Vampire Enslavement (Lords of Bondage) (21 page)

She shuddered as she envisioned the prince’s dagger-like fingernails raking her bare skin. “That man is not touching me.”

“You say that now, but Diermont has ways of changing a woman’s mind. He’s done it time and time again.”

“By beating them, I assume.” Kiera paled and said, “I’ll go where he’ll never find me.”

“You won’t have to do anything that drastic, at least not yet. Just stay out of sight as much as possible and do not draw attention to yourself. Let him lose interest in you naturally. It shouldn’t take too long.”

“Well thank you for that complimentary remark. Ladies love to hear how little they attract their men.” The rage and helplessness she felt with her current situation tightened her chest and made it difficult for her to breathe. She pushed Modez with her hands and he backed away from her. She wanted to hit something or someone. She took a deep breath instead and pushed the negative feelings deep inside her, where she always bottled them. “Do not worry. I will do my best to lose his attention. When that happens, I’ll be out of your hair as well.”

“That would be best for everyone.” He stepped to the side and knocked on the door.

“I agree. I cannot wait to be done with these tasks so I can be free.” Modez shot her a look that made her want to slap him. Somehow he managed to convey without speaking that she had never been free and never would be. She was dependent on the generosity of the lord that she served. Lord Ross opened the door a minute later and gestured for them to step inside. All conversation died as they entered. One look at Cabrian and she could tell just how much he would not appreciate the intrusion. “Lord Ross, I want you to know that I share your room unwillingly.”

Modez glared at her and said, “Do not take your frustration out on Lord Ross. If you give him any trouble, I will punish you myself.”

“I don’t cause trouble. It just seems to happen.”

“Make sure it doesn’t happen this time.”

Kiera glared at him until the door closed behind him and he was gone. She looked past Cabrian to the human woman in the bed, curious to see what had captured that hybrid’s interest. The woman would have been naked if not for the sheet wrapped around her. She appeared fragile and dainty, like a porcelain doll. Her hair was a golden color that was extremely rare in Asstrumnia, but apparently common in Rome.

“So you are spying for the prince now, is that it?” Cabrian asked.

“Apparently I have to do whatever he commands, at least that’s what they tell me.” Kiera wasn’t surprised by the lord’s hostility but she was determined not to cower in front of him. She must be the only woman in the villa who hadn’t shared his mating bed. She wondered why he would be given permission to keep the Roman woman when he hadn’t yet exhausted all hybrid options for breeding. She had always been told she wasn’t meant for an elite male since she came from poor hybrid stock, but wouldn’t she be better than a human? The very idea was an insult, although she could admit to feeling relieved she wouldn’t have to endure Cabrian’s mating bed. His mating fangs were very long and very sharp. In fact, she had never seen a more sizable pair. Most hybrid females would be impressed by what he packed inside his mouth, but she couldn’t help but feel uneasy. The larger the fang, the deeper the bite. She hated being bitten. She wouldn’t want those anywhere near her neck, not to mention her other parts. “I am to remind you that there will be no penetration. None of any kind.”

Cabrian’s eyes were cold as steel. “Who I penetrate is not Diermont’s concern.”

Kiera’s nerves frayed under the pressure and her heart wouldn’t stop pounding. The male intimidated her even more than Modez. “I assure you that I could care less. I am here on the prince’s orders.”

“Understood, but you need to understand this. If Cassia is harmed, I will kill you. If you do anything to upset her, I will cause you unimaginable misery.”

“I won’t hurt her.”

“I don’t like the idea of leaving her alone in the room with you. I was told that you were dismissed from Snotti’s service because you are undisciplined and unmanageable.”

“I did nothing to deserve banishment. The princess discards her ladies like one would an old shoe. She tires of them and wants a new pair.”

Cabrian nodded. “That sounds like Snotti.”

She sensed her new position was dependent upon the overlord’s approval. “I can be trusted with your precious property. I promise not to damage her in any way.”

“I am giving you access against my better judgment.” Cabrian took her satchel from her and placed it inside the closet. He sighed and said, “You may have freedom of travel.”

