Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
SEBASTIAN
After Irina made the humans bring out one of the sofas for her, she settles on it, making sure her pale skin is exposed as much as possible to my eyes.
It doesn’t escape my notice that she wears nothing under the red silk.
If her parted thighs are not enough, the hardened nipples staring at me through the silk tell me more than I want to know.
Keeping all my focus on her face, I smirk internally at the displeasure she shows for my lack of interest. She is a beautiful and powerful woman.
After so many centuries, beauty and power are not enough.
Not when what they hide beneath is rotten to the core.
“I see you have settled here.” Attempting small talk, she twirls one manicured finger, indicating the mess I made earlier.
“The council has nothing to worry about.” Dismissing her comment, I wave my hand nonchalantly. “It will be fixed, and it’ll look better than it did before the sun goes down tomorrow.”
“I can also see that your opinion about your elders has not improved.” Anger glitters in her dark gaze. “You are lucky it is me hearing your words.” Licking her red lips suggestively, a smile curls up her lips. “I’ve always had a soft spot for you, ever since you were a nestling.”
Unflinchingly I watch her face, knowing too well she is doing everything she can to push my buttons.
A very long time ago, she would’ve succeeded.
Not today. I have worked very hard to get where I am.
She will learn that soon enough. The slight line forming between her perfectly shaped eyebrows tell me my control is much better than hers.
Purposely, I allow one corner of my mouth to tilt up.
The stiffening of her shoulders being noticeable is the reward I didn’t expect so soon after coming to America.
The Council, in their arrogance, has become weak.
Tonight is all the confirmation that I need.
Opening my mouth to unnerve her more, until I have her quivering in anger, is all I manage before emotions slam me from Marcus and Andrei.
The two idiots are much better at keeping themselves under control than what they’ve been doing today.
The excitement is the strongest, accompanied by curiosity that they are barely containing.
What the fuck has them blasting emotions through our connections so soon after leaving the penthouse?
Have they found the girl that fast? There is no way they have, unless she has walked straight through the hotel doors looking for us.
Covering my misstep while Irina seems intrigued by my hesitation, I glance at the humans.
“I’m rather hungry this morning. We can chat later after we’ve had our fill?” Ignoring the powerful vampire sitting across from me, I curl a finger at the closest human. “Come closer, human. I don’t bite…hard.”
“You must’ve not fed recently if you can’t indulge me with a conversation first,” Irina remarks, tracking the human woman that is ambling towards me. “If you are that hungry, maybe I would be a better choice?” She says it nonchalantly, like she didn’t just offer me her blood.
One thing we are all cautious about is who we give our blood to.
The more powerful the vampire, the stronger the connection that will form.
For Irina, one of the eight sitting on a throne, to offer her blood in passing is as laughable as the girl coming to find us on her own.
Unless I’ve missed something, and I’ve been very thorough in my research with spies planted years ago everywhere, I would think she wants me tied to her.
They have no idea what I’m planning, of that I’m sure.
So, what will make them show their weakness by offering an unbreakable bond to a troublemaker like me?
“Trouble in paradise, Irina?” Lifting one eyebrow, I halt the woman trying to crawl on my lap. “You need protection? I can’t think of another reason you would want to bond with me.”
“Don’t be absurd!” She spits the words out and shifts restlessly on the sofa—another show of emotion I wasn’t expecting. “You are powerful in your own right, but I’m older. My blood will help you achieve so much more. Why wouldn’t you want that?”
“And tie myself to you?” Tilting my head, I let her see my condescending smirk. “Why on Earth would I want that?” Her face reddens in rage, so I give her a boon. “Why would I tie myself to anyone after being free of that connection for a century.”
“Not everyone is like your Sire used to be, Sebastian.” Calming down, she huffs a breath.
“It has become a power play among the Council to collect powerful connections.” Not meeting my gaze, she calls one of the humans to her.
“I figured I’d approach you first before the rest of the vermin descends on you.
I guess I made a misjudgment on how interested you’d be to form a connection after everything that happened. ”
“If it makes you feel better, I have no intention to form a connection with anyone on the Council.” Her eyes narrow at me, not missing that I said “anyone on the Council,” leaving other connections open to interpretation.
