Chapter Twenty
Sienna had fainted from the blinding speed when Volkov whisked her away, just as she had in Nikolai’s arms. Only it was worse, because she was carried upside down like a piece of meat. Perhaps that is all she would become when the monster returned.
She awoke in a spacious, well-furnished room. Certainly the house of an affluent person. A warm fire crackled in the grate of a white marble fireplace. A black vanity with swirling silver filigree, too gaudy for her taste, sat in one corner with a white-cushioned stool. Two silver candelabras stood on the black mantel and a third on a square dining table set with crystal and silverware, but no food, on a scarlet tablecloth. Her red cloak hung on a coat hook on the wall.
She lay atop a large bed covered in a thick black coverlet. When she moved her bare feet, a chain jangled where her right leg was cuffed and linked to the wrought-iron footboard. Standing, she lifted a glass of water sitting on the bedside table and sniffed it. No scent of any kind. She scoffed to herself. If they wanted to poison or harm her, she could do nothing to stop them. She took a few sips to quench her thirst, then stood and walked to the one window in the chamber, dragging her chain behind her.
Snow fell steadily outside onto a torchlit courtyard with brick walls too high to see over. She remembered the last time she stood before a window watching the snow fall at the duke’s castle. Her heart clenched at the thought of Nikolai, subdued and helpless in that gold net. They planned to send him to the Glass Tower and induce him into a bloodless sleep. She bit her lip and wrapped her arms around herself. They did not say death, so there was still a chance of saving him. If she could save herself first.
The door clicked open behind her. She swiveled, swallowing the rising panic with her chin held high as Volkov entered. She was in the presence of a predator, a wolf in gentleman’s clothing, and she knew it. Time to prepare for whatever battle was in store. Back straight and arms at her sides, she looked at him dead on.
“I am pleased you are recovered.” He waltzed over, hands at his back in a nonthreatening posture. Wearing black leather pants and a loose silk shirt fitted with a black short-coat, he no longer looked as threatening as he did in his Legionnaire uniform. But that hardly put her at ease.
“Why do you no longer wear the Legionnaire uniform? Are you in hiding?”
He sauntered closer. She took a step back. He stopped a few feet away, facing the window. “It is important to blend in when there are eyes everywhere on the lookout for enemies of the Black Lily.” His icy gaze swiveled to her. “Do you not agree?”
Best not to answer that. “Where are we?”
He ambled back to the table and pulled out a chair. “Have a seat…Lady Sienna.”
No point in resisting. The only way to get some answers and perhaps delay whatever plans he had for her was to submit. She joined him and took a seat in the chair he offered. Standing behind her, he unfolded the napkin set atop the bone-white china and spread it across her lap while leaning over her shoulder. She flinched when his breath brushed her neck and she heard him inhale a deep breath. But he did not touch her. He took his seat opposite her, leaning back in the chair, and crossed an ankle over his knee.
“You are in my home away from home.”
“And where might that be?” Far enough north for snow to blanket the ground.
“That is irrelevant. Why don’t you ask me questions that have some import?”
“What do you plan to do with me?”
His wide mouth slid into a sickening smile. She held his gaze, somehow without curling her lip in disgust.
“First, I plan to feed you.”
“And then what?”
The door clicked open. A maid in black and white livery entered with a silver platter of food and a decanter of red wine. The maid was young and pretty, bruises visible on her neck around puncture wounds. Bite marks. Sienna couldn’t help but stare. It was rare to see a bleeder with visible bite marks, unless a vampire was staking his claim and letting others know she was his host. When she set the platter down, hands shaking, Sienna noted another bruise on her wrist. This wasn’t a claiming but abuse.
The servant looked on Sienna with pity in her eyes, dark circles marring her complexion. Whether she was Volkov’s bleeder or she was for his men or all of them together, the fact that they hadn’t even sealed the wound to let her heal properly was disgraceful. Nikolai had taken extra care with her when he had fed from her.
Nikolai.
A painful tightening squeezed her chest. She sucked in a breath and watched as the maid lifted the silver dome at the center of the platter to reveal a plate of beef and vegetables in a thick sauce. The maid spooned some onto her plate under the watchful eye of Volkov. He smiled, seeming to enjoy her discomfort as she set the serving spoon down with a clank.
