Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

Chapter 22

 Chapter 22

AS THE CAR PULLED up to the pier, Vivienne couldn't stop moving the gun around under her jacket. She only vaguely remembering having a duffle bag with her that she had left in Maglania's car. No matter. She didn't need any of that anymore.

There was another car in the dirt lot at the abandoned pier. It was Blake's car. He had come alone. There was no one else with him. Vivienne gulped hard and exited Glenn's car. Vivienne saw Glenn jog up to Blake's side and whisper something into his ear. As Vivienne squeezed the cameo necklace in her sweaty palm she could make out what Glenn was whispering.

"Be careful. We were followed."

Blake nodded and turned to Vivienne. He smiled pleasantly but Vivienne noticed his smile didn't reach his eyes. The steely look in Blake's eyes told Vivienne he already knew he had been betrayed. Yet even so, he didn't try to restrict the bond between them. Why?

"Leave us."

Glenn opened his mouth to speak but Blake waved him away. Vivienne watched Glenn retreat to his car and drive away. Now they were truly alone.

"Did you kill Wisteria?" Vivienne blurted out as she made no move to cross the parking lot to join him by the entrance of the pier. "Why did you do it? I saw you kill her in cold blood."

"Wisteria?" Blake asked quizzically as though that name meant nothing to him.

"The girl who was bond to Prince Mercury," Vivienne explained, exasperated. "Did you even know her name?"

"Oh, that girl. Yes, I did," Blake sighed and shook his head. "Of course I did it. What would you have me do? Her neck was halfway severed. It was an act of mercy. Did Maglania tell you that I did it?" Blake laughed. "That's quite a bold-faced lie even for the likes of her. Believe me, I'm the least of her monsters."

"How do you know that I've spoken to Maglania since that night? Is it this cursed bond?"

"No, I know because you're hiding a gun under jacket. She gave it to you. Are you planning to shoot me with it?" Blake shrugged indifferently and turned his back to her. "Come. There is a boat here that will take you across the sea, back home."

Vivienne didn't budge. It was obvious to her now that this gun was worthless. Blake wanted her to get in that boat and to sail back home. He wanted to get rid of her so that he could continue drawing from her strength.

Vivienne pulled the cameo necklace out of her pocket and held it up.

"Maybe you're right. I won't shoot you. But I can shoot this necklace. It will break the bond between us, won't it?"

"You keep threatening to break the bond. Just do it already!" Blake snapped. "Make up your mind, Vivienne!"

Vivienne snarled at him. She held out the cameo necklace but her hand shook as she pointed the gun at it. Finally, she threw the gun to the floor. Blake approached her. Vivienne barely had a chance to react before he snatched her hand and wrapped it around his neck.

Then with ice-cold fury in his eyes, Blake leaned in and kissed her. The man before her was so strong she could see the well-defined straps of muscle in his neck. His lips were hungry and hard. The kiss was unintentionally rough — as though he had forgotten all about treating her like a delicate bird.

Vivienne meant to strike him with her fists but, instead, her hands melted against his chest, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She tugged him closer, kissed him back with all the ferocity that she had intended to go after him with that gun.

Slowly, she felt his teeth pierce her skin. Vivienne winced at first at the pain but then she was drawn into a trance. Her blood was leaving her, but she didn't care. It started slowly at first, a teasing kind of pleasure, sweeter than the sweetest chocolate. It came and it ebbed with his every sip. The sky started to blur and seemed alight with sparkling fireflies. It started to hurt more but she desperately wanted him to keep going. A strange warmth spread out from the tips of her fingers, up her arm, and then everywhere.