The hall was darker. I did not believe it possible, but it was. Still, I trudged on, blindly following the hand that led me. “Bunny!” I was pulled tight to a muscular chest while something passed us, my hair moving in the breeze left behind. “Watch where you’re going, you bitch!” He snarled, and I shivered at the cruelness anger lent his voice. “Are you all right, little one?” Shakily, I nodded, and he chuckled. I shuddered when fingers under my chin forced me to look up. Even though the darkness was absolute, I knew without a doubt my captor saw me and fought a tremor. Not seeing someone who can see you is very disconcerting.
After my heartbeat returned to normal, he released me, and I followed his lead once more. Deep within my mind, I reasoned that this was a trust-building exercise and I should fight it, but how could I? Nothing like encouraging the good old Stockholm Syndrome, eh? Shaking my head, I dispelled my thoughts to focus on the present once more. If that was the case, then I needed to keep my wits about me. Else, I would become lost.
Moments later, we entered a dim room, heading straight for a door framed in bright light. I didn’t even risk a glance at the man leading me along. Instead, I braced myself for the onslaught of light that would sting my eyes. It did a little, but not as much as I feared. I suppose the dim light of the previous room was to thank for that. Once I blinked away my temporary discomfort, I looked around.
We were a few feet inside a spacious kitchen where a beautiful young woman stood in wait for my captor. “Good evening, Ryker, I see you have your little lamb with you,” she greeted in a beautiful, musical voice. Hers also had that cold steel beneath it, which made me take a step back, and she smiled. It was not a friendly, comforting smile in the least. Instead, it was the smile I imagine a snake gave a mouse before devouring it.
“Stella,” my captor, Ryker, replied coldly. “We’ve been through this. Angel is not a lamb because she’s my little bunny. To you, it’s not important, but to me, it’s critical.” Stella flinched from his rebuke while I shivered because of the coldness of his voice. I didn’t care what it took, I never wanted him to speak to me like that because I feared the consequences.
“My apologies, m’lord, I will not make that mistake again,” Stella murmured.
“I know,” Ryker chuckled. “I’m seeing to it. Personally.” Before she could move, or even react to his words, my captor stepped forward and punched through her chest. I stared in horror at the heart he held in his hand, watching him crush it with Stella’s scream of agony cutting off while she and it turned to ash. Well, I suppose the good news is I was right, they’re vampires. The bad news is, I was right. They’re vampires. How the hell did I get myself into these situations?
“I’m sorry you had to see that, bunny, but she disrespected you,” Ryker murmured. Belatedly I noticed the dark blood on his hand had turned to ash as well and shuddered. “My poor little bunny.” He pulled me to his chest again, with his hand that so fiercely ended Stella, gently stroking my hair. I gagged but kept my bile down. Suddenly my previous problems seemed so unimportant. It’s amazing how easily your perspective can change, isn’t it?
While I kept from shuddering, a soft whine escaped my throat, and he clucked his tongue. “You needn’t fear the ending of your life, bunny, I plan on you living for a very long time,” Ryker soothed. Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about. I learned firsthand there were far worse things than death.
“I stopped fearing death a long time ago,” I murmured honestly. I sensed his disapproval and fear trickled down my spine. Stella referred to him as m’lord. How does one address a lord? Do you even dare speak to one? Swallowing nervously, I debated on the punishment for speaking out of turn. Does one get their tongue ripped out or cut out? Surely not burned off?
“I suppose I should give you a few rules since the unknown distresses you,” Ryker murmured. “You may speak or not as you desire. Do not refrain from unleashing your sarcasm either, since I find it endearing, little one. However, if I ask you a question, I expect an answer. You are to only obey my rules, regardless of what any others may try to tell you. The only time you should follow another’s is if I tell you in person. There will be no calls, texts or letters. I find it’s too easy to mimic handwriting and voices. If anyone tries to force you to obey, I will deal with them. If I give you orders, I expect them to be followed. However, some will be up for debate if you explain why you desire to refrain. If you behave, I will allow you to have alone time to do as you desire. You may expect time with Matty daily. He is not a pawn, and I do not want you to feel he is used against you. If you do not behave, well, I will punish you if I must.”
I shivered, I couldn’t help it, and he tutted before pulling me closer to his chest. “You belong to me, little bunny, therefore no one but me may touch you in any form. If they dare try, they will regret it. Liam is the only exception at the moment, in that he may pull you out of harm’s way. Unless you seek comfort from him, then he may do what you require to feel better, little one. I consider Matty exempt from this rule. But, like all of my other rules, unless I tell
