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“I don’t know about any staff,” the vampire cried out, fear coloring his expression.
Alexei twirled the silver knife inches from the vampire’s face. “You know, when my father first forged his Slovenian sword, his enemies had never known such pain. Sharp enough to pierce a vampire’s flesh and cause immeasurable pain from within, I find the steel incomparable in situations such as this.”
He sliced the dagger across the vampire's cheek, drawing forth an agonized scream. “Like liquid sunshine, is it not? I will slice every inch of your worthless hide until you tell me where he’s keeping it.”
Bile rose in my throat at the sheer violence radiating from Alexei. For the first time in the year I had known him, I felt frightened.
This was who he was deep down. Every moment of levity or humor hid the monster within. It should disgust me and make me never want to see his lying face again, but I could not deny the underlying allure this part of him rose in me.
He was lethal. Determined. A fierce warrior without conscience who would do anything to protect what was his. Coupled with the myriad of secrets between us, I realized I knew next to nothing about Alexei Vasyliev.
“Please.” Blood tears dripped down the vampire’s face. “Trystan never spoke of his deeds in New Orleans. After the ghosts invaded your manor at the masquerade, he disappeared, urging us to hurry back to his private jet. We thought it was because of the witches. If he stole something, I don’t know about it,” he broke off. “Please don’t kill me.”
Alexei twirled the dagger between his fingers, savoring the renewed shuddering of the vampire. “Jade, darling. Why don’t you head upstairs? I’ll be up shortly.”
He was giving me another out, wanting me to flee before I saw something I couldn’t unsee. For a moment, I almost agreed and darted back upstairs to the Jade who never knew the darkness shrouded within him.
“I think I’ll stay,” I whispered.
Before I could blink, the Slovenian dagger rang true, slicing the vampire's head clean from his body. Alexei sidestepped his falling torso, avoiding the spray of black blood, before he casually wiped the blade with a small cloth.
Still facing away from me, he murmured, “I do so miss my warmongering days. This fool thought the ridiculous vampire law concerning killing other vampires actually fell upon me.Idiot. Only the fledglings must adhere to that particular rule.”
His casual reference to the secret laws transcribed by his father cut through me.
“But if he belongs to Trystan—” I started, my words dying off as Alexei stiffened.
He shook his head. “This fledgling has no blood tie to Dubois. The son of someone within his court if I had to guess. Had he been a turned mortal, I would have had what I need to ruin Trystan, but alas, we’re back at square one.”
My throat tightened as a sickening thought rushed through me. “Haveyouever turned a warmblood?”
“Of course not.” He growled, sounding offended at the mere notion. “Considering most do not survive the transition and my father despises such practices, it is not done. Hasn’t for many decades.”
Before I could question him further, he took a deep breath and pocketed his dagger.
“Did you enjoy the show or witnessing what true potential lies beneath my beautiful face?” he wondered, his voice sounding far away. “This is who I am, Jade. Damn you for forcing me to show you.”
A burst of compassion spread through me at the pain in his voice.
He took another deep breath, holding it in his chest as if being suffocated. “I’m sorry,” he started. “I hadn’t intended for the night to go this way, nor did I ever intended for you to see—”
“See what, Alexei?” I cut him off tiredly. “You torturing and decapitating a vampire who threatened me and hates my people? I’m not a fool. I know you couldn’t let him live and return to Trystan. Give me some credit.”
His head snapped to mine. “You aren’t angry at me for bringing you into this? I wouldn’t fault you if you never wanted to see me again.”
“As if that’s even an option now.” I scowled.
He breathed sharply through his nose, forcing himself to calm. “I suppose I can’t fault you, Jade. As you saw tonight, I’m a veritable monster.”
Wordlessly, I watched him, unable to deny that the bloody vengeance I witnessed tonight terrified me. As if in reaction to the spike of adrenaline running through me, I felt the amulet’s power reaching into my well of magick.
Oh, Goddess, not now.
“Just get me out of here, Alexei,” I said through clenched teeth, trying to desperately to hold in my magick before it exploded out of me as catastrophically as the night of the masquerade.
Before Alexei could move, Thibault appeared next to me, his steps silent in the dungeon. He whistled low as he took in the carnage before him. “It’s not like you to play with your prey before making your kill, Alexei. The cleanup will be abysmal.”
I took a deep breath, the vampire’s droll musings calming me enough to contain the amulets power.