“My guest will have some wine as well, Miranda.”
The poor girl flinched and poured Sienna’s glass to the brim, then set the wine down.
“That will be all, Miranda.”
She dipped a quick curtsy and fled the room. By now, Sienna’s temper burned bright, seeing that she wasn’t the only one held prisoner here. And the effects of this repugnant man’s imprisonment had shaken that poor girl to the core.
“Eat, Lady Sienna. You will need your strength.” He tapped his fingers rhythmically where his hand rested on the table.
She took a sip of wine, knowing she could not stomach a bite. Even the wine seemed to stick to the lump in her throat.
“Why is Lord Barker retrieving me at dawn?”
“Ah. Finally. A real question. It’s my understanding that the two of you have some history together, do you not?”
“We do.” She set the crystal wineglass back on the table, tucking her hands in her lap.
“It just so happens that Lord Barker is now in service to the queen. And he has agreed to conduct a favor.”
“And that favor is?”
He smiled. “I don’t want to spoil the surprise. But until then, I have the great pleasure of your company.” He shifted himself in his pants in a more than conspicuous manner. “Tell me, why did you run so far away from the likes of Lord Barker? He’s a wealthy man, a leading member of Dale’s Peak. You could’ve been the highest lady in all the province.”
Sienna recalled the simmering hatred brewing in the eyes of her former betrothed only hours before. His loathing for her had not diminished over the many years since she’d left him for the wilds of Silvane Forest. It wasn’t surprising that he’d nurture his contempt for her, but it had never mattered since she’d never thought to see him again.
“Wealth matters little to me, sergeant,” Sienna finally replied.
The demon chuckled. “So I’ve heard. You live almost like a pauper in your little cottage in the woods, from what I understand. With your wolves to keep you company.” He made a show of licking his tongue over a sharpened fang. “And it’s lieutenant now. I’ve been promoted.”
He said the last with meaning as if to taunt her, but she wasn’t quite catching why. Despite her utter helplessness to escape this creature, her anger rose like a flame licking up her body. She couldn’t even disguise her disgust anymore, letting him see the rage she tried to keep in check.
He leaned forward, both elbows on the table, gazing intently at her, an expression of awe mixed with desire lining his face. His blue pupils were slowly darkening to black.
“There is a fiery light in your eyes, my lady. I want to swallow it whole and feel it burn down deep inside.”
A deep growl rumbled in his chest, but Sienna couldn’t hold her tongue. There was little she could do to stop him from doing whatever he wanted. She would keep her dignity the best she could, for she could feel the shifting energy in the air.
“I’ll bet Nikolai enjoyed all of your wares, didn’t he? And I’ll bet you gave it all to him willingly. Eagerly. Didn’t you?” He sat back and laughed. “Now, that got your pulse pounding. I can feel it in the air, vibrating on my tongue, tempting me to taste my prize.”
“You will have nothing of me,” she said, voice strong but trembling. “You can do as you like, but nothing you say or do will change who I am. Or the love I bear him.”
“Love? Now that is fascinating. That anyone could love the former lieutenant, a monster in his own day from what I understand, is quite a shock.”
Yes. She did love him, no matter how she tried not to. And she could deny it no longer. If only she’d told him before this.
“You are the monster,” she spat, ignoring his slander against Nikolai.
“Perhaps.” He grinned like a fiend, long canines a fierce contrast against his red lips. “I would love to hear your thoughts on the matter by morning.”
“What are you waiting for, you repulsive beast?” She curled her hands into fists, her nails digging into the fleshy part of her palms. “Are you just going to gloat over me or—”
The door opened suddenly. The bald vampire named Boris entered with a quick bow of the head to Volkov. He took his stance at attention just inside the door facing them.
“Finally!” Volkov lurched to his feet and prowled around the table, black gaze raking Sienna from top to bottom. “I couldn’t wait much longer.”
“Sorry, lieutenant,” came Boris’s gruff reply.
“No matter. There’s still plenty of the night left. Isn’t there, my lady?” He gripped her wrist and yanked her to her feet.
Without a second thought, she grabbed the wineglass and smashed the top on the silver candelabra, shattering the lip. With a swift swipe toward his face, she got a good cut right near his eye before he was able to grab her swinging arm.
