Cathedral (Cradle of Darkness 1)

“It’s gone. It’s okay.”

Before his fingertips might ghost over my shoulder, before I might have embarrassed myself further, I snapped. “I told you not to touch me!”

Hand hovering, still as the corpse he was, Malcom obeyed. He even took two steps back. Only then did I make my eyes track from that sliver of dark under the dumpster to look at his face.

Like a carved marble statue, beautiful in the same unearthly way all undead were beautiful. It was like staring at God's favorite angel. Outranking almost every last withered soul in the hive, he’d never fallen into the habit of outlandish costumes.

Slacks, a fitted sweater. Utilitarian yet impeccably tailored.

And pity.

He was wearing pity on his impossibly attractive face. “It’s ten minutes to midnight. I’ll count this last mating towards your debt for tomorrow.”

I would not let my wet eyes spill. “Fuck off, Malcom. If you think I’m falling for that, you’re going to be disappointed.”

His face returned to its normal state of smugness. “You’re due home at sundown.”

Wiping my nose on the back of my hand, I sighed at the ruin this evening had made of my dress. “And you’re reminding me of a standing appointment why?”

“It is my duty to inform you when you have been summoned.”

The exact thing he’d announced when he’d intruded on the Viking’s interlude. “I see.”

He’d interrupted on purpose. Technically he had not broken any rules. I hated when he did that.

Eyes like starlight, jaw flexing, Malcom dared another modicum of emotion. “Do you recall the exact reason why you dislike me, because I can’t?”

I had no intention of playing this game with him.

But he muttered on, running a hand through his hair. “I remember that day. Why you grew upset when you saw a cat. I remember that you were wearing a blue dress with a red bow.”

If his reason for existence was to torment me, he was doing a phenomenal job. “Funny that you remember that dress but don’t remember why you sicken me.”

“Funny that we remember anything…” The anger on his face washed away into deep consideration. Crossing his arms over his chest, my custodian sighed. “You haven’t even reached a century in age, Jade. You’re still such a blind, inexperienced child. Acting out without thinking. Refusing to eat. Pouting.”

The light in his eyes, it was as if he thought I were cute. There was no reason I had to stand there and bear it. Brushing past, I made to exit the alley.

“I’ll throw you a portal, Jade.”

The very thought of taking Malcom’s magical charity made me want to scream. “I’ll walk. Thanks.”

Despite my rejection, he cast a gate at the mouth of the alley, leaving me no other option. “If you’d have eaten, you’d have been able to summon your own.”

Fucking prick.

Chapter Five

Disobedient and ego bruised, I broke my promise to Malcom. I didn’t feed.

Not on rats, not on cats…

Not on vampires.

Stomach churning with acid, drenched by the spray of a boiling hot shower, I let the magic of indoor plumbing wash away what had happened in the alley.

Malcom most likely watched me via pinhole cameras, waiting for another sign of weakness he’d taunt me with later—his team monitoring Satan’s daughter for one slip.

Guarding, he’d claim. Watching over a precious asset other vampire rulers desired to collect to serve in their courts. Or eat in an attempt to feel the sun one last time.

Fuck modern technology and the all-seeing eye. What need was there for it except to pry?

All I need do was stand in the presence of my father and the devil would see every last contemplation, mistake, exchange, disappointment that crossed my thoughts.

Darius could tear the mind apart looking for a memory so remote and useless he’d done it only for his own amusement.

I know this because he’d done it to me.

Water turned off, I stepped from the steam and caught my reflection in the mirror. Nose healed and perfectly straight, scrapes and bruises long gone, any set of outside eyes would see me as pristine now that the deluge had scrubbed away the blood on my face.

Inside I was uglier than the pile of vomit I’d just been fucked next to.

I couldn’t wait for the sun to rise, to burn my skin and promise me in the sting that no other immortal might come near.

The only company I’d have to tolerate was Ethan's plaything. The blonde had been munching a bowl of chips on my $20,000 couch when I’d walked through the door. Without lifting her eyes from the TV, she’d announced, “Ethan said I could stay.”

Well, she was going to be disappointed once she realized he wasn’t coming home tonight. My phone had already flashed with a message stating he had a rendezvous lined up. Just like me, he was getting fucked for his family.

Unlike me, he enjoyed it.