The Romanov's Pursuit (10 page)

Chapter Nine

The last time Cutter was this nervous was when he had begun his training to hone his powers under his father’s tutelage. Ivan Romanov had been a difficult taskmaster and didn’t dole out praise easily. It was when he was still very young and cared about his father’s approval. It didn’t matter that his father was verbally and sometimes physically abusive; at one time his opinion had actually mattered to Cutter and Blade as well. Once the blinders had come off and they had seen Ivan Romanov for the man he was, he was no longer of consequence to them.

But now more than anything else, he hoped to earn Nya’s approval. He needed her to love their home and want to stay because it meant they were building something special. They’d traveled several hours by plane and then by chauffeured driver to get to his and Blade’s estate just outside of St. Petersburg, Russia. He and Blade had had their home redecorated to have a more feminine touch.
Of course
,
if Nya wanted to change anything she’d have free reign but for now, he at least wanted her to be comfortable.

She’d been quiet for most of their journey, only answering questions when she was spoken too. After a while, Cutter had given up on trying to draw her into
a
conversation
. It was obvious she had a lot on her mind, and he could imagine that accepting two new mates after losing another was a lot for her to deal with.

“This is nice,” Nya complimented once she stepped over the threshold.

While it was a nice enough remark, it sounded like it was something someone said out of obligation. She didn’t seem the least bit impressed by the marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and precious art adorning the walls. Her expression remained neutral, and it was hard for Cutter to tell what she really thought about her surroundings.

Blade swept his hand out in a gesture that drew attention to the room they now stood in the middle of. “We can give you the full tour if you’d like. We want you to be as comfortable as possible. Our home is now your home.”

Nya shook her head. “Maybe later. Could you tell me where my room is? I’d like to rest.”

“Would you like something to eat before we take you to your room?” Cutter offered.

“No. Thank you, I’m rather tired. All that traveling wore me out.”

“
Of course
,
we’ll show you.”

“No, Cutter. I’d rather just find it myself if you don’t mind. No offense but I’ve been cooped up with the two of you for several hours and I need some time to myself.”

Anyone with feelings would have taken offense to her statement. It was like a dagger to the heart that acted as if she found their company repulsive when that clearly wasn’t the case. If it was, then why else did her body respond to them so perfectly? Nya was suffering from a serious case of denial, and while he was prepared to give her time to adjust to life with them, he refused to let her pretend that she wasn’t going to spend the rest of eternity with him and Blade.

“Go up the stairs and turn left. That will take you to the west wing. Your room will be the third door on the right, which leads to your private sitting room and the French doors on the side will be your bedroom.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Cutter clenched his hands at his sides to keep himself from grabbing her and pulling her into his arms as he watched her walk away. Once she was upstairs and out of eyesight Blade turned to him.

“What the fuck was that all about?”

“Just because she agreed to come to our home doesn’t mean she hasn’t stopped running. I have a feeling that given the opportunity, she’ll pull a disappearing act again.”

Blade raised a brow. “Are you sure about that?”

“I’m almost certain. While she dozed briefly on the plane, I entered her thoughts. She’s going to wait until we’re distracted to make her getaway.”

“You violated her privacy? We agreed not to enter her mind without her permission.” The mind link was one of the ways immortals could communicate in secret. But it was usually with the understanding that when an immortal entered another’s thoughts, there was an explicit consent. Often this mind link was shared between family members or mates, or barring
that close friends
. There were times i
t was necessary to go in
to someone’s mind uninvited and usually those instances were usually matters of grave importance. Unsuspecting humans were fair game because they could be glamoured to forget it ever happened, but an immortal would not forget, in
fact
,
it enraged
them
unless the deed was done while the person was unconscious.

“I was desperate. She shut us out the second we walked out of her little shack.”

Blade sighed. “I get it. I was just as upset as you that she barely spoke two words to us the entire trip despite our attempts to
get her to speak at length
. But what if she had woken in the middle of your mind probe? She would have been pissed and rightfully so.”

“I didn’t go that deep. I only read her last conscious thought before she drifted off.”

“Are you sure that’s all you got?”

Cutter frowned. “I didn’t get a specific thought besides the one I told you about but I did get an impression. A feeling of deep pain and sorrow. It probably explains the tough exterior she uses to mask her hurt. It’s going to take some time for us to break down her walls and teach her to trust us.”

“I agree, but the next time either of us
mind
links with her, she would have to be fully aware of it and cooperative.”

“Of course. It’s a mistake I won’t make again. Perhaps we should go check on her to see how she’s settling in.”

Blade nodded in response.

When they made it to Nya’s room, Cutter knocked on the door. When there was no answer, he tried the doorknob to find that it was unlocked. Slowly, he opened the door and
pe
e
ked
inside. The room was empty. Her sitting room was empty as was the bedroom. The safeguards they had in place would have alerted them if she’d left the house.

“Where do you think she is?”

Blade went still and cocked his head to the side. “I hear movement in the East Wing.”

“Let’s check it out.”

They found Nya in the library curled up in an armchair seemingly engrossed within the pages of the book on her lap. She must have heard them enter the room because they hadn’t been particularly quiet but she seemed too focused on her book. She presented quite a lovely picture, and it took a great deal of restraint for Cutter not to stride across the room and yank her into his arms. The memory of her wet pussy replayed in his mind and made his mouth water and cock stiffen.

“Is that an interesting read?”

