A Forever Series Box Set: A Paranormal Reverse Harem-(Book 1-5)

I shake my head. “No.”

“Leave me,” he snaps.

I go, my heart breaking all over again.

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

I need a drink after this awful afternoon, which admittedly has been my own doing. I’m disgusted with myself for being such a fool. Actually, no: this is Cole’s fault. He was the one who dredged up all this needing to know business again, I think angrily. But then I sag my shoulders. I can’t blame him. None of this is his fault. I make my way to the kitchens.

Empty.

I wonder briefly where all the staff are. My eyes land on the massive studded door at the end of the kitchen.

I gulp.

The dungeons.

I cross over quietly, hesitantly trying the handle.

Locked, of course.

“Ms. Nelson?” A woman’s voice behind me startles me.

I pull my hand guiltily away from the door. I turn to see a pretty, young-looking, Italian Vampire standing at the other end of the kitchen.

“May I help you with something?” she asks sharply.

“Erm, it’s Mrs. O’Dell,” I say. She nods hesitantly. Clearly CK is in denial. I inwardly huff at him. “I was looking for Scotch.”

She pulls a bottle and two glasses out of a cupboard near her head and places them on the big island in the middle of the floor. “Mrs. O’Dell, I am Marguerite. Mr. D’Arcangelo said that he would be bringing you and that I should make myself available to you, if you need me.”

“Thank you, Marguerite. But please, call me Liv. How long have you worked for Constantine?” I ask politely.

“Liv,” she nods. “Just a little over two hundred and fifty years,” she says. “It is nice to have some guests again. I seem to rattle around this place all by myself these days,” she adds.

I start in surprise. “He doesn’t come here often?” I query with interest.

“Not much, anymore. And always by himself,” she replies. I must look far too interested in her words as she suddenly looks upset. She realizes she’s said too much. “Please let me know if I can be of service to you,” she says then, back to being business-like. I nod, disappointed that she clammed up.

I point to the dungeon door on an impromptu fishing expedition. “Is the wine cellar down there now?” I ask innocently. “It has been so long since I was here.”

She shakes her head carefully, warily, and says, “No, it is still off the dining hall, ma’am.”

Ma’am? How did we go from Liv to ma’am in less than a minute? She clearly knows what’s down there but would never spill the dungeon beans out of the knowledge that Constantine would kill her if he ever found out she blabbed. Even to me.

“Well, thank you for this,” I say as I pour the Scotch out into the two glasses. She nods in relief that I’m not going to press the issue of what is behind door number one.

Smiling at her in farewell, I go off in search of CK. I have left him alone for long enough now.

Heading up the staircase, I find him on the main corridor, sitting on the floor in an alcove staring thoughtfully out of the window. He takes my breath away as I watch hi

m for a moment. I know he knows I’m there, but I can’t tear my eyes away from him.

“Sit,” he says.

It jolts me back into motion and I hand him the glass. He accepts it but puts it down next to him.

I sit opposite him in a matching pose of knees up, our bare toes touching slightly. I remain silent, gazing at the view he is looking at. Hundreds of trees and rolling hills for miles. I remember always wishing we could fly so that I could see them from above.