CHAPTER 10
Rue
The dark hardwood floors are cold against my bare feet as I make my way down the hallway. My legs are a little shaky, but sore in a good way.
Slade apparently doesn’t need to breathe, so he didn’t leave my pussy until my release covered his face, and I’d come at least four times.
Four.
I wasn’t sure I had it in me, to be honest. I mean, yeah, I’ve had plenty of quickies—albeit lackluster ones—and I have toys in my apartment back in the city, but there’s nothing quite like being brought to that edge over and over by someone you’re connected with, mind, body and soul. Especially when it’s amplified by their lust and adoration.
And it’s the thread of our bond that’s leading me to him now, like an invisible string between the two of us. The scent of bacon and eggs wafts up from the kitchen and my stomach grumbles in response. Moonbeams, breakfast sounds amazing right now. Fingers crossed Slade has some tea stashed in a cabinet somewhere I can drink with it. I’m itching to read my leaves and see what they might reveal.
As I pass the mirror in the hallway, my reflection has me stopping in my tracks. I make my way closer, noticing subtle differences in my appearance. Other than the fact I’m practically glowing thanks to some out of this world orgasms and his white button up barely covering my ass, my complexion seems to have softened out, my cheekbones seem sharper, my leg muscles more defined. What the hex?
I pinch my arm to make sure I’m not dreaming and hiss at the pain. Ouch. Okay, so not a dream. Has bonding with Slade somehow changed me?
I make a mental note to ask him about it as I make my way down the stairs and into the foyer. The beauty of his house takes my breath away, and I pause to admire the décor since I was a little too out of it yesterday to notice the finer details. The hardwoods are offset by white marble with black swirls, the same as the fireplace I can just make out in the formal living room.
I’m startled out of my perusal by the sound of voices at the front door, their tones escalating in intensity. Neither of which are Slade. Huh, I wonder what’s going on. Curiosity piqued, I tiptoe toward the sound, then stop and scoff at myself. Why am I sneaking? Slade has made it abundantly clear I’m welcome here and if there’s something wrong, I need to know.
With a little more urgency, I make my way to the front door, heart in my throat about what could be going on. Two figures stand there, engaged in a heated argument. One is a tall, elegant woman with stunning red hair cascading down her shoulders. Her eyes flash with anger at whatever she’s being told. The other is the man Slade dismissed yesterday, his hands folded neatly at his back. Henri, I think, was his name.
He clears his throat and continues. “You may be a part of the Dumont clan, Veronica, but as I’ve told you a hundred times before, you aren’t welcome here. In fact, Lord Slade is not allowing anyone inside while he spends time with his new mate. I’m actually on my way out, so, if you please.” He makes a gesture indicating he’d like to step outside, but she doesn’t budge.
The woman’s face contorts into a sneer. “So it’s true then? He found his soulmatch?”
“Er, yes,” he says, slowly. “He sent out the announcement this morning himself.”
She scoffs, her red hair bouncing with the force of it. “We’ll see about that. Slade!” she screeches, practically vibrating with rage.
The man’s demeanor changes in an instant. He goes from calm and collected to pissed and menacing, taking up twice the amount of space as before as he blocks the door with his body. “Let me break this down for you in a way you might understand. Lord Slade doesn’t want a reputation chaser like you, Veronica. Which is why he’s never entertained any of your many, exhausting advances. Do yourself a favor and leave with your head still attached.”
My mouth pops open when the reality of why this woman is here sinks in. She’s after my mate. Oh, hex no.
After shaking off my shock, I take a step toward them. “Um, hi. Who are you?”
Her gaze whirls to me and the venom I find within it sends a jolt of unease through me. But I can’t help but watch with a tiny bit of satisfaction as she gives me a once over, absorbing the fact I’m half naked, wearing only one of Slade’s dress shirts. Now I regret declining Slade’s offer for a quickie. I wish I was dripping with his scent.
Veronica bares her fangs at me with a hiss. “Who am I? Who are you?” she screeches indignantly.
“I’m Rue. Slade’s—“
Before I can even finish the sentence, she snaps the butler’s neck in a surprising display of strength. I suck in a gasp as I watch him slump to the floor. It won’t kill him, but I’m sure he’ll be mad as a snake when he wakes up. She steps over him without another thought, her red eyes swiveling to me.
I stand frozen, the shock of witnessing the brutal act paralyzing me for a moment. Her lips curl into a sinister smile as she takes a step closer, radiating malice. “You are Slade’s nothing.”
With my heart in my throat, I glance left and right, hoping for something I can use as a stake, but there’s nothing. I take a step back despite knowing I shouldn’t and her hand wraps around my throat before I can even scream. She stares at me in disgust as my feet lift from the floor, my airways completely restricted.
Panic pushes all rational thought right out of my brain. Her hand tightens, and my eyes bulge as I lose all ability to breathe. I pull at her arm, but it doesn’t budge. So, I resort to trying to pry her fingers loose, even though I know it won’t do any good. A witch against a vampire. The odds are not in my favor.
She’s a predator toying with her prey. Like a cat taunting a mouse before pouncing.
Suddenly, a vision hits me hard and fast, my body limp on the ground, my neck twisted at an unnatural angle, and the woman standing over me with triumphant glee in her eyes as she stalks toward Slade and pulls him in for a disgusting kiss. This crazy hexin’ vampire is infatuated with him and she’s going to snap my neck because of it.