“Oh yes, my wild one. Let’s see what you’ve got, eh?”
He squeezed the wrist holding the glass so tight, and she was forced to drop the broken stem where it shattered on the stone floor. With a sudden move, he lifted her by the waist and tossed her on the bed, her chain rattling and the cuff cutting into her ankle. She twisted onto her stomach and lunged for the candelabra sitting on the far bedside table. She would use any means possible to do as much damage to him as she could.
He grabbed her skirt and jerked back, dragging her down the bed, then straddled the tops of her thighs.
“I love it when they fight,” he mumbled, his breath coming fast. “Boris! Give me your knife.”
“What!” screamed Sienna, struggling to get away, but it was no use.
“Hold still, my little red witch.” He gripped her by the back of the throat, pinning her, cheek down to the mattress. “We wouldn’t want to cut your pretty skin. I don’t want a drop to go to waste.”
The blunt end of the cold blade pressed to the top of her spine. Fear kept her frozen in place as he tore through her gown—the beautiful dress Nikolai had bought for her—ripping it open down the back one inch at a time.
“Oh yes. Delicious,” he hissed on a demented chuckle. He tore the thin fabric of her chemise at the right shoulder, touching her where she knew her strawberry birthmark was. “You’re not going to believe this, Boris.” Boris said nothing. “This little gem is going to make Lord Barker so happy. For his superstitious lot.” He leaned down and hissed in her ear with a chuckle, “You’ve got the devil’s mark, don’t you, witch?”
Sitting up, he tore the chemise open. She felt the haunting kiss of cool air on her back, buttocks, and legs as he exposed her completely. He lay on top of her, panting against her neck where he swept her hair away. She sank her nails into the coverlet, preparing for his bite, a familiar fire burning low in her gut.
“My pretty witch is quiet and submissive now, isn’t she?” He trailed his tongue up her neck and groaned. “I think you want it.”
“You are a disgusting piece of filth,” she whispered, barely able to breathe under his weight. “And I hope Nikolai smiles when he kills you.”
He fisted her hair and wrenched her head back, stinging her scalp. “Let’s get all thoughts of your precious Nikolai out of the picture, shall we?”
On a vicious growl, he descended and sank his fangs deep into the base of her neck. Sienna hitched in a terrifying breath and clenched her fists in the covers as searing pain shot down her spine.
“Ah!” she cried out, clawing to get away.
He moaned and sucked hard, drawing her blood so fast, the pain intensified. Then his elixir went to work.
Raw, cold, paralyzing fear flooded her veins. The kind tinged with darkness that left her hollow and hopeless, wishing for anything to fill the void. Even death.
He ground against her with his pelvis, pressing her into the mattress, moaning as he sucked with fierce intensity, seemingly aroused by his own brutality. Tears spilled down her cheeks, the sharp pain and rabid fear ripping through her body and soul. He jerked away and lifted off her with a cackle, releasing his grip in her hair.
“Fuck!” He flipped her body by the waist. She rolled like a lifeless doll onto her back, unable to move at all.
Straddling above her on his knees, her blood trickling down his chin, Volkov licked out with his tongue, his eyes dilated full black, only a rim of silvery-blue shining with unnatural luster. The blood madness.
Shaking his head, he said, “Good thing you came, Boris. Because I want to suck every fucking drop from her.” He pulled off her ripped gown. Her arms slipped out of the sleeves with ease then fell back at her sides, too numb to defend herself. He tossed the garment on the floor, leaving her in the ragged chemise. “Bloody hell, you taste good.” He fell back on top of her and pressed his mouth to hers, smearing her own blood onto her lips and sweeping in with his tongue, the salty tang of him making her nauseous. He pulled back, nicking her lip with a fang. Like a lover.
“Go ahead and scream.” He bent and pricked her neck lightly, then suctioned for a moment before lifting over her, bracing with his arms straight. “You can’t, can you? They never can once I’ve gotten my fangs into them.” He combed a hand through her hair, fanning it out alongside her head before meeting her gaze, the darkness there showing her what a monster truly looked like. “I may be forbidden to suck you dry. The queen has plans for you, you see. But I’ll come close, little red.” He let his hand roam down her throat to her breast where he squeezed none too gently. She remained impassively frozen—able to feel every sensation yet could move nothing. “And in these next few hours, you’ll learn a new master.”
