Oh yeah, she did it well. Emmaline inspired your confidence and trust immediately. It was hard to believe it might be for more sinister reasons. And if Clare found herself trusting her, how could someone as shy and sheltered as Natalie have been expected to respond? She’d be swept up in it, no question.
Half an hour later, Clare was being bored rigid by a brash troglodyte going on about his business enterprises, when Emmaline sidled up.
“Now, don’t mind if I steal Anna away, will you Roger?” She practically nuzzled Clare’s neck. Okay, so that was maybe a little over familiar, but Clare would put up with just about anything to get away from Roger’s monologue. “Anna has to meet our host.” Emmaline smirked, and the monster laid a big scaly hand on her arm and said, “I hope you will consider working for me, Anna.”
Clare cast him her best dazzling smile. “So lovely to meet you, and I hope your fake skin purses keep doing really well. I must buy one—after I get a job.”
‘My dear. Here’s my card, we’d love to have you.”
“Sure, I—I—let’s talk again soon,” she said, and let herself be led away.
“You can do way better than Roger.” Emmaline giggled, then whispered in her ear as they neared a set of large, ornately carved double doors. “Just one little thing before you meet our benefactor. He likes to keep these meetings hush hush, so no talky-talky, or the other humans will get jealous.”
“Of course, I understand. Can I know his name?”
“We just call him the Master. A little joke really, to conceal his identity. You’re the only human he’s chosen to meet tonight.”
“I’m flattered,” Clare murmured, touching her necklace.Master.The name had a cultish ring to it.
“Okay, in we go. It’s a little dark in here, so mind your step.”
The room was indeed dimly lit, decorated in purple with red lanterns. The feeling was lush and sensual, the smell strangely alluring, an incense that was heady and intoxicating. Clare felt a somnolence descend on her limbs the moment she stepped inside.
“I will be here with you the whole time,” Emmaline whispered, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze.
At first it was hard to see if anyone else was there. But as Emmaline led her forward, she saw a ring of candles, illuminating what looked almost like a throne, set up on a plinth.
There was a male sprawled there, legs spread-eagled, encased in tight leather pants. As they got closer, Clare could see just how devastatingly good looking he was. Her gaze took in his chiseled bone structure and angled jaw, his haughty brows and dark eyes. A black silk shirt was undone to the waist to show off his perfect pecs and abs.
Vampire. She was sure of it.
He plucked at his full lower lip as he watched them draw closer, black eyes narrowed on her. Clare had the peculiar sense that she was being pulled into a vortex, something dark and sinister. She had to use all her willpower to withstand the effect.
“Beguiling.” It was a lazy drawl as his gaze swept up and down her. “Just stunning.”
A shiver skittered down her spine. The sense that he was vampire was even stronger now. Except this guy had a very different energy to Oliver. Dark and cloying. And he smelled different, too. There was a sickly sweetness to his cologne that made her feel vaguely nauseous.
Was this Matteus? She’d seen photos of him, but while there was a resemblance, he seemed more handsome than the pictures on file.
With a jolt, she remembered she was supposed to be a naïve human and let out a small, breathy giggle. “Oh, thank you.”
“What is your name, little one?”
“Anna. Anna Greenwood.”
“And how beautiful you are. Come closer, Anna.”
“Go on, he won’t bite.” Emmaline gave her a gentle push.
Clare took the steps up to the plinth. He stood to greet her, all honed muscle and graceful movements. As he took her hand in his, she noticed it was encased in a glove. A glittering goldring with a huge diamond adorned the middle finger of his left hand. The same finger as Oliver’s, but a very different ring. Ostentatious, where Oliver’s was understated.
She took in every detail, committed them to memory. Those sharply winged cheekbones, his smooth tan skin. There was a small mole above his left eyebrow, and his eyes were slanted slightly upward. There was a diamond stud in his left nostril. His mouth was sultry and brooding, and around his jaw was a dusting of fine dark stubble.
He was almosttoohandsome, if that were possible.
And he left her completely cold. So fucking cold, she could feel it seeping into her bones.
Be careful, Clare.
