Pretty When She Dies (Pretty When She Dies #1)(78)

She didn't hesitate to kiss him back when he covered her mouth with his and her hands clung to his shoulders. It felt so good to heal and it felt so good to feel fully alive again. His tongue licked the blood from her lips and he drew back reluctantly. Slowly, she sank back into her seat and ran her hands over her now healed face.

Cian looked a little pale as he sucked on his wrist so it would heal more quickly. There was a disquieting atmosphere in the car as they both retreated into their own thoughts. Amaliya had no idea what was on his mind, but she was still thinking about blood and sex.

Unfortunately, she was also thinking about him being engaged and as annoying as Samantha was, she appeared to love him very much.

With The Summoner somewhere out there, she had no desire to stick around anyway. She knew that if she stayed around, it would only put Cian in more danger and she was done with doing that. She'd grab the car and the phone her grandmother had given her that was still at the apartment and she'd bail. Simple as that.

Without a word, Cian shifted gears and the car sped back into the night.

***

The silence on the trip back to Austin had been stifling. They had both retreated into their corners and avoided even looking at each other. Amaliya had the distinct feeling they were both gearing up for the big argument they both knew was coming.



When they reached downtown Austin, she finally looked toward him to see that his jaw was set in a harsh line. It made her feel agitated and she looked away sharply. He parked in the parking garage and she was out of the car before the engine died.

“Amaliya,” Cian said from behind her.

She walked to the elevator and punched the button. Turning, she rested her hands on her hips. “What?”

“We need to talk.”

“No, we don't.”

To her relief, the elevator doors opened and she stepped backward into it.

And managed to bump into a couple that were exiting.

“Oh, sorry,” she said as they looked at her curiously and she remembered she was covered in her own blood. She just gave them a half-hearted smile and shrugged.

Cian stepped in beside her and began to open his mouth when a pretty blond girl reeking of liquor lunged in. She swept her hair out of her face and giggled at them.

“Hope I'm not crashing,” she said with exaggerated concern. Her keys jingled in her fingers as she swayed back and forth.

“Not at all,” Amaliya assured her.

“Did you spill your drink?” The girl pointed to Amaliya's crusted t-shirt.

“Bloody Mary,” Amaliya answered.

“That sucks,” the girl said with a deeper frown.

“How are you doing, Heather?” Cian steadied the girl with one hand.

“Oh, I'm drunk. But I got a cab back,” she assured him.

It struck Amaliya that this was one of the people Cian drank from on a regular basis. She felt a pang of jealousy, then fought it away.

“Good for you,” he said, and helped her step out onto her floor when the doors opened. “Be careful.”

Heather teetered on her high heels and giggled. “I like the look, Cian.

It's hot.” She gestured to his long hair.

Cian smiled at her slightly. The doors shut. With a determined expression on his face, he turned back toward Amaliya.

Amaliya pointed a finger in his face. “Don't start.”

He moved to grab hold of her and she managed to skirt around him as the elevator opened. Rushing to the door, she banged on it as hard as she could.

“Let me unlock it,” Cian said shoving her aside.

Roberto opened the door and peered out at them. “You brought her back.”

“I told you I would,” Cian snapped. He was growing more and more irritable.

“I need my car keys and my cellphone. And you owe me seven thousand dollars,” she said to Roberto, jabbing him in the chest as she pushed her way past Cian and into the apartment.

“Are you leaving?” Roberto asked hopefully.

“No,” Cian said firmly.

“Yes,” Amaliya spoke over him. “And I should rip your freaking head off after the shit you pulled,” Amaliya hissed at Roberto as he moved smoothly toward the kitchen.

“I only did what I felt was right.”

“Well, what if I do what feels right and it's throwing you off the balcony?”

“I'm stronger than you think,” Roberto answered as he picked up the cellphone and looked around for the keys to the Lincoln. “A hundred years of drinking a vampire's blood makes me stronger than a mere mortal.”



“I'll show you how mortal you still are!” Amaliya headed toward him.

She had a very strong desire to punch his lights out.

She was stopped when Cian grabbed her arm and jerked her back off her feet and onto the floor. “Leave him be.”

Roberto moved toward them, the keys and cellphone in his well-manicured hand. His expression was impassive as he laid the objects on a table. He plucked his jacket off the back of a chair.

“If you are wise, you will let her leave,” Roberto said to Cian.

Amaliya pushed herself to her feet.

“Roberto,” Cian said in a low voice. It was a tone Cian had never used before and it terrified Amaliya.

“Yes, my Master,” Roberto said, eyebrow arched, as he shrugged on his jacket.