“I thought I was being locked inside the room with the two of you, not only to watch what you are doing but to keep me out of Snotti’s sight.” Snotti had acted as if she could barely stand her presence, and with the exception of Druscilla and Torin, the others seemed to feel the same way.

Cabrian’s gaze veered toward the medium sized bed. “I am sure you would feel too confined not to be able to come and go as you please. You would grow bored if you remained in this room the entire time.”

“Sometimes I find myself thirsty at night and I cannot wait for the morning meal,” Kiera said as she thought of the meal she had made of Modez. She would have to taste him again. “You would not mind if I slipped out from time to time, then? You would not report me for neglecting my duties?”

“Not at all.” Some of the tension dissipated. “When you do go out, take as much time as you need to quench your thirst. One should not be made to go hungry.”

“I agree completely,” she said as she decided right then and there to disregard any and all threats Modez had made regarding what would be done to her if she disobeyed the prince. After all, had she not warned Modez she would be the worst person for the job? Surely they all knew by now how bad she was at following orders, especially stupid ones that made no sense. If she allowed Cabrian some alone time with the human he craved, he would owe her big time. It wouldn’t hurt to have this lord indebted to her. “I think we’ll get along just fine.” Her eyes drifted to the woman in the bed who watched them. “Poor thing is always naked.”

“She is a slave. Captives are stripped of all possessions, including their clothing. It is the way of war.”

The male appeared defensive. And guilty. “I can only assume you prefer her to stay naked, else you would have made some effort to clothe her. She can have some of my things, although they will not fit her properly.”

“Diermont ordered her to remain naked, Kiera.” His tone sounded exasperated. “I wasn’t going to keep her that way indefinitely. You don’t have to look at me like I’m some kind of whoremonger.”

“Real convenient excuse, Lord Ross.” Kiera felt pity for the other woman when she saw the shame and embarrassment in her eyes. She pulled one of her sleeping gowns out of her satchel and threw it on the bed near Cassia. Since Kiera was so much taller than the human, it would swallow her whole, but it was better than remaining wrapped inside a sheet. “Fuck Diermont’s orders. Let her wear something, at least for a little while. And take her shopping when you get home.”

“Thank you,” Cassia said as she pulled the crimson colored gown over her head and down over her body.

On Cassia, Kiera’s loose fitting gown clung too tightly to the Roman woman’s bust and hips. It was indecent the way the garment revealed her shape, accentuating her more generous endowments. So human. So unlike her own shape, Kiera thought as her eyes scanned her own figure. She let out a little laugh as she realized just how worried she had been that she would too closely resemble these human females. There was nothing to worry about at all. Her modest curves would never be mistaken for human. Snotti was overreacting about the human threat. How could these strangely shaped females be any kind of competition? What exactly did Cabrian see in this woman? Her eyes flicked to his face out of curiosity and she was stunned to see the way he stared at the human female. His eyes were fairly blazing with lust. It was clear the lord liked what he saw, that he actually preferred the human.
So maybe Snotti wasn’t overreacting and we’ll all be replaced by these human females
. Cabrian’s mating fangs were elongating, readying to sink themselves into the woman’s skin to brand her. She had heard that Cassia had been spared because of her breeding potential, but she had assumed the real reason was strictly sexual. Those fangs told a different story. Kiera had to wonder why a human would gain a response that most hybrid females failed to achieve. She couldn’t even remember the last time a male’s mating fangs had grown for her, if they ever had. If Sulian’s vision was accurate, there was a good chance she would never see any man’s fangs lengthen for her. She couldn’t suppress the pangs of envy that came with that realization. Cassia wasn’t even hybrid, much less a blood hybrid. Yet there was something about her that signaled she would be compatible for mating, something she possessed that Kiera did not. The mating fangs sensed it.

It wasn’t fair. Cassia would be bitten, marked, and bred. In time, they would forgive her for being human. Any woman who could successfully reproduce with a hybrid these days was valued more than gold. If she managed to produce an heir, she would be acknowledged as his mate and not just a slave or captive. She wouldn’t be fully accepted by society and some of the elite would shun her, but she would be given all privileges associated with the Lady of Calforn. Cassia would be able to live the life that Kiera wanted to live but could not. No, she would serve as the prince’s courtesan, a role she knew she would hate more than anything.

