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The inside of the tent wasn’t a tent at all I was in a brightly lit, undistinguished roo house The floor was hard and a deep crirateful The walls were off-white and sturdy; there were no s or any gap for air or light to flow through, but regardless of its set up, it still had that ‘tent’ smell I stood in therooazes of several people The low discussions that filled the rooone My sto oddesses, or guardian angels I was surrounded by vaan to for rapidly in my throat Vampires can smell fear; they knohen your heartbeat increases, I know because I’ve experienced it It explained why they were staring atto the left of uard that escorted me in
"Thank you, Aalin," she whispered seductively, running a long, pointy index finger along his chin
He nodded and exited the tent, leaving me alone with the vas stretching out from underneath her dress I bit the inside ofon? Had va the higher power Mr Aleksandrov said he was strong enough to take on loads of vampires, maybe it was rowled, licking her lips Her fangs clicked out I shut es ofone She ran her long nailed finger against the skin on the back of my neck and I clenched my jaw as an ice cold trail followed her touch
"Don’t touch me," I snapped I couldn’t help it, the words leapt out of host of a sht with hu soht Russian accent laced her words
My heartbeat accelerated, it drew her eyes to irl, Ludiia," a man snarled as he entered from a side flap in the wall
Ludiia strolled back to her seat, but my heart rate didn’t ease off The man was very old, older than Ivan Aleksandrov, but his hair was cut just above his ears and no beard occupied his face The only connection between the strange va, pitch black robe that rustled as it dragged along the floor
"Why’d you bringing her here, Lucian? Exposing yourself puts everything you’ve worked for at risk"
I should have guessed the strange e nalare and the vampire slunk back into his seat
"So, you are Ruby Moore?" His attention returned towiththat it would, in turn, make me confident No such luck
"We are your people" Lucian chuckled, his deep coal eyes pierced mine
"No My people help the world, not destroy it"
The roohter, but I didn’t take my eyes off Lucian I wanted to I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut and wait for someone to save me but I couldn’t I needed theel is so captivated by you" He approached "
He twirled ht of hiher power?"
"Oh ht here"
No It couldn’t be The higher poas supposed to be a god He was supposed to be on our side, not theirs Everything was in fast-forward and I was motionless in the middle of it all How could this happen?
"I- I don’t believe you," I staers and a vaainst his teeth as if in thought "Here are a few reports that were ainst you, Miss Moore" He cleared his throat and opened the envelope "It seems a few of your peers have a probleh I had no idea there was a few Lucian glanced at oddess, ran away frouardian angels --" He paused and s-filled suardian angel"
"Ex-guardian angel," I corrected bitterly
"Oh yes I ended that, didn’t I?" An icy chuckle seeped through his lips, causing oosebumps My fists curled into balls atmy tattoo washed off like dirt
"Protocol Sorry" Lucian’s grin widened and his eyes held a devious gleaEli was escorted in the sae to scowl at her
"What is he doing here?" I couldn’t keep the panic out of my tone
Lucian’s charcoal eyes narrowed in onmyself to relax, in fact, it made lanced sideways at hi vampires as I was I could tell by his clenched jaw, his clouded, intense eyes, and his lips that were held in an iel," Ludiia purred She zipped over to hian running her long fingers over his shoulders, causing jealousy to burn relentlessly in my chest
"I’m fine Thank you" His voice was strained and cautious
Ludiia’s lips stuck out in a pout, but she didn’t take her hands off him
"Well, Miss Moore It just so happens to be your lucky day I want you to work for ht, I was too confused The higher poas no longer one of us, he was one of them I would die before I helped out any vampire
"No I’d rather die" I didn’t mean to say it The words just fell from my lips
Lucian drifted forward rapidly, his rasped rasp as all pretense of civility disappeared
"Be careful what you wish for," he hissed
The eyes that bored into mine were deep and black I shuddered as they searched every inch of my soul They held no eht back to the night ainsthard in an attempt to hold back the tears that threatened rowled
Lucian chuckled and released his grip I opened , isn’t it?" Lucian said, addressing the entire rooreed
"Perhaps, you would do it if I --" He kicked Eli to his knees and exposed his throat Ludiia giggled and knelt on the floor beside Eli Lucian’s fangs shot out of his gums and nicked the skin of Eli’s throat
"Stop!" I shrieked,in the silence
Ludiia looked up atwith pleasure I couldn’t bear to see another loved one killed in front of me and the smile that spread across Lucian’s face made me nauseous
"Tell me about this proposition," I sta irl," a randoain and Eli rose to his feet, standing closer toonto me and I relaxed in it It made me feel safer, it offered me protection, and it soothedher spiteful eyes on otiate with these people"
I ignored hiers and a big rust colored chair was brought out for hiot coht not know that vampires outnumber your species a hundred to one If you want to survive, you’ll take this offer I’m about to explain to you"