We can scent a lie, all of us. With carefully chosen words, skirting the truth is possible.
Stopping any further comments, I pull the human in my lap and bite into her wrist with a vengeance.
Irina glares at my defiance, taking the human’s wrist instead of the neck, but I ignore her.
She has picked these women herself, all dark-haired or red-haired, none of them blonde like her.
It pleases me greatly that I have messed up her plans. My pleasure does not last long.
The door opens without knocking and Andrei strides in like a king of a castle, smirking at Irina’s aggressive hiss. Focusing on holding my emotions in check, I didn’t even notice I drained the human to her last drop. Her lifeless body drapes over my knees like a blanket.
“Or I can have this one as compensation, Sebastian.” Irina eyes Andrei with way too much interest for my liking. “First, you reject me, then you kill my human. These are from my personal feeders, and she was one of my favorites.”
My gut clenches when the scheme she has been playing starts unraveling.
She knew I was going to reject the bond.
She came intending to bond one of mine to her.
I was so focused on her to show her weakness that she managed to play me like a child.
Well, I’ll give her points for being smart, but that’s all she will get from me.
“Well played, Irina.” I tip an imaginary hat her way. “But, no.” Wiping my lips with the back of my hand, I lift myself up, the body of the human rolling off my knees and thumping at my feet.
“You come unannounced, wreak chaos in our city, reject a bond with one of the Council, and you kill my human.” Irina lifts herself up as well, staring at me in anger.
She is as tall as my six foot four, putting us at eye level.
“That is an insult to us all. Unless you plan on paying for those crimes, I suggest you give me Andrei.” Glancing at him, her mouth twists in a grimace.
“I had my sights on Marcus, but I guess this one will do.”
“If you think I’ll let you get anywhere near my throat without a fight, you have lost your mind,” Andrei growls at her through clenched teeth. “Even if he commands me, I’d rather he rips my head off.”
“Insolence!” Irina spits at him, her nails digging in her palms as she clenches her fists.
“He is not on offer, Irina.” Calmly, I step over the body at my feet.
Someone will need to get rid of it later.
I doubt Irina will be willing to carry it with her.
“If the Council has issues with me, then I should have a trial, no? Let’s hear the charges spoken and what I can do to soothe your concerns.
Giving you one of mine is not going to happen.
Tonight…” When her eyes light up in interest, I smile indulgently at her. “Or any other night.”
“You have brought this upon yourself, Sebastian. I tried to help you the only way I know how, without raising suspicions. Now you are on your own.”
Rage is burning in her red glowing eyes when she gets in my face.
We stare at each other for long moments, the tips of our noses almost touching.
Her breasts press into my chest, the hard nipples poking my shirt.
Her pupils dilate, her gaze flicking to my lips.
So powerful, yet so rotten and predictable.
My stomach churns from the nearness. Licking my lips slowly escalates her breathing.
“You said your piece.” My words are spoken softly, for her ears only.
“Now get the fuck out of my space before I get angry.” Her eyes widen at the power I blast at her, making her stagger a step back.
“You won’t like me much when I’m angry, Irina.
You remember Sebastian from a long time ago.
He is not among us any longer.” With a wink, I walk past her, our shoulders bumping in the process.
“You will pay dearly for this!”
With a hiss, Irina leaves the apartments in a whirl of wind. The three humans look around, confused, before scrambling after her like frightened rabbits. Holding one finger up, I halt Andrei’s words until I’m sure she is gone. Then I level a livid glare on him.
“The girl came to us.” Undeterred, Andrei grins at me, leaving me with my mouth hanging open.
“We found her in the lobby. Well not really. She toppled over us while running for the staircase.” When I just gape at him, he continues blabbing.
“She tried to trick us into taking her blood. Smart little thing.” A frown forms between his eyebrows.
“Marcus is with her downstairs. I think she might be mute. She hasn’t said a word… ”
“Let’s go!”
Cutting him off, I’m out of the door faster than I’ve ever moved in my long life.