The Way of Escape by Kristen Reed

Author:Kristen Reed [Reed, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-04-30T23:00:00+00:00

♦ ♦ ♦

When Augustus and I neared the mansion about twenty minutes later, he laced his fingers through mine and I didn’t question him doing so. Our faux relationship needed to keep blossoming up until the moment we left the party on Monday to end my life as a human. Then, we could take our final bow and get out of character … or I could at least stop stirring up unwanted attraction with forced interactions and intimacy.

The show must go on, I thought with a sigh as we walked into the house, which had come alive since our departure.

Vampires and their slaves filled every room we passed through … laughing, drinking, talking, and biting without restraint. Emmanuel wasn’t hard to find. The raven-haired vampire sat with Grayson in the same room where we’d watched everyone’s favorite tenor perform to a blood-sucking audience two days before. Anna, Emmanuel’s personal slave, sat at the piano playing a beautiful, delicate song while an unfamiliar female slave played the cello. As I watched the two women play their instruments, I wondered if Emmanuel had intentionally kidnapped them because of their musical talents or if he’d been pleasantly surprised by their gifts.

“Come join us,” the coven leader beckoned. “We were just talking about you, Clara.”

“Oh,” I commented, reluctantly sitting down on the love seat with Augustus.

“Thanks to your benevolent request, I’ve been deprived of a slave,” Leah’s former owner said. “Considering the fact that I could have refused to let the girl go or even challenged one of you to a duel, I think I’m owed something in return for my cooperation.”

“If you—”

“What did you have in mind,” Emmanuel interrupted.

“Well, I have no slave of my own to feed from. Though I’ll do so out of necessity, I’m not a fan of drinking after other vampires,” Grayson said. “I propose that you let me drink from Clara tonight.”

“No way. I’m not letting you bite me.”

“I think one drink for a lifetime of freedom is a fair trade,” Emmanuel said. “Your other alternative would be to let him change you on Monday. Though a vampire isn’t necessarily a slave to his or her maker, the bond formed is extremely valuable.”

“What if I compensated you for your trouble,” Augustus offered. “How much did you pay for Leah?”

“Money won’t satiate my thirst tonight.”

“I’m also feeling a bit bloodthirsty,” Augustus mused, draping his arm around my shoulders. “I haven’t fought a duel in a few months, and I could use a little entertainment.”

“Don’t be so cocky, my lord. I’ve bathed in the blood of vampires three times my age.”

“By the time I’m finished with you, you won’t be bathing in blood … You’ll be drowning in it.”

“No one is going to bathe or drown in anyone’s blood,” I interjected.

“This could be solved in only a few short minutes,” Augustus argued quietly.

“And in those few minutes, he could hurt you. I don’t want to risk something happening to you because you were defending me.”

“So what will it be, Clara,” Grayson sneered from his place beside Emmanuel.

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