“It’s a non-fiction book about St. Petersburg. If I’m going to be here for a while, I should at least learn its history.” Nya spoke without lifting her head. She continued to leaf through the pages.

“Did you find your room satisfactory?” Blade asked.

“It was nice. Thank you.”

When she still didn’t look at them, Cutter’s frustration level rose. “Would you at least look at us when we’re talking to you?”

She slowly closed her book and uncurled her legs from the chair. “Of course, Masters.”

Cutter sighed. “That was uncalled for.”

She shrugged. “What exactly should I call you then? I’m basically your prisoner. I’m not stupid enough to think that you haven’t put
wards
on this house to keep me from getting out. And if I try to run, you’ll track me down. Now you want to dictate how I spend my time. So what exactly should I call you?”

Cutter shoved his hands in his pockets in frustration. “By our names would be acceptable. You’re not our prisoner, you’re our soulmate. We’re not trying to keep you against your will. We want to build a life with you. I understand that you’ve been hurt before. That you’ve lost a lot in your lifetime. When I touched your mind, I felt the pain but—”

Nya shot to her feet, brow furrowed in anger. “You read my mind? When? I never invited you in!” Her hands were balled at her sides and she trembled with visible rage. For a moment Cutter thought she’d charge at him.

Blade shot him an I-told-you-so-look. Cutter cursed himself for letting slip something he’d intended to keep a secret

“It was while you were sleeping on the plane. You were quite restless and I only did it because I was hoping to find some way to connect with you so that we could find a way to ease your pain,” Cutter explained.

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “Ease my pain? You two are the source of it. I was doing fine before you and Blade decided I needed rescuing. If for some reason this thing that’s after your family comes after me, then it’s your fault. I would have been fine on my own.”

Blade closed the gap between them. “If there’s the slightest chance that you’re in danger then we’ll do whatever we can to protect you. This isn’t your prison but your home.”

She twisted her lips into a humorless smile. “That’s exactly what Adonis said. Whenever he was in his most crazed and he became violent, he’d tell me what he was doing for me was for my own good. So you tell me what the difference is?”

Cutter tried to be understanding of Nya’s feelings but comparing he and Blade to Adonis, a rogue vampire who had been responsible for the deaths of many, had killed children and had terrorized his own family for centuries, snapped the little bit of patience
that he’d been holding on to
. With each
word
,
he took a step closer until his face was inches away from hers.

Nya raised her chin and stared
him
square in the eyes. “From where I’m standing I don’t see much difference.”

Cutter had had enough. “Well in that case…” He bent over enough to slam his shoulder into her midsection, causing Nya to fold over, making it easier for him to toss her over his shoulder.

Cutter, what the hell are you doing? Blade practically yelled the words into his head.

She already sees us as villains so we might as well not disappoint.

Not this way.

Cutter cut off communication to his brother by placing a mental barrier in his mind. He ignored Nya’s fists beating against his back. He held her firm as she yelled and kicked.

“Let me go you bastard! I knew it! Fuck you!” she screamed.

Cutter continued to stalk toward his suite of room
s
. “That’s the plan.”

When she sank her fangs
in
to
his back, Cutter let out a grunt of pain. It hurt like a son of a bitch and he could tell she’d torn into his muscles, but he was too focused.

When he
arrived
at
his room, he tossed her on the bed. When Nya would have
spr
u
ng
at him, Cutter whispered a quick chant to keep her frozen in place.

She glared at him with angry eyes and blood dripping down the corner of her mouth. “Just what I figured,” Nya spoke between clenched teeth.

Blade put his hand on Cutter’s shoulder. “You don’t have to do this.”

Cutter shrugged his brother off as he started to take his clothing off. He didn’t break eye contact with Nya, who continued to toss him a look so venomous that he could actually feel the hate radiating from her. It hit him right in the heart but the anger that had taken over him wouldn’t let go. She wanted him to be a monster then that was exactly what he would be.

“Cutter, if you do this, you’ll regret it when you’re finished.”

“Will you stop me?”

Blade backed away and retreated. The click of the door indicated that he’d left the room.

“It’s quite sad that you’d have to use your magic to hold me captive. Is this how you get off?” Nya taunted.

Only when Cutter was completely nude did he go to work tearing the clothes from Nya’s stiff body. He didn’t bother to use finesse or care as he ripped her clothing to shreds. When his task was complete, he admired her dark beauty. No matter how many times he saw her naked figure, he was in awe. She was the epitome of perfection. The spell he’d used on
her
, this time,
was different from his previous one because even though she couldn’t move, he could pose her however he wanted like his own personal toy. He lifted Nya and positioned her on all fours, making sure her plump ass was facing up and her knees were wide apart to give him the perfect view of her pussy. Already he could smell her arousal and it was intoxicating. He was tempted to bury his face between her thighs but she needed to be taught a lesson.

“If I could move I’d rip your goddamn eyes out.”

“Is that so?” He asked, finally finding his voice somewhere in the depth of his rage.

“You know I will, that’s why you’re holding me against my will.”

Cutter raised a brow. “But am I doing anything to you that you don’t want? Let’s stop kidding ourselves, Nya, you want this as much as I do. I saw the way your eyes strayed to my dick. You’re probably remembering how good my dick felt inside of you, stretching your walls to their absolute limit. I bet you can’t wait for me to ram my cock so deep in your cunt you won’t know where I end and you begin. Your pussy is already weeping with need.”