Crown of Ash (Blood & Betrayal #1)

Chapter Seven

Dane

Kyson leaned against the edge of the window in my room. His arms were crossed as he studied me from where I sat on my bed. The guy’s posture was relaxed, but even after being here a week, I still didn’t fully trust him. But then again, I didn’t trust anyone here, even if Kyson and Malachi appeared to be in a competition to see who could “check”

on me the most.

“Let me get this straight.”

I waved my hand to indicate the entire room, ignoring my untouched dinner sitting on the small table to my right. “You live in a vampire mansion, and you’re…what? A human housepet?”

It was something I should’ve asked a week ago.

“I’m not a pet.”

He scowled.

I shot him a skeptical look. “Could’ve fooled me.”

“Why, because I showed up to haul Malachi’s big ass home? I rescued you too, so does that make me your pet?”

Note to self. Don’t ever refer to Kyson as a pet again. I’d just been kidding, but clearly hit a nerve.

“There are benefits to living here.”

He smirked, and I was glad he brushed off the pet comment so fast. Being stuck in a castle with nothing to do was enough to drive anyone mad. The only reason I was still sane was because of Kyson’s constant visits.

Malachi’s as well. He wasn’t what I would call chatty. In fact, he spent most of the time brooding, which made me wonder why he even came to my room. But after the second day, he asked a few questions about my life. When I tried to do the same, he went back to being a brooding mute.

My brow arched. “What kind of benefits?”

Kyson began ticking off things on his fingers. “You don’t have to pay any bills, Richard is an amazing cook, and…”

He frowned. “I might have oversold the benefits package.”

“You forgot to mention the fabulous residents.”

Sarcasm dripped from my voice.

“Just remember the rules, Dane.”

His tone turned somber.

I frowned, trying to remember him mentioning any, but I couldn’t. “What rules?”

“One. Stay away from the vampires. Two. Stay away from the vampires. And—wait for it—don’t get drained.”

“Helpful.”

I leaned back on the bed. “Should’ve written that down.”

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what was worse, dealing with Whitmore and Harrington or being a prisoner here. Both had there downsides, but at least with the cops, I didn’t have to worry about being drained.

Just thrown in a straitjacket .

Kyson shrugged. “Just steer clear of them and you’ll be fine.”

Fine? Right. It was about as fine as grabbing a live wire and praying you didn’t get electrocuted. The outcome was inevitable. I touched my neck, praying none of them came near me. The thought spooked me enough to get up and join Kyson at the window.

“And here I thought this would be a nightmare.”

Just because I wouldn’t have to worry about food or bills didn’t mean the trade-off was worth it. Would I rather sleep in my car or under the same roof as vampires? I’d take my car any day of the week.

“It’s not so bad once you get used to it.”

He grinned, but I had a feeling he had done that for my benefit.

“That’s just it, Kyson. I don’t want to get used to being here. It’s not like I’m moving into a sorority house or something.”

I threw my hands up, accidentally hitting Kyson’s arm. He flinched and took a step back. I felt horrible, especially knowing he was one of Osiris’s victims. I wasn’t sure how long ago, but some scars ran too deep to ever heal.

“Sororities are for girls,”

he pointed out.

“I was just trying to be helpful when I called you,”

I murmured. “If I’d known you’d kidnap me, I would’ve…”

Would I have dumped Malachi out of my car and driven away? Regardless of him being a brooding vampire, I liked to think I wouldn’t be that cruel to anyone.

“He didn’t get his hands on you.”

Kyson’s fingers twitched against the windowsill. “That’s gotta count for something.”

I opened my mouth, drew in a slow breath, then slowly blew it out. It did count for something. Still, my frustration was growing the longer I stayed here. But…all Kyson had been trying to do was save me from Osiris. That counted for something big.

His gaze flicked to the untouched plate of food he’d brought earlier. “You should eat. Letting Dick’s cooking go to waste might be considered a sin. You also might tick off Malachi since he’s gone through so much to keep you safe while you’re here.”

The mention of Malachi’s name made my jaw tighten. “I didn’t ask for him to do a damn thing for me. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

Kyson raised an eyebrow. “You’ve made that clear about a hundred times in the past week, but guess what? You’re here. Might as well try and make the best of it.”

