically bound to this vampire…that I could bedestinedfor Roslyn Night?
My hips oscillate against her, syncing with the motion of her hands across my body. Then she leans down, and kisses me softly. Her tongue dances in smooth circles, sending a shiver down my spine.
The upbeat song transitions into a slower, steady tempo. Crimsonspins me around to face her.
There’s something unusual in her expression. It’s hard to see in the dark, but it’s almost like she’s unsure about something. I reach up, and caress the line of her jaw.
“Did the mission go well?” I ask her. “Are Kai and the other vampires all right?”
