Page 73 of Blood Oath
“Pull over. Now.”
“Make me.”
Fuck me, she’s beautifully stubborn. Very well. She asked for it.
I adjust my grip on the wheel until my hands completely cover her gloved fingers. Immediately, I can sense her discomfort, and she pulls back, allowing me to pull to the side of the road where she brakes to a stop.
My hands are still on the wheel, so when I look at Maven, her face is close to mine. Her dark eyes are brimming with irritation as she studies me, but I’m using all my willpower not to lean forward and taste those tempting lips.
Finally, I force myself to focus. “Let’s switch seats, shall we? Unless you don’t mind being buried under a mountain of snow in this car with me for a couple of days,” I add, enjoying the idea. “When the car battery dies, we can share body heat.”
“You’re an ass,” she finally mutters, kicking open the driver’s door.
I agree. Once she’s in the passenger seat, brushing snowflakes off her nose and cheeks, I carefully pull back onto the road, adjusting the rearview mirror. She glowers at me, and I laugh.
“Something bothering you, love?”
“Stop calling me that. You know you’re bothering me. Have you been following me since this morning?”
“Maybe.”
She folds her arms when I take the next exit, following the directions I memorized earlier. “This is the wrong way.”
“Nope,” I say chipperly, popping the ‘p.’ “This is precisely how we get to our lodgings for the night. If you don’t trust my word for it, call one of the others to make sure.”
My little obsession stares at me for a moment before swearing with surprising vigor, glaring out the window. “You all planned this.”
“Mostly, it was Decimus, but yes.”
“And this storm…” She scowls.
“Frost’s doing,” I confirm, further amused when she flips me off for laughing.
Soon, I turn into the roundabout pull-in area for a large, beautiful inn lit up with holiday lights that glow in the thick snow flurrying around us. The luxurious inn is a fair distance from the rest of a nearby small town, set off the road with a backdrop of woods.
Maven takes it all in and huffs. “I’m not staying here.”
“Then you’ll accept being snowed in here with me?” I ask hopefully. “I can slip into Limbo to travel and bring back anything you want. Food. Blankets. Lingerie.”
She gives me a dry look, grabs her bag, and gets out, slamming the door behind her.
It was worth a try.
I turn off the car and join her. As we approach the entrance of the massive colonial-style inn, Crane opens the door and smirks at Maven, who is carefully controlling her expression to look bored. After days of watching the others interact with my keeper from a distance, I note that the way he’s looking at her is different from yesterday. He seems far less frustrated yet even more possessive, with an edge of desire he doesn’t bother to hide anymore.
Interesting.
“Welcome,” he murmurs.
She walks right past him into the inn foyer, looking around at the impressive interior. I knew Frost would probably pick the most expensive, luxe option of this entire area, but I must admit it’s a gorgeous place to stay with our keeper, all historic Colonial-style architecture but with a modern high-end touch. Glittering chandeliers, plush carpets, golden accents, and a beautiful staircase leading up to the second story.
But when I try to step through the threshold, I come up against an invisible wall.
Of course. Damn that blood fae.
“Where are the humans who manage this inn?” Maven asks over her shoulder, jaw set.
“Gone for now. Everett rented the entire place,” Crane says, nodding down one long hallway to our left. “The kitchen is that way. Baelfire is preparing an early dinner for you since Crypt never mentioned you stopping for food. I can take your bag?—”
