To Break Such a Bond by Mallory Wilde

Author:Mallory Wilde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mallory Wilde
Published: 2025-12-21T00:00:00+00:00

​Chapter 11

Lyra led them through the parlor to the elevator on the other side. Val gave her their room number, the twinge of worry about the risk overridden by his exhaustion and the relief of not having to find his way back after his panicked race through the hotel. Besides, the other vampires hadn’t had their room number, and they’d found them anyway. Nothing felt quite safe and so Val gave up on everything but clinging to Margot’s hand. They had to be together to be safe. That was all he knew.

The elevator was old and slow. As it climbed the floors, Margot turned to Lyra.

“What was that place?”

“The parlor we went through? Just a gathering place, tucked away underground for those of us who like to stay up well past sunrise. There’s a few of them around the manor. That one tends to be frequented by an older crowd who prefer cocktails to club music.”

“Older,” Margot muttered, seemingly to herself. Lyra could easily have passed for a young twenty-something among humans, but an aura of power hung around her that most vampires would immediately recognize as a sign of many centuries of existence.

Lyra politely didn’t notice Margot’s muttering, other than to glance at Joe with amusement. He grinned back at her, his whole face lighting up with affection. Something about the way his eyes lingered on Lyra’s face made Val suddenly self-conscious, like he’d witnessed something much more intimate.

“And the other hallway? The room I was in?” Margot asked, having apparently lost herself in thought for a moment before coming back to her point.

“Those are just more rooms for guests,” Lyra replied, patient in a way that Val was immensely grateful for. “It might have seemed... clandestine to you, but many vampires rest more easily underground, knowing they’re safe from the sun. It was likely just the room they were staying in.”

“Val’s house has so many windows,” Margot said, apparently processing all her thoughts aloud. Val didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He found her so endearing; he would die if anything happened to her.

The greatest threat to you is me.

Margot was quiet after that, leaning her head slightly into Val’s shoulder. He could feel the curious gazes from Lyra and Joe, but unlike the others – Benedict and the council and the porter – there didn’t seem to be any judgement in it.

He’d left the door to Margot’s side of the suite standing wide open. Margot stared at it for a moment before starting for his door, but he tugged her back.

“I forgot the key.” He’d only just realized it. “We have to go in this way.”

She nodded and followed him in. They were still holding hands.

Lyra immediately set the kettle on, while Joe closed all the doors behind them.

“I’ll brew Margot a good strong cup of tea,” she said. “Val, do you need–”

“No,” he said quickly. And then, not wanting to seem rude, “thank you.”

She nodded.

“Once Carmella checks in, we’ll leave you be,” she assured them. Not sure what else to do, Val sat on the bed.

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