And he looks...amazed. Maybe even more than I hoped he would be.
“You are truly talented, Riona!” Gillian tells me, clapping her hands, but I stay looking at Maddox as his lips part a little. His eyes burn with a desire that almost makes me want to close the space between us and kiss him.
He watches me, his eyes feeling like they are burning a hole through my head as I sit back down and place the violin carefully in the case. When I close it, I try to offer it back to Gillian, but she shakes her head. “It is a gift. Your talent should not go unpractised. I hope to hear you play once more in the future.”
“I would love to play for you again. Thank you,” I tell her with a real smile.
Then Maddox ruins it.
He wipes an arm across the table, spilling drinks and food onto the floor in a massive crash, parts of food splashing onto my dress. I sigh and cross my arms as Maddox pulls out the small red box that he got the day we danced together, and places it in the middle of the cleared table. Gillian stares at it as Maddox opens the box, and inside is a gold ring with a clear blue crystal in the middle. I might not be a witch or vampire or siren, but I know something is weird about that ring.
“I almost did not believe it was true!” Gillian exclaims, her eyes staring at it with nothing but longing. “This was lost so long ago to us, I assumed the ocean had washed it away.”
“Nothing lost cannot be found,” Maddox smoothly replies and snaps the box shut. He makes a show of leaving the box on the table and looking at Gillian. “Now do we have a trade?”
“I want ten human virgins of good stock and one other thing,” Gillian replies.
“What on earth would you want ten humans for?” I blurt out and turn to Maddox, who looks at Gillian, no doubt ignoring me. “You can’t give her ten of your people.”
“Vampires are his people, sweet girl, humans are not,” Gillian replies, and I glare at her. For a moment, I liked this crazy bitch, but it turns out she is just as insane and heartless as the rest of them.
Maddox sighs. “What is this extra thing you wish for? I only agreed to the ring and humans.”
Gillian smiles, her eyes flickering between the ring and me. “If you wish for me to tell you the whereabouts of the orb and an answer to what the demonic children are and where they are from, I want Riona to come with me.”
“No. Fucking. Way.” Maddox’s answer comes swiftly, and his tone is without argument.
My cheeks burn at the possessive and protective way Maddox looks at me for a moment, and we both stare at each other.
“I see,” Gillian coldly replies, distaste thick in her voice. “Then we will have no deal.”
Despite what she says, her eyes flicker to the ring with clear longing. Maddox picks the box up and pulls the ring out as he stands. He moves to the back of my chair, grabs my hand, and slides the ring over my index finger. It fits perfectly, and I bite back the urge to pull my hand away. Maddox looks down at me as Gillian stands up, pushing her chair over as she does. “Do you like your new gift? I’ve heard it’s priceless and one of a kind.”
“Maddox,” I carefully warn him. He might be able to escape a witch’s attack, but I’m a sitting target with this ring on, and he damn well knows it. Plus, the ring just gives me the creeps.
“Our clan is not one to be messed with, Prince Maddox. I knew coming here to trade with you would be a mistake,” she hisses out.
He lets my hand go but stays put at my back. His laugh fills the room. “The only mistake you made was believing I would trade what is mine.”
“I shall leave,” Gillian claims, and she looks directly at me. For a second, nothing happens, and then a screeching noise fills my head. I cry out, slamming my hands on my ears, closing my eyes. When I open them, the room is frozen. The first thing I notice is the flames of the tealight candles are still, and then I glance up at Maddox, seeing he is frozen, his mouth open to shout.
“What did you do?” I ask Gillian, knowing it was her. Her body is frozen, but her lips move as she speaks. It’s seriously creepy.
“When you leave his side, and you will, come to my clan. We will tell you the truth of your parents and who they really are. I will teach you what is in your blood and how to control what will come,” she promises, speaking like we are dear friends and I should believe her. “The vampire prince will not last the years to come; he is weak at heart, and you are not. Leave soon and find us.”
The screeching noise suddenly comes back, and I scream once more, even as it drifts away, and I find myself in Maddox’s arms. I gasp, a small sob coming out of my lips as I lower my hands and see my blood coating my fingers.
As my hands start to shake, Maddox pulls me to his chest, tucking my head under his chin. In the arms of a monster, I feel protected and safe.
And my soul is damned.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Long day, madame?” Hector asks as I walk into the kitchen, soil stuck to my clothes and hands. I shrug and head to the sink, washing my hands as my stomach grumbles.
“I finished two more parts today. I’m slowly getting ready to ask for more plants to build up the areas I’ve cleaned up,” I answer. “What about you? Busy?”
His expression changes for a brief second. “The prince has not been in the best of moods today. I’ve kept myself busy by staying out of the way, and I suggest you do the same, madame.”
“Why is he moody?” I ask, wondering if it was because of the meal last night. I know he was pissed off, but he carried me back to my room and said goodnight. He seemed...strange but not moody. Not moody enough to have clearly freaked Hector out. “And is Cross hiding? The girls?”
“Cross was sent to the town today for supplies,” Hector answers. “As for the girls, I believe you are the only girl in this castle alive at the present second.”
“What?” I blurt out. Before Hector can stop me, I run out of the room and head down the stairs and into the living area, freezing at the sight in front of me. Blood coats the floor like water, sticking to every inch, and dotted around are bodies. I count five before I have to turn away, sickness rising in my throat.
“Ah, you’re here!” Maddox shouts, sounding drunk. Swallowing the sickness in my throat, hating that I’m somewhat getting used to seeing dead bodies and blood, I face the Mad Prince. He is shirtless, wearing only tight black leather trousers, and blood is smeared all over his chest.
He lifts a bottle of wine, toasting me almost and taking a deep sip. “Want some? I’m afraid there might be a little blood in it, but I find it adds to the taste.”
“Why? Why, Maddox?” I ask, waving at a few of the dead bodies. I don’t recognise a lot of them, but two of the girls I do. I have to look away, even as tears prick my eyes.
Maddox doesn’t answer as he stumbles over to me, frowning. “You look upset.”
“Maddox, I am upset!” I all but scream, slamming my hands against his chest, not caring about the blood that marks me. “You killed these innocent people! Why? Why would you do that?”
He smiles at me as I hit his chest, again and again, burning out all the anger and frustration I can possibly feel towards him and myself for ever liking him. For getting close to a monster that will never change.