Page 38 of Eternally Bound
“We’ll be in the poolroom, Baldric, if you could please bring some food for the human,” Ronan instructed.
His icy tone caused a shiver to run down her spine. She’d never heard him sound so distant and reserved. He’d been kind to her before, but she might have pushed him to a breaking point with her actions tonight. Well too bad, because she wasn’t exactly jumping for joy right now either.
“Of course, sir,” Baldric replied.
Ronan clasped her arm, leading her across the foyer and down the hall. She allowed him to pull her along, mainly because she didn’t know what else to do. She was trapped here, with them. Maybe she should have gone home after all.
The second the idea crossed her mind, she buried it. They couldn’t keep her here forever, and she couldn’t think of any way they could find her brother without risking a fight. Hopefully, they couldn’t think of one either.
Ronan paused outside a set of wooden doors and slid them open to reveal the sumptuous room beyond. Red velvet couches were set on either side of a beautiful red and gold oriental rug. She’d never seen anything like these couches with their etched wood backs and arms. The dainty legs barely looked strong enough to support her weight, never mind the weight of any of the vampires spreading out to stand in the room.
Two large pool tables with their smooth green surfaces were set in the middle of the room. One had balls scattered across the top of it. The numerous arching windows in the room were covered with sheer, crimson curtains and each had a red window seat. A bar lined the entire back wall; the large mirror behind it reflected light onto a multitude of liquor bottles. Like all the other rooms, the walls in here were bare. Nothing in this room fit any of these men except for maybe the pool tables and the bar, if vampires drank liquor.
“Sit.”
Kadence frowned at Ronan’s rude tone, but moved toward one of the couches. She’d read about settees in a few books and imagined this is what the author must have been describing as she carefully perched on the edge of one. Settling her dress, she folded her hands demurely in her lap. She plastered the look of serenity, the one that had managed to get her through so many boring days in the stronghold, on her face.
Ronan strode past her, and moments later she heard the clatter of a glass behind the bar and liquid being poured into it.Guess that answers my question about vampires and liquor, she thought.
Killean and Saxon followed Ronan, but Declan walked over to one of the windows and leaned against the wall beside it. Baldric wheeled in a cart loaded with all sorts of food. Kadence’s stomach grumbled and saliva filled her mouth. She hadn’t realized how famished she was until then. Baldric swept out of the room, closing the doors behind him. Kadence licked her lips, itching to get her hands on some of the food.
“Eat,” Ronan said from where he stood by the bar.
Her pride wanted her to refuse to eat anything from him, but her common sense told her she was an idiot if she starved herself to be spiteful.
Climbing to her feet, she made her way to the cart. She loaded a plate with cheeses, crackers, sliced meats, fruits, and vegetables. She munched on the food as she made her way back to her seat.
Kadence was finishing the last bite when Ronan started in. “You can’t stay here. It is too risky.”
Putting her plate down on the table beside her, she wiped her hands on her napkin while she bided for time to regain her mask of composure. “I never asked to stay here. If you do recall, I was quite satisfied with staying on the side of the road. Plus, I’m sure you have enough security around here to keep anyone from getting in or me from escaping.” Though, if she figured out the stronghold, she’d figure out this place too.
Ronan cursed loudly, and liquid sloshed out of his glass when he set it on the bar. Kadence remained stoic as she turned to face him. “That is not what I meant!” he snapped.
“Then what exactly did you mean?”
His jaw locked, but he didn’t answer her. A new, disturbing possibility occurred to her. Did he meanhewas the threat to her?
Before she could question him, Declan stepped forward. “I’m sure she’ll be perfectly safe here until we can figure something out.”
“You can’t be serious!” Killean retorted. “For all we know she could be spying on us, just waiting to give the hunters information about us.”
“Oh come on, Killean, even you know that is ridiculous,” Saxon drawled.
“She doesn’t belong here and we all know it,” Killean spat.
“We can’t put her out on the street,” Declan said.
“No we can’t, and until she comes to her senses, she will stay here,” Ronan said and shook his head as if he were annoyed with a child.
Kadence’s mask of serenity slipped. “I have come to my senses! You have no right or reason to interfere in my life!”
“She’s right,” Killean said. “Put her out on the street, let her get killed. It’s no loss to us. Besides, she’ll probably call her brother and beg him to come get her within in an hour of being on her own.”
“Fuck you!” Kadence shouted as she leapt to her feet.
She threw a hand over her mouth when she realized what she’d said, but his disdain had infuriated her into reacting before she could stop herself. She’d rarely heard swears from her father and brother. Occasionally, she’d said a few in private, testing out how they would feel on her tongue, but she’d never said one in front of others before. It was not appropriate for the women in the stronghold to curse, and she’d never heard another female utter one.
She had to admit it felt…good. Especially considering it was Killean she’d said it to. She wouldn’t mind staking the guy.
