Alpha Vaughan

Chapter 38

I felt solid warmth behind me and turned, the smell of cinnamon filling my nose.

Ever so perceptive, Vaughan took note of something on my face and became alert. "Is anything wrong?"

"No, no," I was quick to reassure him. "It's just"--I turned to face the auctioneer--"that necklace..."

"What about it?"

I locked gazes with him. "I need to get it."

Vaughan looked at it, his eyes calculative. People continued to bid loudly, "Ten million!"

"Ten point three!"

"Ten point five!"

"Twenty million," came the cool voice above me.

My head snapped upwards and I widened my eyes at him disbelief. "I didn't mean you should pay for it!" I whispered harshly.

He looked down at me, mildly confused. "How else were we supposed to get it?"

"I was going to pay for it!"

He looked at me pointedly in a way that said, 'really?'

My eyes narrowed on him. "Are you saying I'm broke?!"

Before he could say anything else, the auctioneer had proclaimed the item sold. He stepped forward, the crowd parting for him, and went over to hand his number tag to the woman. She looked at him appreciatively, her green eyes lighting, and something in me clenched in anger.

As he walked back to where I stood, the women around gawked at him openly, staring at him like they would stare at an expensive Victoria secret lingerie set. When he stood before me, he noted my dark scowl.

"What's wrong?"

I looked up at him, then I didn't know what possessed me to say it, but I did, "They're looking at you."

For a moment he looked at me blankly, then I clarified, "The women."

Understanding lit his eyes, followed by a smug look. He enquired in a low, seductive tone, "Are you jealous, princess?"

With a roll of my eyes, I turned around and started to walk away from him.

His quiet chuckle sounded behind me as I went further away. When I stood on the dancefloor, I turned around and he was right before me.

When the next song started, I asked, "Find anything?"

His demeanor instantly turned serious and he shook his head. "Everywhere's clear, no sight of a killer vampire. Although there's one place I haven't checked yet."

"Where?" I asked.

The music playing, he took me into his arms and we moved in sync to the soft notes. "The top floor. There are a few guards patrolling the entrance, but I'll wait them out until the next security team comes over. That'll take place in about twenty minutes or so."

I nodded, allowing him to twirl me. When I returned into his hold, his striking grey eyes held mine, an emotion I couldn't name burning in them. "I want you."

My heart clenched at the yearning in his voice. "You could have me," I said.

"But you wouldn't let me."

Brows slightly furrowing, I asked, "What do you mean?"

Drawing me closer into him until I could feel his heartbeat, he held my gaze for a stiff moment. "Do you think I've forgotten what happened back at the elevator? Hilda, you're holding back a large piece of you from me. And I want to know what it is. Who it is that's responsible," he added, a dark promise heating his gaze a furious grey.

I turned my face away, my eyes landing on the other paired couples in the room. I noticed their gazes flitting to I and Vaughan once in a while, their eyes lingering on him for a moment. I turned back to look at him now, saying, "I think you're slowly gathering a devoted fanbase."

He didn't appear the slightest bit amused. "Don't try to change the topic, Hilda."

With a sigh, I made to look away again, but his hand on my chin stopped me. He caught my gaze and held it. "I want to know what happened."

My eyes narrowed. "I would say the same thing to you, Vaughan. I want to know how you got your cur--"

"And you will know," he promised instantly. Then added, "Tonight." With that he stopped dancing with me and lingered for a bit before walking off, leaving me gaping at his departing form.

After a while, I spied someone dressed in a suave suite approaching me through my peripheral vision. Dreading meeting anyone tonight, I turned and stealthily disappeared into the cluster, heading for the refreshment table.

I sighed in relief when I'd gotten to it. Soon, I got a glass of wine in my hand and was about to take a sip of it, but suddenly stilled, almost spitting it out.

Not far from where I stood was a thin, carrot-red haired woman talking with a stout man. My heart raced. From behind she looked so much like Eunice. And for a brief, foolish moment, I allowed myself to consider the possibilities that she was, in fact, Eunice.

Which was why, when she turned around to talk to a woman, my heart broke into tiny, little, crystal pieces. Pieces that reflected a foolish girl.

Throat clogging, I shouldered my way through the crowd to get to one of the open balconies.

"Hey, watch it!" A dark-haired woman called. Her eyes widened when she saw me. "You...psycho girl."

Wonderful.

The night air bit into my skin when I got out, the breeze fast pulling out curls from my updo. I didn't try to put them into place. Hell, I didn't try to put myself into place.

The tears were slow and silent this time, my vision blurring as I stared into the dark flower bushes clustered at a corner.

I silently berated myself, thinking myself the worst kind of stupid for harbouring hope that Eunice was still alive. Swiping at the tears on my face with an arm, l let a sob escape me. I guessed some part of me would never accept she was gone.

"Hilda?"

I jerked at the sound of Vaughan's voice, quickly wiping my tears away. In a split second he was beside me, grabbing my arm to still my movements. He turned me to face him, and his jaw clenched upon seeing me.

"Look, Vaughan, I--"

My sentence broke off when he drew me into a tight hug. My heart clenched and I started to cry fully, dragging in ragged breaths with each sob I let out. I felt his hand in my hair, and soon his lips, then he was whispering sweet nothings into my ear.

When I quieted he asked, "What's the matter?"

Detaching myself from him, I said quietly, "It's Eunice."

He tucked a stray curl behind my ear, his palm curving around my cheek. "I'm sorry that happened, Hilda. I know how it feels and--"

Suddenly I felt angry. Pushing his hand away, I said, "No you don't, if you did you wouldn't have thought my efforts at trying to find her were pointless."

A broken expression infiltrated his eyes, and he scrubbed a palm over his face, saying underneath his breath, "Shouldn't have said that." Then he held my gaze, his voice sounding pained. "I regret ever saying that, Hilda. I was angry and a fool, and I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

When he moved a thumb over my cheek, I let him. His hand curved around my nape and he massaged the skin there, leaning in to kiss the corner of my lips.

He dug his hand into the pocket of his slacks and withdrew the pendant. My eyes widened. "Here," he said, giving it to me.

The prickling sensation instantly filled me.

Just when the pads of my fingers made contact with the locket, a scream suddenly pierced the air.

There was a pause, before the sound of loud commotion could be heard from within the room.

My heart stilled; I and Vaughan exchanged a look. The vampire was here.