“Sebastian—“
His nostrils flared, and his fists clenched at his sides. “What do you not understand about the word ‘no’? I thought you were a smart girl.”
My eyes widened, and blood rushed to my cheeks. “Youdareinsult my intelligence? After we have spent the past three weeks combing through the library?”
He shrugged. “It certainly seems like you’re not understanding what I’m saying right now. I’m. Fine.”
“Good gods.” I glared at him. “Why are you acting like a toddler? I just asked if you were feeling alright, and you exploded on me!”
Shadows continued to gather around Sebastian, darkening the library.
“Why won’t you just let it go?” he snapped. “I said it was fine.”
“Obviously, it isn’t!” I stood, gathering my books in hurried movements. “But if you want to have a temper tantrum, Sebastian, go ahead. I don’t need to see this.”
“Where are you going?” he snarled.
“Away from you.” I shoved three heavy tomes into my bag, slipping the whole thing over my head. “I’m going to see Julieta.”
I didn’t wait for a response before stomping towards the door. It was up to him. Either he would come with me, or we would both be in pain.
His choice.
Before long, muffled curses came from behind me. Since my body didn’t burst into agonizing pain as I stomped down the stone hallways that made up this frigid castle, I assumed the stubborn, ancient vampire prince was following me.
Several vampires stared at me as I stormed past them, but the second they caught a glimpse of the storming male following me, their faces paled and they scurried out of the way. His footsteps were heavy, and even from here, I could feel the anger coming off him in waves.
In my time since coming to Castle Sanguis, I learned that most of the servants did not frequent the same passages as the residents of the castle. I rarely saw them, and when I did, they were usually on a vampire’s arm. Julieta was the only one I’d seen with a violet ribbon—all the others seemed perfectly happy to donate their blood to the “cause”. I shuddered.
I couldn’t imagine why anyone would volunteer to let a vampire bite them. The entire act of being bitten seemed completely and utterly animalistic. Every time I glimpsed Sebastian’s fangs, they reminded me of what he was. Who he was.
The Prince of Darkness.
The shadows that gathered around him like eager pets waiting to do his bidding were proof of that.
Rubbing my arms to ward off the perpetual chill, I continued down the halls. This castle was massive, and it took far too long to get anywhere on foot.
Sebastian was behind me, cursing under his breath as he muttered about insufferable females. Fine. That wasfine. Let him be angry. I was angry, too.
“Slow down, Luna,” Sebastian said after I turned yet another corner. “We need to talk.”
“No,” I snapped. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
A servant popped their head out of a room, but the moment they saw us, their eyes widened. They slipped back into the room; the door slipping shut moments later.
I didn’t blame them for wanting to hide. I didn’t want to deal with an angry vampire, either. Unfortunately, mine was Tethered to me, so I didn’t have much of a choice.
Continuing down the hall, I clutched my arms around my middle. My heart pounded and my lungs were tight as the book bag rhythmically tapped against my hip.
“Why is this castle so big?” I huffed.
All I wanted to do was to see my friend.
Seeing Julieta was exactly what I needed right now. Earlier this week, she told me her room—which would have been my room, if that damned priest hadn’t Tethered me to the vampire prince—was a floor below ours and on the other side of the castle.
If I hadn’t already known that my marriage was not wanted, that would have been a sure sign. Sebastian tried to put me as far away from him as possible. Well, too bad for him. We were stuck with each other, whether we wanted to be or not.
Even so, the Tether did not give him the right to take his anger out on me. Just thinking about the way Sebastian snapped at me at the library made my blood boil.