“Lord Ross, if you wouldn’t mind, I need to prepare myself for bed,” Kiera said as she pulled out one of her plainer sleeping gowns. She wouldn’t wear what she normally wore to bed, as sleeping in her favorite antique lace gown would leave her feeling too exposed.

“I’ll give you five minutes,” he said as he vanished.

Kiera sighed. Really, he was being overly possessive of his little human. Did he really think she would harm the woman? She dressed quickly, frustrated that she would be unable to get a private word with Cassia. She had questions that only a Roman could answer, but she had no intention of quizzing her with Cabrian present.

In exactly five minutes, Cabrian returned. Kiera stared at the bed, noting in dismay that it was much too small for three people. Cabrian had centered himself in the middle of the bed, which prevented her from following orders. “I was told to sleep between the two of you to act as a barrier.”

The male wore only a pair of breeches and the sight of his bare chest made her mouth go dry. “I don’t care what you were told,” he said. “This is the way we’re doing it.”

He didn’t trust her to sleep next to Cassia. Did he really think she would murder the girl while they lay sleeping? She rolled her eyes and sighed. His expression communicated one fact to her. He wouldn’t be moving, despite Diermont’s orders. She would have to sleep pressed up against him and that would be awkward, and not just for her.

She climbed into the bed and tried to make herself comfortable, but it was a tight squeeze. She could feel the heat of his body soaking into her nightgown. The soft sounds of kissing and the movement of intertwining limbs was a distraction. An image of Cabrian taking his little human slave and pushing what had to be an impressive cock inside the woman made her twist and turn restlessly in the bed. “Just remember, Lord Ross. No biting and no fucking. Don’t give me anything to report to Diermont.”

“No biting? What reason could the prince possibly have to forbid that action?”

“I forbid it. I don’t want to see any biting. If you feel the need to bite her, then let me know in advance so I can make arrangements to be elsewhere.”

Cabrian stopped kissing the human’s face and turned to look at Kiera with a thoughtful expression. “I understand perfectly. I developed an aversion to it myself. It became nothing but a chore and it was one I began to loathe more and more each night.”

She felt something for him then, realizing they had shared similar nightmarish experiences. Not many would understand how she could dread the one thing she continued to ask for—a bite. If she could be mated without the biting she would be ecstatic, but it was something she knew she had to endure. Or at least she did, but now that she had been labeled barren it was unlikely any male would bother to bite her.

She shifted while trying to get comfortable, but no matter the position, she could feel the presence of a male at her back. She was pretty sure he was caressing the human woman and she was far from resistant. There was something about the way they interacted that made Kiera suspect they had already gotten intimate. If so, Diermont’s intervention had come too late. She just hoped he managed to control himself while she was present.

In a sudden motion, Cabrian turned his head and peered at her oddly.

“What is it? Am I disturbing you?” she asked as she wondered whether he was trying to hint that she make herself scarce so he could have his way with the human.

“Just how long have I been in Rome? I could have sworn it was a matter of months, but now I find myself wondering whether several years passed without my being aware of it.”

“You weren’t gone that long, Lord Ross. I guess it’s normal to feel a little disoriented, though.” Normal for some, but it wasn’t something she expected to see from Cabrian. His expression grew more puzzled, which left her feeling bewildered. “Why would you ask?”

“Do you wear scent?”

Was he trying to imply she stunk? “I don’t use any perfumes, if that is what you’re asking. I’ve used the Roman bathhouse and the soap there has an unfamiliar scent to it. I’m surprised you can smell it on me.”

“It’s not the Roman soap. It’s a hybrid scent.”

Kiera laughed a bit awkwardly. “You were in captivity much too long if you cannot recognize hybrid scents any longer.”

Cabrian tossed in the bed and pulled the covers to his waist. “Just get rid of it. It’s driving me crazy.”

Kiera couldn’t help but appreciate Cabrian’s fine physique. The wall of muscle that was his chest gleamed with sweat and her throat went dry. Really, what was wrong with her? Her hormones were going wild. “And just how am I supposed to get rid of it? You expect me to use the bathhouse right now? In the middle of the night?” She wondered if cold showers worked for females as well as males. She needed some way of cooling her ardor.