Contract Bound [Rewriting]

CHAPTER NINE

Belinda plopped down on the couch in the living room and crossed her arms. "Why aren't I allowed in the town meeting?"

"Are you talking to yourself again?" Demarius said from the kitchen, where he prepared something to eat. Yes. It was one in the morning, but you know what? She also sometimes woke up late—or early as hell—and had something to eat. "Or are you asking me?"

"I was asking my imaginary friend."

"Then, maybe you're indeed losing your sanity."

"I was being sarcastic!" She pushed herself to her feet and helped him prepare food.

"I'm not in the meeting either."

"That's because they want you to watch over me—I just can't understand why they prohibited me from attending."

"The meeting is to decide whether you stay or not. It will be up for a vote."

"Maybe your mother should just allow me to leave with Fane."

"If she does and you're murdered, the guilt will destroy her."

"I understand that, but what if whoever is behind the murders grows tired and attacks the town to get to me? They'll be far more dead."

He remained silent as he served the beef and vegetables on two plates. "What if this is more than simply wanting you? If the vampire behind this madness seeks the throne and manages to kill Fane using you as bait, we're all dead. They'll be millions of humans hunted down for sport... or worse..." Sadness flashed across his face before he turned away from her. "The vampires love to point out what the rich did long ago to them. They forget that darkness plagues all races. I've officially been a slayer for two years, and I saved thousands of humans from bloodthirsty vampires. Last week, Catherine and her team rescued five women kidnapped by a faerie."

After he sat at the table, she settled on the chair beside him. They ate silently for a few minutes before she set her fork down and met his gaze. "Why does Catherine believe we're more than friends?"

"Because she has a screw loose."

"Denarius, she said everyone could tell—never mind. I shouldn't pay her no mind."

He leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers on the table.

"The vampire used his threads on me."

He stared at her, astonished. "Impossible. You'd be dead if he had."

"Maybe it was all an illusion... He had complete control over me," she paused, recalling the intense pain from the threads on her skin. "It felt so real... I freed myself from them. He seemed pleased when I did." Meeting his gaze, she noticed the worry reflected in his eyes. "Denarius, why would he be pleased I freed myself from his control?" She raked a hand through her hair. "Nothing fucking makes sense."

Denarius resumed drumming his fingers, then halted, cocking his head as though he heard something she didn't. Eyebrows furrowed, he rose from his chair and approached the window, drawing the curtains back. As he strode outside, Belinda followed.

Harper stood feet from the porch, her head lowered. "I didn't come to cause trouble."

"What's going on?" Belinda asked. "Is Fane alright?"

"Please, come with me."

Denarius seized her forearm. "She isn't going anywhere. Leave."

"Why are you all hell-bent on keeping her from him? You all know... you know they need each other."

Denarius fell silent for the longest, his grip not loosening. "Fine, but I'm going with you."

She hissed and approached Denarius, who didn't seem afraid at all of her. "You still haven't severed the magic binding you to her?"