Rage, fear, and jealousy over the sight I somehow just witnessed mix together in my veins and the well of power inside me sparks to life. It builds and builds, rising to the surface, turning those emotions into something else. Something terrifying. The candles that haven’t once flickered out since I’ve been here, dim as if something is sucking all of the light out of the room. Yet there’s a red glow cast on the woman, illuminating the sheer hatred in her eyes. Distantly, I recognize that red glow is coming from me, but I can’t focus on it.
As our gazes lock, there’s a flicker of fear there for the first time since she walked through the door. The room grows colder as my hair whips around me. Something seems to come over me and mentally, I scream, stop!
The woman gasps, shaking her head like she’s fighting a mental battle before loosening her hold and dropping me. I hit the hardwood floor with a thud and gulp for air, pulling in deep needed breaths. The candlelight returns to normal and the whirring in my ears ceases.
I feel Slade before I see him, his presence demanding to be known. He’s shirtless, only a pair of gray sweatpants hang low on his hips. If I wasn’t coughing my head off, I’d probably admire the view. He’s so strong and powerful, yet his soulful blue eyes are locked with mine, blazing with the need for vengeance.
His mouth thins into a firm line as he phases to my side and helps me to my feet. I lean against him, still trying to regain some of the air that was so brutally taken from me. Ever so gently, he brushes my hair away from my neck, and I can’t stop the wince. His jaw clenches. “Are you okay, mon amour?“ he murmurs.
I nod because it’s the only thing I can manage.
The woman recovers far quicker than I do and lunges for us, her nails poised like talons to eviscerate me. Slade strikes faster than a viper, thrusting his hand into her chest in one quick motion. Shock registers across her face, but the plea dies on her lips when Slade yanks his hand out, bringing her heart with it. “Who you were is utterly inconsequential compared to my soulmatch,” he spits as her lifeless body slumps to the ground.
Something wet hits me in the face, startling me. I notice my hand trembling as I bring it to my cheek, and my fingertips come away red. I inhale a shaky breath and with the exhale, a sob escapes. Slade drops her heart onto the ground, shaking off the excess blood in disgust before turning to me. Whatever expression he sees on my face has his eyes softening. He scoops me into his arms, uncaring he’s completely ruining one of his expensive white dress shirts.
The weight of the situation finally crashes down on me, and I can’t help but feel a mix of relief and horror. Relief that Slade got to me in time to protect me, to save me from certain death yet again. Horror at the sight of the two lifeless bodies lying on the floor, one truly dead and the other recovering. They’re a stark reminder of how dangerous his world can be.
Vampires are ruthless creatures and will do almost anything to get what they want. The glimpse into this woman’s mind was a testament to that. She thought if she got rid of me, Slade would have no choice but to finally give in and love her. How she managed to come to that conclusion is beyond me. Crazy girl’s math wasn’t mathin’.
Slade kisses the top of my head and whispers soothing words in my ear. His touch is gentle, his voice comforting, and it helps to ground me in this chaotic moment. I cling to him, seeking solace in his embrace. After my tears subside, Slade gently pulls away and cups my face in his hands, forcing me to meet his gaze. Concern etches his features as he studies me intently. “Tell me what happened.”
“It all happened so fast. She was demanding to see you, saw me in your shirt, and attacked.” I pause, remembering the strange way the candles dimmed and the way it seemed like I made Veronica drop me. “I–I, uh, I think my magic reacted, and I saw into her head, forcing her to drop me somehow.”
He considers my words. “And that’s not normal for you?”
Oh, right. Slade likely has no idea I’ve been as good as powerless all my life. “No, definitely not. I’ve never been able to perform more than a few basic spells. But this wasn’t the first time something strange happened. I felt the emotions of the woman who kidnapped me too.”
As I lift my gaze to his piercing blue eyes, I can see the turmoil within them. The weight of his world and the promise to keep me safe bears down on his shoulders.
“I’m sorry—“ I start.
His snarl cuts me off. “Don’t you dare apologize. None of this was your fault,” he says, tone filled with ferocity. His finger lands under my chin to pull my gaze to his. His grip is tight, but not painful. More of a desperate attempt to convey his unwavering protectiveness.
“I’m not sure how, but I saw the future she envisioned when she touched me. She was infatuated with you. Thought you’d somehow grow to love her if she got rid of me. Were you two together?” I blurt, my voice barely above a whisper.
“No, we were never involved. She did very little to hide her ambition to become Lady of the Dumont clan and was persistent in her pursuit, but I made it abundantly clear that I had no interest in her. Henri has chased her off more times than I can count.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. His words offer a small amount of relief, but the image of the woman kissing him with such possessiveness still lingers in my mind.
As if Slade can sense the direction of my thoughts, which through our bond he probably can, he tugs me back into his arms and presses a kiss to his mark. “I have spent centuries roaming this earth, alone, desperately searching for my soulmatch. For you. I won’t lose you now that I’ve found you.” His words sink deep into my core, like an anchor securing me to reality. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up, mon trésor. We’ll discuss this more after I get her awful scent off you. Henri will handle the rest when he wakes up.”
“Okay.”