Page 24 of Ruby Red Sky

On our way back to Lukas’s room, I looked around a little bit more, watching the coming and going of the people who either lived or frequented the castle. Noting their attire, I decided to try to blend in better.

“I stick out like a sore thumb,” I muttered to Kiam.

His gaze trailed from my ankles up to my face. “It’s your scent. You smell delicious.” His nostrils flared. “There’s nothing keeping myself or anyone else from ripping you to pieces.”

His voice was soft, casual, but the threat clearly articulated. My hands trembled and I wiped them against my sides. “Then why aren’t you? Why aren’t you hurting me if I’m such a temptation.”

Dark amusement glittered in his eyes, his irises switching from brown to blue, and back to brown. “You belong to Lukas, and I have self-control.”

He turned his face to the side, a cheeky smirk tilting the corner of his mouth. “Besides, what a waste. You’re not my type.”

Should I rub dirt all over myself? I would have, but even the soil had appeared to be clean. “My scent. What are you, some kind of bloodhound?”

Kiam snorted. “You’re funny. Smell is one of the vampire's greatest strengths. Lukas has failed to either mark you or claim you and that leaves you exposed and vulnerable.”

That would explain why he left his friend guarding me. A funny feeling wiggled around in my chest, leaving me wondering why, if I were so important to him, he wouldn’t guard me himself.

“Why hasn’t he?” The second I asked the question; I wanted to take it back.

“That’s something you’ll have to ask him yourself and I recommend you do.”

We turned down the hallway I remembered would bring us back to the suite. “How am I supposed to do that if he’s turned into the invisible man?”

Kiam grinned at me and I felt the atmosphere change. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around the front of my neck and I heard, “I’m right here.”

CHAPTER 9

Lukas

Cassia stiffened in my arms, the pounding of her heart tangible between the layer of her ribs and the cotton of her sweater. Despite her trepidation, I valued her response to my proximity. She wasn’t unaffected. This was the most contact I’d had with her since I took her.

Slowly, she softened, and I waited to see what she would do. I almost wanted her to struggle so I could restrain her, wrap her up like the pretty little package she was and make her respect me.

At the same time, I didn’t want to dim her light and darken it would, regardless. I’d let her enjoy relative peace while she could.

She kept her energy close, but I could feel her inquiry, her tentative attempts to relax and open herself up. While I waited for her, she waited for me.

“Thank you, Kiam,” I said, dismissing him.

“Let me know when you need a babysitter again.” Before I could respond, he was gone.

Cassia flattened her palms against my chest, and I allowed her to create some distance. “I want to go home.”

“You will remain here.” A flick of my hand opened the door, and I motioned for her to enter. “You will get changed, and then I will present you to the Queen.”

Her clothing was unsatisfactory for an audience with Annalise. She was wearing an outfit that was more suitable for one of the villagers.

“Queen?” She asked, moving toward the sofa.

“Yes, Queen Annalise. I should have brought you before her sooner, but your behavior made that inadvisable.”

She scoffed. “I’d like to see you ripped from your home and shoved into... whatever this is. See how you’d like it.”

I couldn’t help the smile that stretched my face. “I’d like to see someone try.”

Curiosity must have gotten the better of her because she followed me into the closet. “If there’s a Queen, what does that make you?”

My role varied as needed, but most of my time was spent judging others and determining their sentencing. “I command fate and yours is to make yourself presentable and behave with the decorum necessary to your station.”