Love Me to Death (Underveil, #1)(93)

Shaking her head rapidly, hands wringing, she backed up. “I’m sorry, miss. I can’t. I won’t.” She froze and closed her eyes. “Kill me now if you must.”

Holy shit. Elena couldn’t kill someone. Well, unless her life was in danger…or her baby’s…or Nik’s. Did she look like a killer? A glance in the mirror confirmed she did. All in black leather with crazy wild markings on her skin and her newly acquired lean muscle and red-tinged eyes, she looked like a killing machine. Horrified, she slumped into a stool in the corner.

A howling sound came from outside the door. The girl immediately morphed into a mouse, leaving a horrifying pile of human skin behind, and scampered under the armoire. More howls. Then screams.

She had to get out of this place. Rescue Nik, displace Fydor, end this war or whatever was brewing, and try to break free of this untenable existence. She couldn’t live like this. No one could. Human cattle, dead boys, oppressed women. Just, no. She gripped the door handle right as another howl sounded, and she froze. It was a human sound, but animal also.

She felt more than heard a change behind her. He was back. She didn’t even have to turn to know. “What is out there?” she asked, leaning her forehead against the door.

“Your rage.”

Now, she did turn. The vampire stood in the middle of the room, covered in blood from his chin to his waist. She shuddered.

He pointed to the bed. “Sit.”

Like the dog shifters in the barn at Aleksi’s command, she obeyed.

“This is not your fault. It is mine. I should have explained. So much in our world is taken for granted, and I failed to see the implications from a human perspective—a downfall from living too long as an immortal. We forget what it’s like above the Veil. How short sighted and prejudiced you can be.”

“Short sighted and prejudiced?” She leapt to her feet, and he held up a palm.

“If you lose your control again, I will have to kill more of them, so please refrain. I’ve grown fond of them, despite their shortcomings.”

What an ass.

“Not really. When you lose your temper, the vampires housed here feed off your emotion and react accordingly. They have been isolated from inciting forces until their training is complete and they can either be released or destroyed. All here were slated for destruction.”

She gestured to the blood on his chest and face. “What happened to you?”

His smile was bittersweet. “The better question is what happened to them.”

No. No, no, no. He did not just kill the vampires she saw in the big room when they arrived.

“Indeed, I did. Not all of them, though. Some passed the test, which was unexpected.”

“Are you telling me my anger got them killed?” Her insides roiled and she covered her mouth.

“No. Their lack of self-control got them killed. You simply helped me along. I was in that dungeon so they had not been tested a second time yet. It should have happened long ago.” He took a deep breath. “Do not let it trouble you. I will explain it after I clean up. Please, I beg of you, remain calm until I return.” He disappeared without a trace or sound.

Oh yeah. Stay calm. He just slaughtered people in his own home because of her. No biggy. Welcome to the Underveil, the freaking gateway to hell.





Chapter Thirty


Nik stretched his back and wiggled his fingers to bring them back to life. Fydor and Commander Mihai had been conferencing for what felt like hours, right outside his cell door. The bear shifter guard growled when he flexed his fingers again, and he growled back. The first thing he planned to do when he was free from these bindings was kill that f*cker.

“If we’re lucky, Borya is wrong and the vampire will kill her. If not, we know she’ll come for me in order to fulfill the prophecy.” Strain was evident in his uncle’s voice.

“She can only get in via three places. Lady Aleksandra’s window, which is how she got in before, the back door, where she escaped with the hostages to the barn, and the front door itself. We have guards stationed all over the perimeter of the building,” Mihai said.

Nikolai had never really liked him. A little too self-serving for his taste, but that was probably because he was trying to stay alive in the regime of King Fydor, who should never have been given power in the first place. Chalk up another point in the guilt column. Oh, wait. He was out of room for even one more point. He swallowed against the bile taste in his mouth. He’d been chained to this wall for so long that his focus was slipping a bit. He had to get free soon.

“I would like to personally stand guard in Lady Aleksandra’s room,” Mihai said. It was no secret he’d always had a thing for her.

“Wouldn’t you just?” Fydor snapped. “No. She says she wants to take the Arcos bitch down herself. Aleksi has great pride and needs to avenge wrongs herself.” Nikolai could hear the smile in his uncle’s voice. “It’s one of the things I like most about her. Her need for revenge. You will stand guard at the front door.”

He could only hope his sister got her revenge against the bastard who had really hurt her: Fydor. And he would be only too happy to help.

“Yes, sir.”

“Stay alert. She’s coming. Borya has seen it. He’s also seen her burning at the stake. We just hope she shows up sooner rather than later.”