KEILAH
His words hung in the air like a dark omen, filling me with a sense of dread that threatened to consume me whole. But despite the fear that coiled in my chest like a serpent, I squared my shoulders and met his gaze.
His eyes bore into mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. It felt as though he was peering into the depths of my soul, searching for something that even I didn’t fully understand. Seconds stretched into eternity as we stood locked in a silent standoff, the tension in the air thick enough to suffocate.
Unable to bear the weight of his gaze any longer, I broke the silence with a trembling voice. “What… What are you staring at?” I managed to muster the courage to ask, my words barely audible in the stillness of the chamber.
The bastard’s lips curled into a predacious smile, revealing the glint of his sharpened fangs. “Oh, my dear,” he murmured, his voice a seductive whisper. “I am merely admiring the beauty before me, savouring the anticipation of what is to come.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a primal fear that burned like wildfire in my veins. “Are you… Are you weighing my blood?” I asked, my voice trembling with fear.
His smile widened, his eyes gleaming with hunger. “Indeed,” he replied, his voice dripping with menace. “But fear not, my dear. For in my hands, your blood will become a symphony of pleasure, a dance of ecstasy that will leave you begging for more.”
I recoiled at his words, the realization of my predicament crashing over me like a tidal wave. But even as fear threatened to consume me, a spark of provocation flickered to life within me. “Are you looking for the perfect spot to sink your fangs into?” I asked, my voice steady despite the fear that pulsed through my veins.
The fucking vampire’s smile faltered for a moment, surprise flickering in his eyes before being replaced by amusement. “Perhaps,” he replied, his tone playful. “But rest assured, When the perfect time comes, you will find that there is no such thing as a perfect spot. For in the end, all that matters is the sweet ecstasy of the hunt.”
“Why do I feel like you’re waiting for someone to fulfill your satisfaction?” I ventured, a tremor of apprehension tainting my words. “And that person… is none other than Ralph.”
The vampire’s eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing through me like a dagger.
“Yes, Ralph. He and I have unfinished business.”
I swallowed hard, the pieces of the puzzle beginning to fall into place. “You found out that I’m his mate,” I continued, the realization dawning on me like a bolt of lightning. “And you came for me to get to him. For something… like revenge.”
A sinister smile curled the corners of his lips, his eyes alight with a feral gleam. “Very astute, darling,” he purred, his voice dripping with malice. “That’s the exact thing I’m doing. I’ve waited for all these years to do it. And the day has finally came. I’ll make sure he feels the exact pain or worse that i felt.
My heart hammered in my chest as the gravity of the situation sank in. I had become entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse, caught between the machinations of two beings whose thirst for vengeance knew no bounds.
But even as fear threatened to overwhelm me, a spark of defiance flickered within me. “You may have come for revenge,” I said, my voice steady. “But I won’t let you use me to get to him. I won’t be a pawn in your twisted game I don’t know about”
The vampire’s smile widened, his eyes glittering with amusement. “Oh, sweetheart,” he chuckled, his voice sending a chill down my spine. “You have a spirit. I’ll give you that. But make no mistake, you’re his marked mate. That’s what matters.
“What did Ralph do to you?” I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and curiosity. His expression darkened, his eyes burning with a cold fury that chilled me to the bone. “Ralph…” he began, his voice heavy with venom. “You sure you wanna hear this?” He asked. I nodded.
“Ralph,” he spat the name like a curse, “He took everything from me. He took the most valuable person in my life. And that is my wife.
“He raped my wife,” he continued, his voice thick with emotion. “Before he killed her in cold blood.”
A wave of revulsion washed over me at the sheer cruelty of Ralph’s actions, the realization of the depths of his depravity turning my stomach.
The vampire’s eyes bore into mine, his gaze burning with a fierce intensity. “That’s why I came for you,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “To make him pay for what he’s done. And you, his mate, will have to taste it too.”
I recoiled at his words, the weight of his intentions crashing down on me like a ton of bricks. Despite Ralph’s actions against me, I found myself defending him.
“Are you absolutely certain Ralph was the one who did that to your wife?” I questioned, my voice wavering slightly. “Did you witness it firsthand?” I’m not attempting to defend him, but it’s worth considering that people like him, particularly those in leadership roles, often accrue enemies.”
His words dripped with a chilling calmness that sent creeps into my soul. “You call it allegations,” he said, his voice measured, each word laced with an unsettling confidence. A cold chuckle escaped his lips, catching me off guard and heightening my anxiety.
With deliberate steps, he crossed the room, his figure swallowed by the shadows until he settled into a vast, ominous chair at the far end. The darkness seemed to converge around him, emphasizing his presence like a predator lurking in the night.
The sudden knock on the door startled me. With a creak, it swung open, revealing a towering figure looming in the doorway. My heart raced as I took in his menacing presence, his lips curling into a sinister snarl as he sized me up, a cruel smirk twisting his lips as he licked them hungrily. I recoiled instinctively, his unsettling demeanor far more terrifying than even my captor’s.
“What is it, Drake?” My kidnapper’s voice cut through the tension.
“The dog’s here,” Drake replied, his tone dripping with smug satisfaction. “He tried to stir up trouble, but we managed to rein him in.”
But before I could process his words, like a flash of wind, my captor was upon us, his expression mirroring Drake’s smugness, yet tinged with something far more sinister.
“Lead the way,” he commanded, his voice low and commanding. In one fluid motion, he scooped me up in his arms, and with a flicker, we vanished from the room, reappearing in a smaller, dimly lit chamber.
There, my heart sank as I beheld Ralph, naked and bound by chains.
Ralph’s eyes locked onto mine, his gaze burning with a fierce intensity. A dangerous snarl escaped his lips as he strained against the chains that bound him. The metallic clinks echoed in the room as he fought against his restraints, desperation evident in every movement.
I watched in horror as Ralph’s struggles intensified, his muscles bulging with the effort to break free. I watched as he attempted to shift into his wolf form that could make it easier to break free from the chains, but instead of the shift I expected, a guttural growl of agony ripped from his throat. The sound twisted my stomach into knots, realization dawning upon me like a cold wave crashing over me.
Silver chains. The realization hit me like a physical blow, sending a chill down my spine. The cruel metal, a bane to his kind, held him captive with a grip of pure agony. Ralph’s struggles grew more frenzied, his snarls mixing with pained whimpers as he fought against the searing pain.
The vampire’s laughter cut through the tense air, a cruel sound that made my blood run cold. “Seems our guest is having trouble adjusting to his accommodations,” he sneered, taking sadistic pleasure in Ralph’s suffering along with the creepy Drake.
My gaze shifted to the vampire, my blood coiling. On one hand, I should have felt grateful to the heavens for sending this vampire, finally providing the means to exact vengeance upon Ralph for all the torment he had inflicted upon me. Yet, despite the opportunity for punishment, my heart, soul, and mind rebelled against the notion.
Was it simply because of our supposed mate bond? I wondered. Zac’s words echoed in my mind, casting doubt on the authenticity of our connection. Could it be possible that our bond was nothing more than a fabrication, a spell woven by that old woman rather than the divine intervention of their Moon goddess herself?
The vampire’s gaze met mine, a wild smile playing across his lips as if he could sense the turmoil churning within me. “We’re just getting started,” he purred, his voice dripping with spite.
Before I could protest or question further, he effortlessly lifted me to his level, his eyes gleaming with hunger as he leaned in, sinking his fangs into my neck.