An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter Twenty Nine

    "Charlie, meet El, Xandar, Ruebess, Yvette and, of course, Patria," Inerra commanded, gesturing to each of the vampires sitting on the plane in their leather thrones. Each grinned, except for Patria. I didn't return it. I kept my face blank, allowing nothing to leak free.

If I was going to see him again, I had to be cool and controlled. Chances were he'd try and kill me so I had to prepare myself for this. I couldn't risk running to him carelessly, expecting him to actually return an embrace or listen to anything I had to say.

  "She seems troubled," Patria muttered, deep blue eyes curious, thinking I couldn't hear her. Her red hair had been knotted on top of her head into a bun. She looked like a model, there was no other way to put it. Not that I cared. Every damn vampire was a runaway model, especially him. In fact, if he were ever to go into modelling, the entire world would implode.

I'd given way too much thought as to how I was going to deal with standing a few metres from Acera again. I'd tried to imagine every scenario possible from his eyes flooding with rage to them smouldering when I went in to kiss him. My stomach flipped excitedly. If we ended up making out – it was too much to bear. I was short of breath with just the idea of intimacy between us again.

I was getting my hopes up.

Both Patria and Inerra were looking over at me as I moved to my selected seat and curled up before closing my eyes. I gripped my dark top in a fistful. What if by this time tomorrow I was waking up in the arms of a cold-skinned, flawless pureblood?

My heard thudded in my ears at the idea of it before my mind jabbed wickedly.

What if by this time tomorrow I was waking up in the dungeons of the Darkness Palace and having him drink my blood almost entirely every day to torture me? Then again, it'd be my honour to have the Prince of Darkness drink me dry.

Preferring not to give myself one hell of a headache, I focussed on getting some rest. No doubt jet lag would also be just one of the issues I was going to endure when we reached England.

Yes, out of all bloody places for the vampires to build a palace for their royalty, it had to be the wet, grey country that was England. My hometown. It had been right under my nose the entire time.

A warm hand touched my arm, wrapping around me there gently. I refused to open my eyes as without sleep, my common sense would be even weaker.

    "Charlie?" he whispered, giving my arm a tug. I was unresponsive. He leant in closer, lips at my ear. "Human?" I remained a dead body and his growl vibrated through me. "I was going to give you some friendly advice about what we're doing here but I guess if you're going to be such a grumpy bitch you don't wanna know."

I pursed my lips as he started to pull his hand away. I snatched it and sat up so my face was an inch from his. Any passion I'd felt before about desiring to kiss Inerra seemed dimmer, or fainter. 

    "Are you listening?" he asked.

I glared. "You better start talking or I'm going back to sleep."

He snorted, settling back in the seat next to me. "You weren't sleeping. I have magic powers, remember?"

I smiled sardonically. "My apologies, Merlin. Please proceed. You have my full attention."

He slid me a look of disapproval before beginning. "We're infiltrating the Darkness Palace at the time of six hundred and thirty hours. The others are going to be our decoy so we can go to Acera's chambers. He'll meet us there."