Page 77 of Eternal Surrender

“Vampires don’t play by human rules,” I said. “They will kill you if you go back.”

“This is what I do.”

“Do you want to be one of us, is that it?” I asked flatly.

She shot me a look of horror.

The driver opened her door, and she ducked low to climb out.

Just a few feet away from the limousine, Ingrid rummaged through her handbag and already I missed her, regretting our last words shared.

The chauffeur was back in the driver’s seat, waiting for my next order.

“Turn it up,” I said to him.

He touched the volume, filling the car entirely with Bach’s Little Fugue in G minor.

Ingrid’s scent lingered, interweaving chaos with clarity, and I filled my lungs entirely with her.

Despite the cold, I was burning up from the inside, trying to suppress my desire to ravish her. I let out the longest sigh, as though it would help, wanting nothing more than to take her back into my arms.

With her now gone, I allowed myself to finally imagine the taste of her blood and dared even further, envisioning the way she’d respond to me after drinking mine.

Chapter Sixteen

The mount offered up its quiet familiarity.

Leaving London at one in the morning, I’d reached Marazion within the hour, marveling at my ability to let Ingrid go. Though as I now strolled through the foyer, replaying those moments we’d shared, doubt crept in that I could ever forget her.

From the doorway, I watched Sebastian and Alex, who were sitting opposite each other, both of them focused on the checkered inlaid table between them, and by the way Alex’s hand hovered over Sebastian’s knight, it was his move.

Alex smiled, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen him so happy. It was good to see him emanating a peace he’d long been without.

“Good choice.” I winked at him and then moved my attention to the chess piece he was holding, that just seconds ago had belonged to Sebastian.

“Had a good teacher,” Alex said.

Sebastian maneuvered his bishop. “How did your meeting go?”

“Fairly well.” I headed toward them. “Ingrid’s staying in London.”

“Permanently?” Alex asked.

I gave a shrug and sat on his chair’s armrest. “I believe we’ve resolved all our issues.”

Alex perked up and pinned Sebastian’s bishop.

“Who taught you to play?” Sebastian asked him.

Alex looked my way.

“So that’s where he gets his killer moves from.” Sebastian said. “His brother.”

Orpheus had taught him to play chess, that was where the killer instinct in the game came from.

Alex’s expression changed, and I searched for the words that might lighten the moment, and then turned to see what Alex was looking at.

“Hello, William,” Marcus said, having entered unheard.