Chapter 9

Olivia’s POV

This man who I had taken to be the werewolf doctor, wasn’t a doctor or a werewolf at all.

He was Vampire Duke Damien. My master.

And he had fooled me from the beginning.

Why?

I didn’t dare ask, knowing the precariousness of my predicament. Damien might have broken the wrist of the vampire who had grabbed me, but that didn’t mean the Vampire Duke had any loyalty to me at all. After all, I was his slave and his pet, and he had already proven that he was prone to manipulating me.

How could I have looked at him and saw a werewolf doctor? How could I have been such a fool?

Sophia and a few other guards came running over. As they approached, Damien said to Sophia. “Have her ankles shackled and deliver her to my room. I will deal with her myself later.”

I wanted to run, but surrounded by so many vampires, and having witnessed Damien’s speed and strength, I knew a second escape attempt in this moment would be suicidal.

For now, I had to bide my time. I would run again though, and soon. But I had to be smart about it.

My ankles were shackled in heavy metal cuffs and I was roughly carried by a guard back into the castle and up a round stairwell to a tower. At the top of the tower the door opened to a large, luxurious bedroom.

A massive king bed was placed against the far wall. All of the dressers, tables and chairs were covered in glittering diamond and silver that sparkled under the light of the crystal chandeliers.

There were no windows in this room, so the chandelier cast harsh shadows. Undoubtedly, Damien wouldn’t need light to see, accustomed to the darkness. If I had a wolf, perhaps I could see as well.

As it was, being wolfless, it took some time for my eyes to adjust, and even then I couldn’t see everything.

The guard dropped me onto a soft blanket draped over the floor at the foot of the bed.

Was this some kind of pet bed? Ridiculous.

But I guessed that was my lot in life now. At least that was how the vampires saw me.

The minute I saw an opening, I was going to escape.

Sophia had followed the guard into the room. She had two more servants with her, though they looked different than the girls before. These ones were dressed a little nicer, maybe because we were in Damien’s rooms now.

“Clean and change her into more satisfying clothing,” Sophia demanded. This time, she crossed her arms and watched me, rather than turning away. She gave me no opening for escape as the two servants came closer. One was carrying a new garment. The other had a basin of water and a rag.

In a humiliating experience, the girls stripped me naked and then washed me with the rag. They were more clinical than anything, simply focusing on their job, but I hated how Sophia was staring. There was nothing sexual in her glare, but she looked at me like I was nothing. It made me feel small, especially without my clothes to shield me.

Once I was clean, the servants helped me into my new clothes, though there wasn’t much to this outfit, just a low-cut bodice with sheer sleeves and bottoms that covered only as much as panties with sheer, loose leggings.

My worn leather collar was removed, and in its place, a thin golden chain was wrapped three times around my neck before being clasped in the back.

A second chain hooked onto the chain at my neck and connected to the ring at the center of my bodice, directly between my breasts. This second chain was lose enough for someone to grab and lead me around if necessary.

I didn’t much care for that thought.

When I was cleaned, dressed, and returned to my blanket, Sophia dropped a plate of food and a fork in front of me.

“I was instructed to feed you,” she said, resentful. “You will eat. And then you will do as Damien commanded and serve him his dinner tonight.”

I pressed my lips hard together, forcing back my rising disgust. I couldn’t show any disrespect in front of Sofia, so I had to stay quiet and seemingly obedient.

Sofia narrowed her eyes. “The Duke has killed a lot of vampires for you tonight at the Blood Feast, so many vampires now hate you. If you disobey me again, or when the time comes and the Duke inevitably dismisses you, the only fate that will await you is death. And it will not be quick.”

I lowered my eyes to the plate of food and did not reply. I fought hard to keep from trembling at the threat, knowing how very real it was and how close I had already come to experiencing it.

Sofia snorted then, dismissively, and left.

The minute she was out the door and I was alone, I snatched the fork off my plate, bent one of the prongs forward, and attempted to pick the lock of the shackles around my ankles.

I turned and twisted, cursing as nothing seemed to give. Then, with a lot of luck, I heard a click and the shackle popped open.

At the same moment, someone turned the knob of the door.

I threw the fork back on the plate and closed the shackle without relocking it. I couldn’t let anyone see what I was doing.

During the day, when the vampires were all asleep. Then, I would run again.

The door swung open and Damien walked in.

I froze, panicking, worrying he might have seen some of my movement, or that he would be observant enough to notice the shackle was no longer locked.

He walked closer to me, barely looking me over before his eyes settled on my plate. “You haven’t eaten.”

“I’m not hungry.”

He looked away, back to me. Leaning down, he brushed the back of his fingers along my cheek. His skin was cold and I shivered.

“As a pet, you should eagerly greet your Master when you see me,” he said.

The chill of his hand reminded me fully and completely that this man was a vampire. Even if he was handsome. Even if he spoke such vile words in such a deep, attractive tone.

He was a vampire, and vampires had killed my father.

So many werewolves had died or were mistreated by vampires. They’d even made us their slaves.

I leaned back, away from his touch, disgusted by it. Turning from him, I asked, “Why didn’t you just kill me? Why pretend to help me?”

It was a question that had plagued me since it had happened.

“It was entertaining,” Damien said. “Masters enjoy playing with the pets occasionally. Even escape games.”

I frowned deeply, hating how much I felt like a fool. He’d been playing games with me this whole time, and likely still was.

Damien was still leaning and he closed the distance once more, going back to rubbing my cheek like he was petting a cat.

“It’s my turn to ask a question, pet.”

I didn’t say a word, but I didn’t have to. He continued on regardless.

“Why would you bend one of the prongs of your fork?” he asked.

Immediately I turned back, instinctively to look at the fork but Damien was in the way. His red eyes seared into mine, holding me prisoner.

“Well?” he prompted.

I swallowed thickly. “It was an accident…”

He reached his second hand up and lightly tugged at the hair on either side of my head near my ears.

His voice a deep, dangerous whisper, he said, “Don’t lie to me.”