Bite of Desire: A Dark Vampire Enemies to Lovers Romance (Shadows of War Book Two)

34. Kali

Ipaced the room again before falling onto the huge bed. Two days. Two days I’d been stuck in this room. Not that I was really complaining. I’d rather be in here than out where I could possibly run into Amaros. But I was starting to get bored. I was itching to see something other than these four walls. The bedroom was large and was just as nice as the rest of this house. It didn’t help.

I fucking hated being here. It already seemed like I was a prisoner. Like I was never going to leave. Zan swore I’d be going home with him. Not that I’d seen much of him. He would stop in a couple of times a night and sleep here during the day with me, but he was busy with whatever plan Amaros was putting into place. He’d barely said anything to me about everything I’d learned. I was bursting with questions. But he made it clear that this house wasn’t safe to speak in. Our conversations weren’t private.

But I wanted to learn more about the Shadows. Learning that Amaros could entrance Zan threw me so fucking much. It changed everything. I might trust Zan, but his father? I never would. Knowing that Amaros could control Zan made it all so much worse.

“You look stressed. I’d offer you one, but I think my little brother would try to kill me if I did.”

My head shot up, and I saw Viggo leaning against the closed door with a cigarette between his fingers. He brought it to his lips and lit it as he strolled closer to the bed. Both he and Pax had been coming to check on me when Zan wasn’t here. Pax was obvious about it. Viggo acted like he was bored and had nothing else to do.

I sighed. “What do you want, Viggo?”

“Zan is going to come in here and talk to you soon.” He dropped his voice lower before continuing. “I need you to be nice to him.”

I climbed off the bed, getting to my feet. “What does that mean?”

“It means we have to do something tonight and he has to go. He and Dad are setting up for it now off the property.” He sat on the edge of the mattress. “But I know he’ll come see you before we go.”

“Go where?”

“Can’t tell you that.”

“Of course,” I grumbled.

“Zan has to leave you here when we go.” Viggo got right to the point of his visit. “Don’t fight him on it, Kali. He’s having a hard enough time leaving you in this house without the three of us here. We’ll be back by morning.”

Ice slid down my spine. “Will your father be here?”

“No. He’ll be with us.”

“Do I have a choice about staying here?” I clipped out.

“Not really.”

“Then why the hell are you even here?”

“Because my brother is stressed out. He doesn’t need you giving him a hard time about locking you in here when we’re gone. He needs to focus.”

That got my attention. “What you’re all doing…is it dangerous?”

“Could be.”

“Is it against humans?” I whispered.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to, Kali.”

My stomach twisted as he stared at me like he was waiting for me to scream or argue. Which I wanted to. But doing that wouldn’t help me get out of this room. It wouldn’t stop them from doing whatever they were going to do.

“You care for Zan,” he murmured quietly. “You might hate vampires and what we stand for, but you don’t hate him. He doesn’t think straight when it comes to you, and he can’t be distracted tonight. So, for once, please don’t argue with him about staying here.”

Whatever they were doing tonight must be important. I didn’t fucking like it. Anything that Amaros had planned would not end well for humans. What if they were going after Clovers? My heart raced, and Viggo glanced at my chest, a frown growing on his lips.

He ran his hand over his short hair. “Fuck. I should have had Pax do this. I’m not good with all the talking shit. I didn’t want to worry you more. I just want you to go easy on Zan.”

“Why can’t we just go back to your city?”

“We will. Once we’re done with this.”

I licked my lips, forcing myself to ask a question since he’d admitted Amaros wasn’t in the house. “Can your father entrance all vampires?”

Viggo stiffened. “Only his bloodline. So just me and my brothers.”

“Does he do it often?”

“No, Kali. When he did it to Zan, it was the first time.”

“Are you sure?”

His eyes narrowed. “Yes.”

“I’ve seen what entrancement can do. What Zan did to Warner. He had no idea he was even entranced because Zan made him forget. How do you know Amaros hasn’t done the same to you?”

