Violet Forsythe has been through hell.
Her entire family is dead, her daywalker best friend hates her guts, and her vampire boyfriend is giving her the silent treatment all the way from Italy.
But Violet is anything but a quitter, and she has a few...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Violet," Alec murmured when our eyes met. He appeared to be frozen in shock.
To my chagrin, my heart hammered erratically in my chest. I wanted to come off cool and aloof, but even the secretary could see how flustered I was.
I blinked at Alec obtusely. I'd spent so much time rehearsing in my head all of the snappy little things I would say when I saw him again, and yet there I was at the moment of truth, coming up blank.
I parted my lips to speak but words failed me. I was furious, exhilarated, mortified, and immensely sad. I was completely overwhelmed and, of course, we were in front of an audience.
'Lovely,' I thought to myself.
I peeled my eyes away from Alec and looked at Jane. That sobered me up quickly. Suddenly, I had way too many words in my mouth.
Instead of allowing my emotions to rule my actions, I simply returned my attention to Demetri and continued with our conversation.
"Anyway. As I was saying. I dove to the left just as it jumped to the right. I managed to tag him with the machete, but I got a little cut up in the process," I said to Demetri with a cocky smile.
"Fascinating," Demetri purred as he tipped up my chin with his forefinger to admire my battle scar. "I must admit, the werewolf mauling has certainly made you more...enticing."
"Funny how that works," I said dryly with a light smirk. I focused intently on not shivering under Demetri's thick, predatory gaze. I refused to let myself look weak.
Demetri grinned at me wickedly, baring his teeth, when his bright crimson eyes suddenly went wide. Before I could even blink, he crumpled to the floor. I stared down at him as he seized up in silent agony, unable to discern what was going on.
"Is he having a seizure?" I asked wildly, alarmed that no one was making a move to help him.
Before I could drop down to help him myself, his body abruptly relaxed and he fell flat on the floor. He continued to lay on the ground in shock as a pair of heels clicked towards us languidly. After a moment, Jane appeared next to me.
"Violet is ours," Jane announced frostily as she peered down at Demetri with intense disgust. She spoke, however, as if she were addressing the whole room. Maybe the whole castle, even.
My heart dropped as I glanced over at Jane with wide eyes. Alec had described Jane's gift to me in the past, but I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes before. It was absolutely appalling.
"Bria," Aro called across the room. "Please escort Miss Forsythe to her living quarters. I'm sure she could use some rest after her travels."
"Yes, sir," the honey blonde woman who had arrived with the twins replied emphatically before approaching me without hesitation. She had a perfect hourglass figure and was dressed impeccably. I felt like a silly little schoolgirl when I stood next to her.
Our footsteps echoed loudly as Bria briskly led me out of the room. I could feel that all eyes were on us. I passed by Alec on my way out, but I didn't have the courage to look up.
* * *
Bria promptly escorted me to my room.
"Bed chamber,' I corrected myself. How dramatic.
The walk was long and on a steep incline that ended with a tremendous staircase. I didn't know why the trip was so long and laborious until I entered the room itself.
The room was by far the most decadent bedroom I'd ever seen in my life.
The king sized bed had an ornate spruce headboard and four tall bed posts that were adorned with heavy, black velvet curtains. The bed was pushed against the left wall, opposite of a fireplace. Above the fireplace was a massive flat screen TV that was flush with the wall. To the right of the fireplace was a large spruce dresser.
There was a reading nook in the farthest wall, a semicircle area with three windows that overlooked the vast Tuscan landscape below. I couldn't imagine how high we must have been to have such a stunning view. The dark green couch and the two matching armchairs overflowed with pillows. Natural light from the three large windows spilled into the room.
I wandered through the room, trailing my hand along the deep forest green comforter on the bed as I drank in my surroundings. I drifted into the bathroom which was through the door to the right of the bed. The light marble floors continued into the bathrooms and soft white bath mats were laid out. The countertops were marble, as well, and had two sinks with lavish fixtures.
To my surprise, however, there was a wide, spacious bathtub, but no shower stall.
"Would you like me to run you a bath, Miss Forsythe?" Bria asked primly from the doorway of the bathroom.
"I'm sorry?" I asked, tearing my attention away from my surroundings.
"Would you like me to run you a bath?" she repeated.
I looked at her, bewildered.
"No," I said slowly. "And you can just call me Violet."
"I've been instructed to make you comfortable and tend to your needs," Bria said brightly. "And I've been instructed to address you as Miss Forsythe."
"Seriously?" I frowned. "Taking phone calls and doing coffee runs isn't enough for them? They need you to babysit me, too?"
"I do whatever is required of me," Bria said with the same plastic optimism.
"You must really want that slice of immortality, huh?" I asked, my voice laced with disapproval.
"If you need anything, my number is on a card by the phone on the bedside table," she said, completely disregarding the fact that I was trying to talk to her. "Please, do not hesitate to contact me, Miss Forsythe. I will always be available to accommodate you."
"Thank you, Bria," I sighed, giving up.
Bria continued to stand by the door and stare at me.
"You can go now," I added apprehensively.
Bria promptly left.
"Well, Toto," I muttered after plopping down on the incredibly comfortable bed. "I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
