Page 16 of Bleed

Five

Iswear this mansion gets bigger every time I see it. I practically break my neck craning my head back to stare as I climb the front steps, the towering stone façade gleaming beneath the silvery moonlight like something from a dream.

As far as homes go, this one is completely fucking ridiculous. It’s less house, more gothic billionaire fever dream, complete with turrets, balconies, and floor-to-ceiling windows that spill light across perfectly manicured grounds. Tucked away on a private estate outside the city, it’s close enough to commute but secluded enough to feel like another world entirely. Fitting, I suppose, for the home of a vampire king.

I still remember the first time I came here. Months ago, for a donor gala hosted by Bite. Taylor and I arrived in dresses we definitely couldn’t afford, prepared to drink expensive champagne and make a small fortune off ancient predators dressed in couture. That’s the night we met James Devereaux, the elusive vampire king of the northeast who lives in this monstrosity of a mansion. Impossibly gorgeous, filthy rich, and rumored to never feed from the same human twice.

Until Taylor.

One bite, and suddenly the immortal psycho was obsessed with my best friend.

Tay’s blood didn’t just taste good to James, it was downright addictive. The more he fed from her, the stronger he became. Turns out, there’s some ancient blood bond bullshit tying them together– like fate decided vampires deserve soulmates, too.

Sounds romantic in theory.

In reality, it’s dangerous as hell.

Apparently, blood bonds were thought to be extinct, and if the wrong vampires find out about Taylor and James, shit will hit the fan. To avoid putting targets on both their backs, the whole thing stays locked down tighter than government secrets.

Or at least it was supposed to.

Vincent seemed suspicious about their relationship, and apparently that’s enough to send everyone into panic mode. The second I told Taylor about the way he interrogated me, she tattled to James. Less than an hour later, one of his stupid luxury cars was waiting outside my apartment to bring me here.

The massive front doors of the mansion swing open before I can knock, and James’ butler is waiting on the other side in his usual immaculate black suit, his posture stiff as a corpse. The guy’s expression never changes– not even the slightest twitch of emotion. He’s human, but I swear he’s creepier than half the vampires I’ve met.

“Hey, Huxley,” I greet cheerfully as I step past him, beaming a grin. “Looking emotionally unavailable as ever tonight.”

As usual, he doesn’t reply. He doesn’t even fucking blink.

Taylor told me months ago that Huxley’s mute, but I remain convinced I’ll eventually annoy him into speaking out of sheer spite. If anyone can make a man talk, it’s me– so I continue chattering as he leads me deeper into the mansion, my boots squeaking against the polished marble floor.

“You know, one of these days you’re gonna crack and say something to me,” I tease.

Huxley doesn’t break stride, his blank stare trained ahead.

“I bet you secretly talk all the time when nobody’s around.”

He gives me nothing, but the faint sound of piano music drifts through the halls, growing louder the farther we walk. It’s soft and elegant; haunting in a way that makes the whole atmosphere of this place feel even more obscenely lush. Huxley finally comes to a stop outside a pair of open doors to the room where the music’s coming from, gesturing inside before disappearing down the hall like a Victorian ghost.

When I look into the piano room, it feels like gazing upon a movie scene. Moonlight spills through towering windows, a fire crackles low in the marble fireplace, and at the center of it all, James is seated at the massive grand piano, his long fingers moving over the keys with lazy confidence. Taylor’s curled sideways in his lap, her head resting against his shoulder while he plays.

It’s annoyingly adorable.

The song comes to a slow finish, the final notes lingering in the room. Then James lifts one hand from the keys, curls his fingers around Taylor’s chin, and turns her face toward his, capturing her lips in a slow, possessive kiss.

She melts into it instantly. One hand slides into his white-blond hair as she shifts closer, her head tilting to deepen the kiss. James grips her hips, guiding one leg over so she’s straddling his waist. The air in the room rapidly thickens, so sexually charged I swear I can almost taste it.

Before things escalate further, I clear my throat loudly to announce my presence.

Taylor startles, breaking the kiss and whipping toward me with wide eyes.

“Bex!” she exclaims, her entire face lighting up as she launches herself off James’ lap. She rushes over to greet me, throwing her arms around me hard enough to nearly knock us both over.

I laugh and squeeze her just as tight.

God, I’ve missed her.

My eyes slip closed as I breathe her in, not quite ready to let go. She still uses the same floral-scented shampoo, but I swear she smells different now. Expensive, like James.