He leaped to his feet, all the humor dropping from his face. “He hasn’t. Don’t make accusations like that. Especially in this house.”

Well, I hadn’t meant to piss him off, but I clearly did.

“Just give Zan a break,” he murmured without turning to face me. “Don’t fight him when he comes in here.”

With that, he slipped out of the room, and I heard the lock slide into place. I sucked in a long breath before letting it out slowly. I seriously hoped we left here soon. But the panic wouldn’t dissipate. I didn’t miss the look in Amaros’s eye the other night. He didn’t want me to leave. I couldn’t imagine a worse fate than being trapped here.

A few hours later, the door opened, and I lowered the book I was reading to see Zan standing in the doorway. My heart dipped. He looked tired. Exhausted. He closed the door behind him but stayed where he was instead of coming closer to the bed.

“I don’t have a lot of time,” he said tightly. “But I have to go somewhere tonight. You’re staying in here. I need you to stay quiet. Don’t bring any attention to yourself. No vampire has the key to this room, but I still want you to be careful.”

I swallowed all my questions and answered, “Okay.”

He frowned, studying my face. “Okay? That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“Which one talked to you? Viggo or Pax?”

“What?”

“Kali.” He chuckled lightly, the stress leaving his face for a moment. “I know you. And you’ve never taken one of my orders without some kind of fight.”

I rolled my eyes. “Viggo stopped in earlier.”

“What did he say?”

“To be nice to his little brother and not to argue,” I answered, sarcasm thick in my voice.

“And you listened?”

“Seeing as I’m stuck in this room, I really don’t think it would make a difference.”

He stared at me for a few moments before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out the stake I’d left in the rotunda the other night. He moved to the left and set it on the dresser.

“If someone other than me or my brothers comes in here, kill them. Every vampire in this house has orders to leave you alone. If that door opens, stake them in the heart before they have a chance to get close to you.”

“Does that include your father?”

His eyes flashed dangerously. “You won’t see him tonight.”

“When will you be back?”

“Before sunrise.”

“Where are you going?”

He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter.”

“It matters.”

“I’m not telling you.”

I scowled. “Then just go. I’ll be sitting here like I have the last two days.”

He crossed the room until he was standing next to the bed before leaning down and grasping my chin.

“After tonight, things will get better,” he said softly.

“Another promise?”

Instead of answering me, he brushed his lips against mine. After the light kiss, he straightened back up and walked away.

“I’ll be back later.”

His words only made my anxiety spike more. He left the bedroom, and I stared at the closed door with my mind racing. Where the hell were they going? I grumbled under my breath, picking my book back up. But I couldn’t concentrate. I reread the same page ten times before giving up and tossing the book onto the mattress. Putting my arms behind my head, I stared at the ceiling, letting my thoughts wander.

I didn’t know how much time passed, but I immediately jumped off the bed when the lock suddenly clicked. I cursed under my breath as I scrambled for the dresser. I should have grabbed the stake right when Zan put it there. My fingers wrapped around the rough wood just as the door swung open. I planted my feet, going on the defensive, until I saw the vampire standing in the doorway.

My breath locked in my chest, panic taking over every part of me. Amaros shot me a vile smile before his eyes went to the stake in my hand. Behind him was the young-looking vampire. Jasper, if I remembered his name correctly. His eyes were cast downward, as if waiting for orders.

“Kali, I require your help tonight,” Amaros said, threat already in his voice. “You’re not going to try to fight me, are you?”

My mouth grew dry as I stared at him. We both knew that I couldn’t fight him. He was supposed to be with Zan tonight. Why was he here? Amaros waited only a few seconds before he strode forward and caught my arm.

“Stop,” I shrieked, struggling against his ironclad hold. The stake was still in my hand, but with how tightly he was holding my wrist, I couldn’t do anything with it.

“Screaming will do nothing to help you,” he said calmly as he dragged me from the room. “Don’t tire yourself out. We have a big night ahead of us.”