Vampires Realm Prophecy 01 - Child of Light

locked on his.
    He raised his hand and silence descended. She waited, watching him demurely sip his blood and breathe out a sigh of pleasure.
    Her eyes fell to his broad chest. A frown creased her brow when she saw the chain around his neck and recognised the symbol of Caelestis hanging from it.
    “No.” She breathed the word and shook her head when he smiled into her eyes.
    Her stomach dropped. It couldn’t be possible. He couldn’t have. A glance at the people around her told her that he had. In their faces, she could see fear, but it wasn’t her they were scared of.
    “It’s been so long since I’ve seen you,” he said with another broad smile.
    His eyes raked over her, his smile becoming a leer when he ran his tongue over his lips. She curled her lip up in disgust and tried to get her hands free but the guards had bound them too tightly behind her back and she was too weak to break the chains.
    “Where is mother? I wish to speak with her.”
    The way he laughed dryly told her everything she needed to know. He had killed Iona and taken her place, just as he had threatened to. There was nothing stopping him now.
    “I’m afraid it’s not possible. If you wish to talk to the master of your family, you will have to talk to me.” He grinned.
    “I won’t talk to you.” She turned away.
    The air shifted and she felt him behind her, his hands holding hers so tight they hurt. The glass smashed. He always had been fast. He had reached her before it had hit the floor beside his chair.
    “You shall talk to me,” he whispered into her ear.
    She tried to pull away from him but his hands slid up her arms and he held her flush against him. She could feel the contours of his body against hers. He pressed himself into her. His tongue traced the edge of her earlobe and she grimaced. Jerking backwards, she growled threateningly.
    “Get off me!”
    He rewarded her effort by throwing her to the ground. She curled up in pain, her shoulder aching where she’d landed on it.
    “Kill me,” she said in a near whisper through gritted teeth.
    He stooped, hauled her up onto her feet and turned her to face him. “What did you say?”
    “I said, kill me.” She squared up to him and smiled internally at the surprise visible in his eyes. “I heard the pact you made with the lord of Aurorea. You said you would hunt me down and kill me like the abomination I am. So kill me.”
    He hesitated. A flicker of doubt entered his eyes.
    “I knew that you wouldn’t be able to, but how I wish that you would if the alternative is to be your bride.”
    His expression darkened, his grip on her arms increasing until his nails were digging into her flesh. “I will do as I please with you.”
    She started to speak but he turned her around and pushed her towards the door.
    “Walk.” He pushed her again when she began to slow down and she shot him a black look. “I will not have you speak to me in this manner. You will go to your room and remain there. You’ve done quite enough damage.”
    She glared at the guards as they flanked her, their swords unsheathed and pointed at her. She walked up the stairs in silence, not daring to speak while Arkalus was following so close behind her. He wouldn’t kill her, she knew that in her heart, but he would find another way to punish her insubordination if she spoke.
    Her room looked even more like a prison when they finally stopped in front of it. The manacles bit into her wrists when Arkalus removed them, his movements intentionally rough and brutal. When she was free, she rubbed at them, frowning at him all the while.
    “Kill me.” She challenged him again, a part of her wanting to provoke him into reacting to her so she would have a chance to fight him. “I’d rather die than be claimed by you.”
    “Strong words,” he said and then turned to one of the guardsman. “Have your people patrol the grounds and the house. Keep men stationed here at all times and keep a watchful eye for any sign of Kalinor’s men. It wouldn’t do to have them discover that she’s been captured.” His eyes moved back to her. “I’d truly hate to have to kill you.”
    She scowled at him. “Not as much as I’d hate having to be your mate. You disgust me.”
    He smiled.
    “I thought you low before, but not as much as I do now after hearing you speak with Kalinor. How can you work with him? He’s the lord of Aurorea. He will betray you just as you have betrayed him. It is forbidden to work with him,”