Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Rhea.
The sound of her voice froze him. It was subtle, barely a hitch in his stride, but I caught it. I always did. Alaric never faltered, he never hesitated, never second guessed. But now, his shoulders tightened, and his jaw ticked like that single sentence had struck bone, and it had struck deep.

And if he was rattled, that meant trouble.

She stepped into view, heels clicking sharp against the marble like she owned the very ground. Striking didn’t even begin to cover it. She was all legs, curves sharpened with expensive silk, and lips red enough to be weaponized. She exuded power from her dress sense alone, and for the first time in forever, I actually felt like I should have gone with those damn dresses Alaric had stuffed my wardrobe with before I woke up.

She wasn't the kind of woman who didn’t just enter a room, she conquered it.I didn’t know who she was, her face didn't exactly give a clear answer, but I narrowed it down quickly.

Option one: she was a rival vampire with her claws sunk into high society. Possibly the elites like Alaric.

Option two: an ex-lover who knew exactly how to dig under his skin.

Option three: someone tied to his business empire, maybe even his second in command, and definitely dangerous in her own right.

All three of them were lethal guesses, and I hated how it made the hair at the back of my neck stand on end.

“Well, well, well,” she purred.Her eyes, green, sly, and venom laced, slid over me like a knife. “And here I was thinking you’d sworn off… pets.”

My spine snapped straight at the word Pets. The insult was deliberate, heavy with disdain, and maybe it was me just being bitter, but couldn't she have come up with something better?

A dozen retorts flickered through my head, but I picked the sharpest one and let it fly.

“Funny,” I shot back, crossing my arms. “You look like the kind of woman who’s used to being leashed.”

The flicker in her eyes was priceless, so priceless that I would have taken a photo of it if I had my phone with me. She hadn’t expected that, nor did she see it coming. Behind me, Alaric didn’t move, he didn’t smile, but I swore I saw the corner of his mouth twitch and the fact that he was satisfied made my belly tingle.

“Oh, fiery,” she mused, circling closer like a panther. “Is this really what you’ve been reduced to, Alaric? Trading diamonds for glass?”

I glanced at him, waiting, begging, screaming, for him to shut her down. He was always quick to do that when it came to him, so it only made sense that he would do the same right now, right?

I felt every tingle of hope in me frizzle into nothing after a couple of minutes. He stood there, like a fortress in a tailored suit, or a mannequin stuck in freaking time. His unreadable expression made it worse, so I did what I always did. I dug.

“Ex-girlfriend?” I tilted my head, voice dripping with mock curiosity. “Or one of your little fang bunnies? Let me guess, you bite, she begged, you got bored. That about right?”

Her eyes glittered with venom, while his, mixed with something else entirely. Something u certain.

“Careful,” Alaric said at last, tone smooth as silk, but threaded with warning. It wasn't to her though, but to me, and it only made my blood boil.

I didn’t back down, I couldn't. Not when she was circling us like a predator that thought I was prey.

“Quit it.” Alaric chimed after she'd gone a couple more rounds around us, and for some strange reason, it brought a smile to her face. I watched her tilt her head toward him, lashes lowering,like she was expecting him to say something. “I need a word. In private.”

“Of course you do,” She muttered. “You really never could stay away, right?”

Alaric didn't speak, but then,the thing I least expected happened.

“Rhea,” Alaric said, his gaze slicing to mine. “I’ll be back. Stay here.”

What?

It wasn’t a request, and it made my stomach drop

Stay here? All alone? With her still breathing the same air as me? Not a chance.

“I’m not a child,” I snapped. “If you’re talking, I’m coming. I want answers too.”

I moved to step closer, but she beat me to it. Her hand ghosted over Alaric’s arm like she’d done it a thousand times before, and I bit down on my bottom lip in frustration. Her smile was nothing short of a razor’s edge and believe me when I said I wanted nothing more than to slap the living daylights out of her.

“Darling,” she purred at me, tone soft as venom. “This one doesn’t take kindly to disobedience. I should know.”

The words hit like a blow. My chest constricted, not because I believed her, but because Alaric didn’t immediately deny it. For one split, sickening second, I hated him. However, if I thought that was the only playing card she had up her sleeve, then I was clearly delusional and unprepared.

Before I could retort, she leaned in close, whispering something against his ear. I couldn’t hear, but I saw the change. His jaw tightened, sharp enough to crack and I could practically feel the tension rolling off of him in waves.

And then, without so much as another glance in my direction, he took her by the elbow and steered her further into the building. My eyes trailed after them as he led her towards the elevator at the end of the hall.

He punched in a few buttons, right before steering her in and I could swear I heard her giggle. Her smile remained plastered on her lips, and when she locked eyes with me one last time, she waved, before the elevator dragged her down towards what I suspected was the basement.

It took me a few seconds to realize what had just happened here. Alaric had left me alone, in the lobby, to be with her.

I had no idea why, but an image of Alaric and the other woman locking lips as the elevator made its descent. It irked the hell out of me, but I pushed it aside, just so I wouldn't have to face the very thought that led me to that image.

Pull yourself together, Rhea.

My fists clenched, fury burning hot enough to drown the ache beneath it.

Answers, secrets, history. Whatever this was, it was bi
gger than me, but I'd be damned if I was going to stand here and let him shut me out.