Chapter 26 Danni #2
“They are a funny pair, those two.” Damon’s breath hot against my ear makes me jump.
Any other time, I would have turned around and punched him in the face for startling me.
Police training at its finest. But now? I feel like I’m glued to the floor, my eyes trained on Knox and Celeste, watching and waiting for something to happen between the two of them.
For Knox to finally show me his true self and make me look like the biggest idiot in here.
“They were passionate lovers once; I even thought they might have been mates at one point,” Damon muses.
My spine stiffens as images of Knox and Celeste entangled together float through my mind.
“Isn’t it interesting that the moment you walk in and he’s no longer a tormented, pampered prince, she takes a renewed interest in his feelings?”
Poison. Damon’s words feel like poison taking root as rage starts to boil my blood.
I know he’s baiting me, wanting me to cause a scene or admit that…
No. I can’t reveal anything that might lead him to discover the truth about me and Knox.
That something other than physical attraction binds us together.
It takes all of my strength, but I finally peel my focus away from Knox and Celeste and give Damon my full attention.
I don’t bother to hide my eyeroll. Of course he’s dressed as a peacock.
Long tail feathers fan out beautifully and every blue and gold thread twinkles in the dim lighting.
I’d admire the costume and the effort it must have taken to make it if it was on anyone other than him.
I school my face into boredom as I look him up and down.
“Can I help you with something?” I quip, taking a big gulp of champagne and turning my attention back to the crowd.
Damon’s eyes narrow. I don’t have to be a genius to understand he’s desperately trying to figure me out, to see if his petty little comments have gotten under my skin.
Then his face switches, quicker than a blink, into the cocky vampire I’m used to seeing.
“So feisty tonight, Danni. Like Cyprian said, we’re all simply…
curious about you.” He gestures to the room with his glass in hand.
I notice he’s not drinking champagne like everyone else.
His flute is almost filled to the brim with blood.
A sobering reminder of why I’m here and what I came to do… and that I’m here also as a captive.
“You’re mistaken if you think I could ever begin to understand my master’s thoughts and feelings.
Despite what everyone here thinks, it’s not that deep.
He chose me as his Familiar. That’s all there is to it.
Shouldn’t you all be bending the knee and kissing my feet for saving the magic around here? ”
I don’t know where my little speech comes from. Liquid courage from the alcohol and the lasting effects of the magical lullaby, maybe?
Having heard my rant, Cyprian bursts into laughter as he approaches us, and Damon stiffens at his presence.
I smirk, not bothering to hide my pleasure at the fact that I’m winning over Knox’s dad so easily.
At least one of my conquests this evening is going according to plan.
Perhaps if I push a little more, Cyprian might be more open to giving me information.
Hope bubbles in my chest at the sound of his deep laughter. He could be a good ally.
“Cyprian, I believe you owe me a dance,” I chime, offering him a broad smile, which he laps up like an old dog that hasn’t been given a belly rub in a while.
Without a backwards glance at Damon, I follow him into the swarms of people.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure I know the steps,” I mutter to him nervously.
“Don’t worry, just follow my lead.”
Cyprian waltzes me around the room like I’m nothing more than a doll. My feet hardly touch the floor as he glides me around effortlessly. I lose myself in the moment, but it’s short-lived.
As the music grows louder and the prickling sensation on my skin becomes too much of a distraction, I find it hard to remember why I agreed to the dance in the first place. The bond seems to be growing tighter in my chest. I don’t want Cyprian’s attention. I want his son.
Anticipation overrides everything else. Knox must be close. I find myself searching the blurry masked faces for him. My heart races as the prickling intensifies; heat blooms across my chest when I remember that vampires can smell my change of emotions.
But what am I even feeling? How do I describe this invisible thread that holds the two of us together?
So lost in my thoughts, I don’t notice when Cyprian lets me go mid-twirl. A gasp escapes my lips as the prickling heat ceases momentarily, and then I find myself in Knox’s arms.
Even with the wolf mask disguising his features, I know it’s him by the charged electrical current that flows between us. His crimson eyes dance around, taking in my adorned features. They really are beautiful, even if their color means he’s a blood-sucking vampire.
With our bodies flush against each other, he dips his head and leans closely to the shell of my ear as the music slows.
“Speaking to Damon like that was both brave and stupid.” His deep voice rumbles straight to my core. “Now tell me, are you still being a brat? Or will you be good for me this evening?”
All I can think of is how hot his breath feels against my skin. An involuntary shiver slithers down my spine, bringing some of my wit back with it. I try not to think about all the delicious ways he might punish me if I do keep up my bratty attitude.
“I wasn’t about to let Damon find out what we are. Whatever the fuck that is. By the way, you and Celeste should learn to use inside voices.”
Oh God, did I really just ask what we are?
I huff before he can comment. “And yes, I’m still angry with you. I’ve never done what we did earlier today with anyone before, and you ruined the experience by being so… you.”
