Chapter 2
Ihave to do this.
Ambrose Draven could still smell her in the dark, cold halls of the manor in the Crow Court. Lilacs from her baths, leather from the armor she wore, and wood from her stake. He loved her smell—couldn’t get enough of it as it permeated his office. But now that she was gone, it teased him—a sick reminder that he let her go.
But he had to, didn’t he?
I have to do this, she had said. And she was right, he knew it. He knew she needed closure, and she was so much stronger now than she had been when she wandered into his manor.
The vampire’s thoughts raced as he remembered her on that first night, scraped up, slick with sweat, and . . . gorgeous.
She took his undead breath away the moment his eyes landed on her and her long lilac hair. And his heart lurched when she saw the Reinick bite marks all over her. He wanted to replace them with his.
At first, Ambrose confused his feelings. He knew he was fiercely attracted to the woman, and he assumed lust guided his whims, his words. But it wasn’t his lust that made a bargain with Lila Bran. It wasn’t his lust that fell in love with her.
His fist pounded on his desk, splinters of wood shooting out, pricking his skin before instantly healing. He remembered her bent over this very desk as he teased her ruthlessly, and he wished he had taken her, then and there.
Ambrose wasn’t sure when he realized he loved her—perhaps it was during their first training session, or on the night before Sanktus Pernox when he discovered his deep need to protect her, to keep her safe from any kind of harm, emotional or physical—but he now knew it had always been there.
Before her, he didn’t think vampires could love anymore. No matter how encapsulated love and vampires always seemed to be, the vampires of Malvania confused love for other things. Lust, yes. Companionship, of course. Longing, definitely. And above all, hunger.
But love wasn’t a common occurrence in a vampire’s eternity. Love was rare. Love was painful. Love was death.
Yet . . . that girl—that goddess of a woman—proved him wrong with a bat of those long lashes, with the curve of her soft lips, and with the strength of her utter resilience.
Ambrose Draven loved Lila Bran. Why? Why hadn’t he realized it sooner?
And now, she was gone. It had been the beginning of Yule when she left—was taken—and now the spring equinox was in a few days.
The Reinicks and Drusilla had schemed wisely. She sent a number of her strigoi to the Maggot Mansion, playing at war, but the real fight was in the Crow Court—the real fight had been between Lila and Ambrose, as he chased her through his lands, hungry for her, ready to devour her in a way he’d never expected.
He still remembered the taste of her fear-induced blood on his lips, the gush of flesh around his teeth. He still remembered her cries of pain that he caused. And a sick part of him craved more. He’d wake, in a fit of sweat and screams, from dreams where he’d drank her whole, where he hadn’t stopped when she burst with power.
He knew she forgave him but, for that, he hadn’t quite yet forgiven himself.
Lila had been gone for a longer time than she had been with him and that thought alone sent him spiraling many nights since her departure. He had left her, trapped, enslaved as he’d once been, with their enemy. He had allowed her to be in the same position he’d been in for nearly fifteen long years of his life before he was a vampire, when he was still a man with a family from a world far away from this one. From a world of color and culture and life—not the world of pyres and man killing man. A world of monsters before vampires ever even came to be.
Ambrose?
Immediately, his taut shoulders eased. On cue, Lila had called to his mind, just before sunrise, as she had every night through the Concord since she’d been with the Vipers.
Yes, love. I’m here. He paused. How was tonight?
He heard her sigh. Typical. Ciro still believes I’m fully under his control—and truthfully, it is getting harder to resist it. There are . . . moments. Moments in which I can feel him raise the dial on his thrall.
Ambrose clenched his jaw. He would rip Ciro’s godforsaken head off. And Hektor?
His thralls are still nothing in comparison. They only work when they catch me off guard.
He felt a sliver of hesitation from Lila. Like she wasn’t saying everything.
She continued, But he is getting a bit more handsy.
His nails dug into his palms, drawing small droplets of blood so black, it resembled ink. Want me to remind him that the only hands allowed to touch your gorgeous body belong to the monster of Malvania? I’ll fly over right now and show him that my hands are yours alone.
Lila snickered. What about my hands, Crow Lord? Aren’t I allowed to touch myself?
Ambrose choked, his eyes growing wide, as Lila laughed in his mind. Those pretty little fingers can go wherever they please. I’d just hope they’re thinking of me as they do.
He could hear the mirth in her tone as she sighed. Lords, what I would give to see the look on your face right now.
You can, Ambrose thought, regaining his composure. If you came home . . .
She hesitated. Soon. You know I want to be there, with you and the rest of the Crow Court. But—
But you need to prove yourself, I know, Little Crow. I couldn’t help but try.
There was silence for a long moment, but he felt her, there in his mind like a soft warmth.
How are you? she asked.
He huffed. Oh, you know. Peachy.
Ambrose,she scolded.
Damn right miserable, darling. I’m growing more and more desperate for you with each passing moment. I think of you, night and day. I smell you in the halls, I hear you in my coffin—those sweet moans and giggles like ghosts from our last morning together haunt me. My arms feel empty without you in them, my fingers feel tangled in the phantom strands of your hair. My soul has never felt colder.
He could feel just how awestruck—and how utterly guilty—his words had left her.
And on top of that, my balls have never been in more pain.
The tension he’d built snapped, and she giggled again. I promise to mend that as soon as I return.
And you do promise, right? To return?
Of course, she thought back to him without a lick of hesitation. I cannot wait to be home. I cannot wait to be wrapped in your arms again.
He sensed her truth through the Concord. And I cannot wait to meticulously wash that body of yours, cleansing away the Viper filth. He felt her heat at the thought, a warm tickle in his mind. Ah, would you like some more ideas of what I will do to you when you return? For those pretty little fingers to go where they please?
He loved riling her up, loved that even through their minds, he could have her orgasm to the thought of him—the thought of them. He decided, when she returned, he wanted to watch her work herself till she begged him to take over.
You silver-tongued devil, she snipped back.
Thinking about my tongue now, are we? Remember how it made you scream at the top of—
Stop! She squeaked through a laugh. He could feel how flustered she was becoming and he loved it.
All right, all right. Use that rush of energy I’ve given you and train. Remember, they’re weakening you with each bite.
Oh, I know. I feel weaker than I was when I got here, but nowhere close to how I’d been before. I guess all those damned squats were worth something.
He smirked. And you still have your stake concealed?
Yep, they’re none the wiser.
Excellent. Ambrose had been taking these stolen moments to train Lila, keeping her body as active as possible.
Ambrose leaned back in his chair. Remember, Little Crow, if you need me—
Call. I know. Lila paused for a moment. I love you, Ambrose. And I cannot wait to show you how much I have missed you.
Ambrose smiled. We may need to leave the Crow Court for a few days till we satiate ourselves. I wouldn’t want half of our people to hear you scream my name in absolute ecstasy.
A few days? Lila scoffed. Let’s call it a month. And don’t forget, you’d have the entire manor in rubbles if we stayed there.
You’re right. When it comes to you, I am absolutely feral, darling.
He could imagine Lila huffing a breath and rolling her eyes.
Be safe, my love, he commanded. And, Lila?
Yes?
I love you too.
He felt her like a caress, and then their connection through the Concord slipped close. But he felt her, there in his heart. She was with him.
She would always be with him.