Sera’s smile widened. “You know, I think this is the first time I’ve seen you fully dressed.”
She raked her gaze over him, taking in the crisp black trousers and the gunmetal grey shirt he had paired with them. The clothes were tailored for him, fitting his broad body perfectly and accentuating his build with devastating effect. A few of the females passing by glanced his way, eyes showing a flicker of interest as well as fear. Sera felt it too. Snow was handsome in a feral sort of way, a man who radiated danger at a strength that would turn most women away from him. It would take a strong woman to seize this man’s heart and keep hold of it.
Lilah giggled, her golden eyes bright with it. “I think it’s a first for me too.”
Javier growled and his grip on Lilah’s waist tightened, drawing her into his body. Sera smiled at how protective he was of his mate, and jealous too.
“You look good,” she said to Snow and he shrugged, clearly uncomfortable with her praising him.
“You should look in the mirror,” he said, voice low and rough, almost a growl of appreciation. “Has my brother seen you in that dress?”
She nodded and twirled for him, blushing from the memories of her heated moment with Antoine in his room and the feel of Snow’s gaze on her. “He has.”
“And he still managed to drag himself away to play the host?” Snow grinned and shook his head. “My brother needs to reassess his priorities. If you were my female, I would not let you out of my reach... like Javier with Lilah.”
Javier frowned and loosened his grip a little. “You are in a good mood tonight, Snow.”
Snow’s pale eyebrows rose. “I am. I feel good.”
Sera listened to their banter, feeling strange as she watched them laugh and tease each other. She felt as though she had fallen into their group and they had accepted her with open arms, welcoming her into a theatre that felt more like a family than a business.
As Snow talked, a hint of red touched his irises and then faded again. How in control of himself was he? The crimson that bloomed in his icy eyes at times scared her but she felt sorry for him too. If Antoine was right and Snow couldn’t remember the terrible things he had done, she pitied him all the more. She could understand why Antoine refused to tell him though. He wanted to protect Snow, and everyone he cared about.
The smell of blood drifted past her and she turned, thinking someone had finally opened the bar. Her gaze fell on a beautiful woman drenched in scarlet, bleeding profusely from long gashes on her arms and clutching her stomach. She walked forwards, stumbling towards the centre of the room. Vampires all around her backed away. One stood his ground.
Antoine.
A flood of panic surged through Sera. The woman was going to hurt him.
She rushed two steps towards him and then her feet froze, her heart turning to ice in her chest. Antoine’s usually cold eyes were warm as he approached the woman, full of disbelief that she could feel in her blood through their lingering connection.
Disbelief that was rapidly becoming panic and concern.
Sera looked back over her shoulder at Snow to gauge his reaction to the woman and the look he gave her said it all. His surprise quickly became pity. The red around his irises increased as the scent of blood grew stronger.
Sera wasn’t sure how to react as she turned back to watch Antoine with the woman. Her blood carried the scent of fear and Sera wasn’t sure whether she would last much longer without assistance.
Her heart ached.
She had never wanted anyone dead, but she wished for it now.
“Antoine... help me,” the woman said and reached for him, her steps faltering. “I am sorry for all I did... I was scared... but I always... followed your life. I came here... to see you. Please, Antoine... help me.”
She collapsed and Antoine caught her, going down with her and breaking her fall. He knelt on the wooden floor with her in his arms, his face a mask of horror, pale eyes wide and blood relaying feelings to Sera that cleaved her heart open.
“Hold on,” he whispered and scooped her up into his arms, rising with her. “I need to get you out of here.”
The look of concern that filled his eyes slashed at Sera, cutting another deep wound in her heart.
She felt ill as she watched him carry the woman out of the room, adrift and lost, her legs trembling and heart threatening to shatter. Part of her said to leave now before anyone could say anything to her. She didn’t want to hear their questions or see the pity in Snow’s eyes. Antoine loved this woman. He wanted to be with this woman and she should let him be with her, not stand between them. She had realised shortly after finally meeting Antoine that he would never love her as he loved the woman who had been in his heart for centuries.