The Red Lily (Vampire Blood #2)(73)

Without a second thought, she grabbed the wineglass and smashed the top on the silver candelabra, shattering the lip. With a swift swipe toward his face, she got a good cut right near his eye before he was able to grab her swinging arm.

"Oh yes, my wild one. Let's see what you've got, eh?"

He squeezed the wrist holding the glass so tight, and she was forced to drop the broken stem where it shattered on the stone floor. With a sudden move, he lifted her by the waist and tossed her on the bed, her chain rattling and the cuff cutting into her ankle. She twisted onto her stomach and lunged for the candelabra sitting on the far bedside table. She would use any means possible to do as much damage to him as she could.

He grabbed her skirt and jerked back, dragging her down the bed, then straddled the tops of her thighs.

"I love it when they fight," he mumbled, his breath coming fast. "Boris! Give me your knife."

"What!" screamed Sienna, struggling to get away, but it was no use.

"Hold still, my little red witch." He gripped her by the back of the throat, pinning her, cheek down to the mattress. "We wouldn't want to cut your pretty skin. I don't want a drop to go to waste."

The blunt end of the cold blade pressed to the top of her spine. Fear kept her frozen in place as he tore through her gown-the beautiful dress Nikolai had bought for her-ripping it open down the back one inch at a time.

"Oh yes. Delicious," he hissed on a demented chuckle. He tore the thin fabric of her chemise at the right shoulder, touching her where she knew her strawberry birthmark was. "You're not going to believe this, Boris." Boris said nothing. "This little gem is going to make Lord Barker so happy. For his superstitious lot." He leaned down and hissed in her ear with a chuckle, "You've got the devil's mark, don't you, witch?"

Sitting up, he tore the chemise open. She felt the haunting kiss of cool air on her back, buttocks, and legs as he exposed her completely. He lay on top of her, panting against her neck where he swept her hair away. She sank her nails into the coverlet, preparing for his bite, a familiar fire burning low in her gut.

"My pretty witch is quiet and submissive now, isn't she?" He trailed his tongue up her neck and groaned. "I think you want it."

"You are a disgusting piece of filth," she whispered, barely able to breathe under his weight. "And I hope Nikolai smiles when he kills you."

He fisted her hair and wrenched her head back, stinging her scalp. "Let's get all thoughts of your precious Nikolai out of the picture, shall we?"

On a vicious growl, he descended and sank his fangs deep into the base of her neck. Sienna hitched in a terrifying breath and clenched her fists in the covers as searing pain shot down her spine.

"Ah!" she cried out, clawing to get away.

He moaned and sucked hard, drawing her blood so fast, the pain intensified. Then his elixir went to work.

Raw, cold, paralyzing fear flooded her veins. The kind tinged with darkness that left her hollow and hopeless, wishing for anything to fill the void. Even death.

He ground against her with his pelvis, pressing her into the mattress, moaning as he sucked with fierce intensity, seemingly aroused by his own brutality. Tears spilled down her cheeks, the sharp pain and rabid fear ripping through her body and soul. He jerked away and lifted off her with a cackle, releasing his grip in her hair.

"Fuck!" He flipped her body by the waist. She rolled like a lifeless doll onto her back, unable to move at all.



       
         
       
        

Straddling above her on his knees, her blood trickling down his chin, Volkov licked out with his tongue, his eyes dilated full black, only a rim of silvery-blue shining with unnatural luster. The blood madness.

Shaking his head, he said, "Good thing you came, Boris. Because I want to suck every fucking drop from her." He pulled off her ripped gown. Her arms slipped out of the sleeves with ease then fell back at her sides, too numb to defend herself. He tossed the garment on the floor, leaving her in the ragged chemise. "Bloody hell, you taste good." He fell back on top of her and pressed his mouth to hers, smearing her own blood onto her lips and sweeping in with his tongue, the salty tang of him making her nauseous. He pulled back, nicking her lip with a fang. Like a lover.

"Go ahead and scream." He bent and pricked her neck lightly, then suctioned for a moment before lifting over her, bracing with his arms straight. "You can't, can you? They never can once I've gotten my fangs into them." He combed a hand through her hair, fanning it out alongside her head before meeting her gaze, the darkness there showing her what a monster truly looked like. "I may be forbidden to suck you dry. The queen has plans for you, you see. But I'll come close, little red." He let his hand roam down her throat to her breast where he squeezed none too gently. She remained impassively frozen-able to feel every sensation yet could move nothing. "And in these next few hours, you'll learn a new master."