“I was forbidden to tell because of the blood thing,” he shrugs. “Constantine knew, obviously,” he says and watches for my reaction.
“He did this to you?” I ask carefully.
“Yes,” he says and clamps his lips shut.
I swallow and ask, “He sent you to Corinne?” I know my ex-sire can be a heartless beast, but this is just too much. Vito was his friend and confidante, his right-hand man. What we did was foolish, yes, but to punish him like this with such a lack of thought for him is unforgivable.
“Yes,” he says. He twirls my rings around my finger. “You are married to him?”
I nod.
“Well, I hope you have had many happy centuries together,” he says too politely.
I shake my head and he frowns at me. “We have only been married for about nine months,” I say. “And most of those I have not been around.”
“Nine months??
? he asks in disbelief. “I was sent to my fate so that you two could be together. That is what he told me, why he needed me out of the way. He knew I was a threat to him.” His anger is completely justified, but I put a calming hand on his chest. He stares down at it for the longest time. Then he looks up and takes in the rest of me with a look that makes me ache.
“Why are you so scantily clad?” he asks me.
I look down at my mini and vest top and snicker. “This is how I dress now. It is acceptable for these times.”
“I don’t want you being gawked at, my lady. You should cover up,” he says haughtily.
I shuffle closer to him and say with a seductive look, “How many times do I have to tell you, I am no lady?”
He growls at me and pulls me to him, crushing his lips to mine. “You are my lady,” he says gruffly.
I am being wailed at from various voices in my head that what I am doing is taboo. He isn’t a part of my ultimate destiny–whatever that is–but I really don’t care. He was ripped from my arms by my jealous sire and now I have him back. And who said revenge isn’t sweet? CK deserves what he gets for doing this to him and I have no idea who is in control of my personality right now, but whoever she is, she climbs onto Vito’s lap and clings to his shirt as she kisses him.
“Oh, Aefre,” he murmurs and pulls back to look at me. “I have missed you terribly.”
“I have missed you too. He told me you fell in love with a woman and ran away to be with her,” I say, stroking his face.
He closes his eyes and shakes his head sorrowfully. “There has never been anyone but you,” he says. “You captivated me and for centuries I watched you from afar, never daring to get too close. I saw you grow from the scared little girl after your capture and into a fierce and beautiful woman. I have never forgotten your face and in my dreams and I can still see you smiling at me.”
“I’m sorry for what he did to you,” I whisper, close to tears. “If it weren’t for me, this would never have happened.”
“It was worth it to spend time with you in the way that we did,” he says.
“I…”
The door bangs open loudly as Maurelle strides in with her hands on her hips. She is not pleased to see me sitting on his lap with his hands on my waist. “What is the meaning of this?” she barks. “You are a married woman! Get off him immediately.”
I roll my eyes at her, but then I am forcibly removed by two large guards. They have a strong grip on my upper arms, and I struggle with them in annoyance.
“Get off me!” I exclaim. “He needs to feed.”
Maurelle looks at me in disgust and Vito looks at me with burning lust. His fangs drop and that is all they need to let me go.
“Unless you want to find someone else to do it, leave us please,” I demand.
Maurelle debates with herself for a moment. She can see it is the only option as there will be no other takers, but she really does not want me anywhere near him. That much is clear.
“Your husband will be informed about this,” she says and turns to leave, taking the guards with her. “We will be right outside,” she adds and bangs the door closed.
Chapter 7