What pissed me off was I couldn’t argue with that logic, even if I’d rather him show me the exit. I wasn’t just a prisoner in Malachi’s home. I was confined to this room. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if I could’ve explored. But it was out of the question since the castle was filled with bloodthirsty vampires.

“You’ve been here for years, right? What’s up with this place?”

Kyson grinned. “You mean living in a marbled castle?”

“Yeah.”

I gestured around me. “It looks like something out of a Gothic fever dream. Where exactly are we?”

Before he could answer, the door opened and Malachi strode inside, a few bags in hand. The air seemed to shift around him, the faint scent of sandalwood and something darker brushing against my senses. My breath caught for half a second before I forced myself to exhale.

His dark gaze flicked to Kyson then swept over me and lingered before glancing away. But I’d felt that look like a soft caress.

Malachi’s cold, unyielding gaze flicked back to Kyson. “I need a moment with Dane.”

Kyson pushed off the sill and headed for the door. “It would be nice to hear the word please once in a while. I have parental rights too, you know.”

Malachi didn’t respond as Kyson walked out and closed the door behind him.

Had he just referred to me as his child?

I glanced at Malachi, who hadn’t moved from the door. The air always felt charged when he entered my room, as if he carried a storm within him. And the more time I spent with the vampire, the more intense the feeling became. He was a demanding, dominant, closed-off jerk…that was beginning to get under my skin.

His expression was unreadable, but something about the way he held himself— Nope, I wasn’t the least bit fascinated with him, damn it.

“That was rude.”

“Your belongings.”

He stepped closer, holding the bags out stiffly, as if the gesture itself was foreign to him. His voice carried an edge, the discomfort clear in every rigid movement.

As I took them, my fingers brushed his in a fleeting touch that caused heat to spread through my entire body. I jerked my hand back instinctively. The memory of how his lips had felt on my skin, soft and warm, flooded my mind. It felt like the fight at Flaming Wings had happened a year ago instead of a week, but that brief kiss felt like it was only yesterday. “Thanks.”

“I wanted you to be…”

He glanced at something to his right, refusing to finish his sentence.

At home here? Less frightened? Utterly grateful to you?

I wanted to know what he was going to say but told myself I didn’t care. “Why are you being so nice?”

I studied him, trying to read his carefully guarded expression.

His jaw tightened. “Nice?”

The word dripped with disdain, as if it physically pained him to hear it. “You think this is nice?”

“Well, yeah.”

I held up the bags. “You didn’t have to—”

“Don’t mistake necessity for kindness,”

he interrupted, his voice cutting. “I don’t care about your gratitude.”

The hostility in his voice cut deeper than I wanted to admit, but there was something beneath it, like every piercing word and cold look was armor he couldn’t bear to take off.

Turning, I set the bags on the bed and unzipped them. Inside were my clothes, toiletries, and my mom’s bracelet, which I always kept with me. Everything else in the bags could be replaced, but this couldn’t.

When I glanced up, I caught something unexpected in Malachi’s expression. His lips had softened slightly, his eyes lingering on my face. It wasn’t exactly a smile, but it was close enough. For a split second, he looked…pleased. Then, as quickly as it appeared, the expression vanished.

“Even if you don’t want my gratitude, thank you.”

I zipped the bags closed then set them aside, my hand lingering on the last one. The running, the fight, dealing with cops, and Malachi’s injuries, plus the endless hours of isolation in this room, was starting to wear on me. I kept my back to him, trying not to let things get to me, but… I could’ve sworn I just felt his gaze on my ass.

When I glanced over my shoulder, his eyes darted away. Then mine slid over his body, lingering on his muscled chest and swollen biceps. His eyes slid back to me, and I suddenly found my bags the most fascinating things in the room.

Without a word, Malachi walked out. I stared at the door wondering what just happened.

* * * *

The soft click pulled me from my sleep. I lay there listening, wondering if I’d imagined the sound. But the quiet, almost imperceptible scrape of a shoe on the marble floor had my throat clenching.

Somehow I knew it wasn’t Malachi.

He assured me the shimmer couldn't be used to access my room, acting as a preventive measure against unexpected appearances. The bedroom door was crafted from solid oak, with a lock that couldn’t be picked. As long as it remained secured, no one would be able to enter.