His eyes darken behind the mask. I fight the urge to drag it from his face so I can see his expression… then kiss him. He swallows as his eyes flicker down to my lips.
Shit, is he thinking the same thing?
“By the sound of your breathy moans, it didn’t sound like I ruined it at all. In fact, I’d dare to say it was the most erotic and sensual experience of your pathetic human life.”
I blink, cheeks aflame. “And judging by how hard your dick was, you didn’t mind it either.”
And there it is. The unspoken words that neither of us will dare to admit to one another. Beyond frustrated, I raise my hand to slap his chest, but he catches my wrist in one quick movement, spinning me around, never missing a beat as he continues to sway us from side to side.
“I’m sorry for earlier,” he whispers softly.
“But you have to understand that your presence here puts me in a difficult position.” He pulls off my white glove in one smooth motion, discarding it to the floor.
His hand touches mine and the sparks explode beneath my skin.
“If I give into this, like I want to, then I risk ruining everything I have planned.”
A billion questions rush through my mind at once, but I can only focus on a small part of what he said…
He wants to give in.
“You know, you bite your bottom lip when you try to figure me out, and it drives me fucking crazy.” He inhales deeply, his eyes rooted to the spot in question.
I instantly release my lip from between my teeth. “Wow, you’re capable of an emotion other than perpetual broodiness. Here I am thinking your heart is made of stone.”
“And here I am thinking you wouldn’t be any fun to play with.” His eyes swirl, and the bond thrums in delight.
I clear my throat and step back from his body a little bit.
“Celeste mentioned something about a binding earlier. What is that exactly?” I ask, looking at anything but him.
“The binding is the ritual that must be completed in order for you to become a Familiar. It’s a ceremony that helps us keep the magic alive.”
I glance around nervously at the empty ballroom. I was so lost in his words that I didn’t notice we stopped dancing.
“What’s happening? Where is everyone?” I take a few more steps away from him so I can think clearly.
“I thought this conversation would be better if we were alone.” Knox pulls off his mask and tosses it to the floor.
“I don’t understand,” I mutter.
“Danni, I have treated you terribly. And I want to apologize for that. My kind hopes and dreams about one day finding their fated mate, and I have squandered the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent relationship we have.”
Oh. So, we were having this conversation.
“Woah, slow down there,” I reply. “You don’t have to do this. We’re practically strangers, I don’t even know your last name.”
Knox’s mouth twitches upwards as his eyes search mine.
“No, I have to do this now. Just let me say what I have to say before I lose my nerve.” I swallow and take a deep breath in.
Whatever he’s about to tell me, it could either shatter me or pull me into his web even more. “And it’s Collard, by the way.”
My eyebrows scrunch. “What?”
“My last name. It’s Collard.”
I’m taken aback, I was expecting something… less human. Something more ethereal or majestic.
He nervously runs his hand through his hair.
“You must understand that we are, first and foremost, predators. I’ve done everything I can to keep you away, to make sure you fear me and this realm.
But it causes me physical pain to treat you like this.
I can’t keep doing it.” He anxiously paces the floor.
“I’m terrified of what will happen if they discover what you are to me. ”
I swallow and ask tentatively, “And what am I to you, exactly?”
Knox throws his head back and laughs, his hands falling limp at his sides as his posture slouches.
“Isn’t it obvious? You are everything. And yet nothing at all.
I must bind you to me and be your master, but how can I when I know you won’t follow a single command that I give you?
You hate me for what I am, and I don’t blame you for that, but I hate that we can never be more than allies working towards the same goal—to get you out of here. ”
I can’t think, let alone breathe.
He stills. “Your presence is killing me, Danni. Because I can’t have you in the way that I want you, because they will murder you in your sleep if they ever find out that I care about anything else in this world other than myself.”
My breath hitches further as I look at the broken man in front of me. My heart shatters—for him and for me. Because no matter how hard I fight this, I feel the same way.
“Knox, I don’t hate you. You make me feel like I’m going insane. When you’re here, I’m terrified you’re going to rip out my throat, but I’m more terrified that I’d actually let you!” The admission falls from my mouth to hang between us on a thread of silence.
“I would never hurt you,” he whispers, closing the space between us to rest his forehead on mine.
And it all feels so right.
His hands find their way to my neck and then to my jawline; with his knuckle, he tips up my chin, giving me no choice but to look at him.
“We can never be more than what we are at this very moment. Do you understand?”
Tears prick at the corner of my eyes. We admitted our feelings, but has it really changed anything?
Do I want it to change? I’m practically a vampire hunter, complete with a sharp stake tucked tightly in my bag, just waiting for the right moment to strike.
And he is the sole heir to Cyprian’s throne.
I’m so tired. Tired of being a good person. Tired of fighting for people who don’t want my help.
But before I can answer him, the room swims back into focus. People surround us once more and the music is louder than ever as golden confetti cascades down from the ceiling.