Bound By The Midnight

rine'

s a simple girl selling flowers, trying to survive in the darkest corners of Elliot King'

erile and unfamiliar. My body ached, but the wounds from the whipping had been t

en door creaked open, revealing a tall, older vamp

to the dimly lit room. "You will be working

y mouth to protest, but she cont

ddress me as such." She placed a neatly

e apron. It was a symbol of servitude, a mark that I belonged to him

rs and changed into it, swallowing my pri

was done. "Now, His Majesty

iot'

rhythmically against the desk. My mind was elsewhere, s

n the endless reports, on the latest cla

across my lap, purring into my e

railing a finger down my che

hated when people assu

her off, the doors ope

the

, her golden-brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her e

cating and irresistible. I gripped the armrest

r tea," I sa

set the silver tray on my desk. The cup rattled

our one for my guest as well," I

rine s

d internally, her finger

a word, she t

aud

wrist, yanking her back so forc

er," I said darkly,

o look at me. "I only serve

for her disobedience. But in

iating. And ye

my fingers sliding up to grasp her delicate throa

whispered, her voice

silent, the

irk tugged

shoved her aside. Before Katherine could react, I had her in

d us, and when I stopped

ughly, watching as

ide with realization. "Why

ward. "Because you

d. "I do not

g to me in every way that matters. I spared your life. I ke

d with hatred.

studying her. "Th

knew I woul

now. And she

erine

ot moved, I knew

en think to resist, he shoved me backward, slamming me into the cold stone wall of his c

ed to cry out. I re

bling body. His golden eyes, sharp and predatory, bore into mine as if search

I wou

, I lifted my chin and met his

s hoarse, but steady. "Throw people

face, but it was gone in an instant, r

u're people," he said darkl

n involuntary shi

body was betraying me. Every part of me was trembling, not just from

y fists and forced m

y," I whispered, "but

darkened. I ha

moved-so fast I bar

ding against the wall.

he side. My pulse pounded beneath his fingertips, my b

ggling against his ho

lips

en-

ain as his sharp fan

crea

im away, but he was immovable. His grip tightened, pr

my eyes. My

ated

y he made me fe

d y

hing c

ge. A warmth spread through my body, a pulse

ed against my skin, his f

I fe

ton

cked the f

ugh me, my breath c

f for the way

ugh my limbs, making my head feel light, my skin overly

o.

supposed to f

se him. I was supposed t

ood there,

y froze, his breath uneven again

p on me

t time, he lo

olden eyes darker than before,

jaw clenched, hi

ould even process what had just happened-he t

le

like

ing, confused, and