He descended, piercing the flesh just above her breast which he’d plumped with a tight squeeze, shooting spine-numbing pain through her back. She closed her eyes, a tear slipping out the side and into her hair as she repeated over and over again the mantra that would keep her whole, if she survived.
Nikolai, Nikolai, Nikolai…
A spark lit inside her chest when she thought of him—fierce and strong—the small flame swirling in a circle as her fear burned into anger, building into a tempest of rage.
“So good,” he said on a moan as he lifted up onto all fours and stared down at her. He chuckled. “What? It doesn’t feel good? No worries. I’ll make it feel good before it’s all over. Once I’m full of your blood, we’ll move on to your body.” He trailed his tongue along his blood-reddened lips. “Fuck, if you don’t taste like heaven. No wonder the former lieutenant was guarding you so well. Keeping you all to himself.” He trailed a finger down her throat to the hollow between her collarbones then down between her breasts as if exploring his lover. But she wasn’t his lover. He chuckled. “You know what’s funny? I have the lieutenant’s old job over all the royal Legionnaires. And here I am, enjoying his woman.”
The swirling flame in her chest blossomed, sending tendrils throughout her body, reaching through her arms and legs. At first, Sienna thought it an effect of his poisonous elixir, but this internal flame didn’t constrict her with fear. Rather the opposite. It felt like a whisper on the wind in Silvane Forest, fanning the wildfire with her growing fury.
“The lieutenant is a traitor, darling. Just like you. Roaming the country to find sad little peasants to join your sad little cause.”
His hand roamed down over her ribcage, sliding lower.
“There is only one penalty for traitors to the Varis Crown. And that is death. But the queen has grander plans for you. She must make an example of you for all the people to see.”
He gripped the hem of her chemise where it had hiked to her knee and jerked it up to her waist. He rose up on his knees, gazing his fill.
“But until dawn, you are mine. My only restrictions are I cannot kill you. And so I won’t.” He lowered again to all fours and walked lower down her body, holding her gaze. “But I will slake my thirst.” He lifted her leg with a hand at the crook of her knee, then grazed his nose down her inner thigh, inhaling deep. “Oh yes,” he said on a groan. “I need a bit more of this honey-blood.”
Sienna cringed and closed her eyes, her mind awash with the friendly flames licking inside her body. He clenched a hold on her leg and bit into the fleshy part of her inner thigh with a reverberating growl, sucking deep. His slurping moans rolled into one another.
Sienna pushed outward the fire burning in her gut, letting her rage reverberate through her body, rushing through her blood. Volkov suddenly gagged and pulled away, choking on her blood, which dribbled from his mouth. He screamed and rolled onto the bed.
“Volkov! What happened?” Boris was at his side, pulling him up by the shoulders.
“It burns!” Volkov cried out, gripping and clawing at his throat. “It burns…water.”
Boris let him go and poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the table, but Volkov crumbled to the floor in agony. Another vampire jerked the door open and scanned the room to find Volkov on the floor.
“Help me!” commanded Boris. “Let’s get him to his room.”
“What happened?”
“I don’t know.” They each took one side and lifted him to his feet. “He just started screaming that it burns.”
As they dragged him from the room, Volkov jerked his head in her direction with a wicked glare. “You bitch. What did you do to me?” His voice sounded hoarse and dry.
“You wanted to swallow my fire,” she said, still immobile on the bed. “And so you have.”
“You’ll pay, witch.”
They pulled him into the corridor and slammed the door shut, bolting it locked from the outside. Sienna stared at the arched ceiling. The flames within dimmed. She ached from his bites and the toxic elixir he’d poured inside of her. Her body was weak from his poison and his pain, but her spirit was strong.
She didn’t know or understand where the flames came from, though their heat felt like the bright sun shining through the black oaks of her forest. Her entire body tingled with the hint of magic.
“Thank you,” she whispered though she wasn’t sure to whom.
As the minutes ticked by into hours, she repeated the mantra to strengthen her spirit for the punishment—whatever it might be—which would come at dawn.
Nikolai, Nikolai, Nikolai…