A Turn of Tides (A Shade of Vampire #13)(14)

I didn’t know how much time had passed since I’d last rested my eyes.

But even as Annora settled down to sleep, I should have known better than to drift off myself.

I should have suspected that she’d try something.

I sat bolt upright the moment I tasted it.

Warm blood.

Annora’s blood.

I hacked and spat, but it was too late.

Its sweet taste took hold of my senses and sent them into overdrive.

I staggered to my feet, gripping hold of the side of the boat as I glared at Annora.

The sight of her blood spilling from her palm only served to hasten my descent.

I lurched toward her, gripping her waist and slamming her back against the side of the boat.

I tugged roughly on her hair, pushing it away and giving me clear access to her neck.

She didn’t flinch as I broke her skin and dug my fangs deep into her neck.

She welcomed it.

Wrapping her arms tightly around my waist, she pulled me closer as she moaned my name.

At first, I didn’t understand why she didn’t scream or struggle.

I didn’t realize why she moaned with pleasure when I could have been moments from ending her life.

It wasn’t until I’d downed my fifth gulp of her blood that it dawned on me.

It was because she knew.

She knew what was happening.

She knew that with each gulp of her blood I took, the pain of losing Rose was ebbing away and being replaced with a burning, blind desire for Annora.

Chapter 8: Rose

“I want to go for a walk.” I placed my hands on my hips and looked sternly at Bella.

The ogress sat in the corner of the room, knitting what looked like a thick scarf.

I’d already tried to open the front door while Bella had been busy washing up in the kitchen, but it was locked fast.

And since one glance out of the windows told me that climbing out of them wasn’t an option, I had no choice but to resort to asking the ogress.

Bella rolled her eyes and gestured around the room.

“You can go for a walk here.

It’s a big room.” “No.

I have claustrophobia.

I need a more open space to stretch my legs.

You can escort me.” She stared at me, then shook her head.

“Not allowed,” she said, smacking her fat lips together.

“What kind of maid are you who won’t even take her mistress for a walk?” “Master’s orders.” I scowled at her and slumped down on the bed.

Her answer to everything was, “Master’s orders.” She still refused to tell me exactly where I was, and what exactly that bastard Anselm or the older man I’d come across had in store for me.

My eyes settled on the ring of keys fastened to her huge waist.

Then they raised to her face.

It had gone back to being full of intense concentration as she continued working on her knitting.

I stood up slowly and walked over to her.

I pulled up an ottoman and sat down next to her, pretending to adopt a sudden interest in her knitting.

I was trying to gauge how difficult it might be to unfasten the keys from her belt once she finally fell asleep—assuming she was to stay with me in my quarters.

“You like knitting, don’t you, Bella?” I said, trying to keep her distracted.

She nodded enthusiastically.

“Love it.” Once I was satisfied that I’d gotten as close a view of the keys as I was going to get without actually removing them from her, I stood up and walked back over to the bed.

I looked out of the window.

The overcast sky was becoming even darker.

I supposed that meant that night was descending on this place.

I let out a yawn, causing Bella to raise her eyes to me.

“You are tired?” “Yes,” I said, yawning again.

“I think I need to sleep.

Aren’t you tired too? It seems to be getting late.” I looked again out at the sky, hoping that it was indeed getting late.

Bella looked at me thoughtfully.

“Maybe a little tired.

But I need to eat first.” “Okay,” I said.

“Why don’t you eat and then we can both go to sleep for the night.” The chair creaked as she stood up and set her knitting down on the table.

She plodded toward the kitchen.

I lay back on the bed, listening to pots rattling and a fire starting up.

She returned to the room about ten minutes later with a huge saucepan full of stew.

She placed a plate on the floor so as to prevent stains, brandished a giant spoon and began swallowing down the stew.

So that’s why she cooked so much.

It didn’t take her long to finish the whole container.

Wiping her mouth, she let out a thundering belch.

Then she made her way back into the kitchen to wash up.

I waited patiently for her to return to the room.

I expected her to curl up in the corner of the room and go to sleep, but to my horror she headed straight for the front door.

I leapt from my bed and stood in front of the door before she could reach it.

“Wait.

Please don’t leave me alone all night.

Stay with me.

We can get some cushions and a blanket and you can sleep in the corner on the thick warm rug.” She shook her head.