I’d completely forgotten to lock it after Kyson’s visit earlier. Shit.

As silently as I could, I slipped out of bed, my feet touching the cold floor. Keeping my breath shallow, I backed into a dark corner, then slid toward the closest panel of heavy curtain.

The room was dimly lit, but I couldn’t see who had entered. But I felt their presence. Felt it like a band of pressure, as if someone had wrapped a fist around my ribs and squeezed.

“Come now. Don’t be shy.”

There was a deadly grace in his tone, flowing like liquid silk.

Every inch of me screamed to run, but my feet refused to obey. I blinked just once, and the empty space in front of me was suddenly filled with his presence.

A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, his irises a glowing red. I tried to scream for Malachi, but no sound came out. The stranger wanted me to be afraid of him. I was terrified, but I wasn’t giving him what he wanted.

After being tortured for weeks by Osiris, I had learned how to hide my fear even while facing true terror.

“Get. Out,”

I managed to say with the calmness of someone who wasn’t shaking apart on the inside, even if I was seconds away from passing out.

His fangs gleamed in the dim light, but I forced myself not to concentrate on their deadly points.

“Mmm. Your scent is maddening. I can see why he’s keeping you all to himself.”

He caressed my cheek with the back of his hand. My knee-jerk reaction was to yank away, which only made him softly chuckle. “Tell me, human. Has the prince tasted your ambrosia?”

I glared at him. The guy had no idea I’d lived with an abusive father, was tortured by a demon, and had faced Malachi’s scariness. All of that was ten times more frightening than this guy.

If he wanted me to beg for my life, he would be sorely disappointed.

Was I afraid? Fuck yes. Anyone with half a brain cell would be. But a voice in the back of my mind told me that, if I cowed to him, every vampire under Malachi’s roof would see me as a helpless deer ripe for the bleeding.

I was no one’s helpless Bambi.

“I was the one to move your car and retrieve your belongings.”

He inhaled deeply, his eyes briefly fluttering closed. “You have no idea how intoxicating the smell of Malachi’s blood, mixed with your scent, got me off.”

Unwanted images popped into my head of this asshole jerking off in my car. Now I wanted to set it on fire.

He brushed his fingers down my arm. The contact sent an ice-cold shock through me. “Your scent permeates the halls. How could I deny myself just a taste?”

He playfully snapped his teeth close to my throat. “I could make this pleasurable in ways you’ve never imagined.”

“I would rather jack off with a spiked glove,”

I gritted out, my heart thundering so hard the sound thrashed in my ears.

He sucked in a quick breath, like the idea aroused him. Sick fuck. “If that’s your kink, beautiful.”

The room seemed to darken, making me wonder if I was about to pass out. Until I saw large, obsidian wings unfurl. A deep snarl filled the room then the vampire was gone, snatched away like he’d been pulled inside a tornado.

Malachi curled his hand around the vampire’s throat, lifting him until his feet dangled. The prince’s features were twisted in pure rage, causing me to scoot a few feet away. His expression was even more terrifying than Osiris’s had ever been.

“Emmett,”

he growled, his fingers tightening around the vampire’s throat. “You dare defy me?”

A gasp escaped me when Malachi’s mouth opened wide, his lethal fangs lengthening. He was about to tear out the vampire’s throat. What Emmett had done was downright frightening, but I didn’t think his actions deserved a death sentence.

Malachi’s gaze flicked toward me, and for a brief second, all I saw was a monster. I whimpered. His features softened, and he looked at me like the sound had gutted him. He pulled back his head, then shouted, “Giovanni!”

I covered my ears. In this small room, the sound was like a bomb exploding.

Malachi gazed at me for a moment longer before glancing away. His features hardened when he turned his attention back to Emmett.

Now that his intense gaze was no longer focused on me, I felt like I could breathe again. Malachi had a way of commanding any room he entered. Not with bluster or loud words but with a quiet presence that filled every space around you.

A stranger appeared in the doorway, causing me to snap my head toward him. Giovanni—I assumed it was him—and Malachi shared too many similar features not to be related. The same strong jaw, hair coloring, and shape of his lips.

Only, Malachi’s eyes were dark while Giovanni’s were a vibrant blue.

He bared his fangs at me. Jesus. Was Malachi the only vampire with an ounce of control? The guy’s eyes began to glow red, and I nearly peed my pajama pants.

I might’ve forced myself to stand my ground with Emmett, but Giovanni made me want to cower behind Malachi. Despite how gorgeous he was, there was an aura about him that said he was the deadliest person in the room.

“Back. Off,”

Malachi snarled at him. “Do not make me do something I might regret, dear brother.”

It seemed Malachi’s family was just as dysfunctional as mine. That wasn’t something I wanted to have in common with him. In fact, I didn’t want to have anything in common with the prince. All I wanted was to leave this insane place.

And go back to running from Osiris? I wasn’t sure who was more terrifying, the demon or the vampires.

“Lock Emmett in his chambers.”

Malachi moved slightly to his right, his wings blocking my view of Giovanni. They ruffled gently, moving in a way that made them seem like each feather had a mind of its own.

Because I was the nosiest person on the planet, I ducked around the wings and saw Giovanni grabbing Emmett by his upper arm.

“How can you allow his scent to fill the halls of Winterhaven, yet deny our very nature?”

Emmett argued. “If you don’t want your pet harmed, you should’ve never brought him here, prince .”

“I warned you this would happen, Malachi.”

Giovanni’s gaze darted toward me. I quickly jerked back behind the wall of feathers. I might not want the vampires to see me as Bambi, but I didn’t have the nerve to meet the brother’s gaze.

Stupidly, I glanced around the wings again. Giovanni was simply staring at Malachi, as if bristling for a response. I was praying a fight didn’t break out. One battle between otherworldly beings was enough for me. And this time I had nowhere to run.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

Malachi’s voice hit like a rumble of thunder, making the air itself heavier.

Finally, Giovanni backed down. Thank god .

“You can’t keep a human here and expect peace, brother. Your pet is tempting us all.”

Just like with Harrington, I had an overwhelming urge to flip off Giovanni.

I was no one’s pet.

But I also didn’t have a death wish, so I kept my finger to myself.

Their departure didn’t ease my anxiety. If anything, I was even more tense as I glanced up at Malachi’s wings. They tucked into his back before he turned to stare down at me. His deep scowl didn’t bode well.

“How was Emmett able to get into your room, Dane?”

I cursed myself for shivering at the way he said my name. “How should I know?”

There was no way on earth I was telling him I’d forgotten to lock the door, especially after he’d practically drilled that into my head.

“You dare lie to me?”

His eyes began to glow red as he stepped toward me, forcing me against the wall. The stone dug into my back, making my skin sting.

“Are you trying to intimidate me?”

After I’d seen how monstrous he’d looked just moments before, it was working. I didn’t think anyone could scare me as badly as Osiris and Giovanni had, but the deadly look on Malachi’s face proved me wrong.

It dawned on me that, in doing everything to protect me, I’d begun to feel safe in his presence. And it pissed me off how he’d just reminded me that I wasn’t.

“You’re just like everyone else, throwing around your authority.”

I couldn’t stop my trembling, but I was too angry to care. “My father, the demon, the cops, your vampires…”

I jabbed a finger in his direction. “And now you . What happened to the guy I met in Flaming Wings who offered me food? Who defended me? Who flirted with me?”

Malachi’s features grew even darker, then suddenly softened. I wasn’t sure if that was the right word, but the hard lines of his jaw eased. He walked to the window, and I watched him closely, positive his hostility was nothing more than a shield.

“Live as long as I have and life leaves you bitter and jaded.”

Moving a few steps closer, I curled my arms around my stomach. “How long is that?”

“A few thousand years,”

he murmured, gazing out into the night.

My brows shot up. A few thousand ? I couldn’t even wrap my head around that much time. I thought my twenty-seven years felt like an eternity, but he had me beat.

Malachi turned, startling me. We stared at one another for the longest beat, then he broke the silence. “Keep your door locked, Dane.”

I had to stop shivering at the mention of my name on those supple lips. It was happening way too often.

With a wave of his hand, the lock engaged. He stepped through the passage that separated our rooms without another word. His wings softly brushed the frame, his departure leaving the room colder than before.