Entangled in Scarlet: A Paranormal Vampire Romance (Blood Oath Book 3) Read online

  “Somewhere safe,” Lex answers from behind me and Kade. “It’s temporary.”

  The door opens into a small foyer that smells of lemon and something a bit stronger, like some kind of cleaner. I was expecting the air to be heavy with dust and the stench of mothballs, so this is a pleasant surprise. Maybe Marcel had it cleaned while we were on our way here. The floor beneath our feet is a worn hardwood with a dull gray runner stretched along the length of the hallway before us. On the left side of the hall is a set of open double doors that lead into a living room, and on the right are a pair of closed wooden doors that I can guess are bedrooms.

  I follow Lex and Atlas into the living room, which also leads to a small kitchen and dining area. This part of the house is surprisingly open-concept for how old I imagine it to be.

  Lex drops onto the brown leather couch and lets out a deep sigh but says nothing.

  I glance from him to Atlas, specifically to both of their bloodstained clothes. “I don’t suppose this place comes stocked with food and clothes,” I offer wryly.

  Kade slides past me. “Food, probably. Not sure about clothes. I’ll go take a look in the bedrooms.” He disappears back into the hall, and the sound of hinges creaking fills the silence as he opens the door to one of the bedrooms.

  I walk into the dated kitchen, rummaging through various cupboards until I manage to find tea and mugs. There’s a kettle already on the stove, so I fill it with water and ignite the burner. It’s an old gas stove, so it takes a few tries to light, and while it starts to heat up, I drop tea bags into the mugs.

  Atlas starts a fire in the fireplace across from the couch before sitting in a chair that looks about as comfortable as a rock and starts talking to Lex in a voice too quiet for me to hear.

  I lean against the counter, closing my eyes as I listen to the kettle heating up. My thoughts drift to Gabriel, making my stomach sink. I can’t help but feel as if we left him. Yes, we fled Washington because of the hunters, and Lex said this is only temporary, but we still left him. And with his psychotic ex and sire no less.

  When Kade walks into the kitchen, I push away from the counter and approach him. “Any luck?”

  He nods. “There isn’t much, but it’s enough to get out of the clothes we’re in and wash them.”

  “Good.” I press my lips together at the distant look in his usually bright silver eyes. “Kade…” My voice is soft, laced with concern. “Are you okay?” I lift my hand to his face, brushing my fingers against his cheek. I want to comfort him, take care of him. Because if I’m doing that, I won’t have time to pay attention to the panic filling my veins, wrapping around my ribs, and squeezing my heart. When he exhales a shuddering breath, I realize his fangs are protruding from his gums.

  “You need a drink.” I move to step back and check the fridge for blood, but he wraps his fingers around my wrist, holding me in place.

  “Slow down. It’s all right, Calla.”

  “No. No, it’s not. You—”

  Kade kisses me. I try to pull back, to ask him what the hell he’s doing, but he snakes his arm around my waist, hauling me against him and pinning me between him and the counter. His lips steal my breath, and eventually I can do nothing but succumb to the kiss. Closing my eyes, I relax against him and kiss him back. He’s trying to distract me—probably himself too—and for a few moments, I’m going to let him.

  When he pulls back, cupping my cheek and brushing his thumb over my skin, I meet his gaze and sigh. “I’m sorry about your sister,” I tell him in a voice just barely above a whisper.

  He kisses me once more, soft and quick. “Thanks.”

  The whistle of the kettle breaks us apart, and I walk to the stove and switch off the burner, pouring the water into each mug, before Kade and I carry them into the living room.

  The four of us sit without speaking for a few minutes, sipping on tea and watching the flames dance in the fireplace, their soft crackling the only sound in the room.

  I think I make it five minutes before I can’t take the silence anymore. I set my mug on the oak coffee table and sit back in the black wingback chair. “What are we going to do now that your cover with the hunters is blown?”

  Atlas looks to me. “Scott has been calling and texting me since we left Washington.”

  My chest feels tight at the mention of Brighton’s father’s name. “What did he say? Does he know I’m with you?”

  “I’m not sure if he does,” Atlas answers. “Likely not, as none of the hunters were people I recognized from the company, which leaves little chance they’d know who you are.”

  Lex sits up and takes a drink. “If Meredith is working with the hunters, there’s a chance she went back to them after her attack and told them there was a human with us, but that wouldn’t mean that they’d figure out who.”

  “I haven’t listened to Scott’s voicemails—he left half a fucking dozen—but all his texts say is to call him back. A few empty threats here and there, but nothing seriously concerning at this point.”

  My eyes widen at his words. Nothing seriously concerning? I want to ask what would be considered seriously concerning to him, but I pick up my tea to sip instead. There are a lot of moving pieces, between Gabriel and Selene to Meredith and the hunters—they’re all linked, and our best bet is to figure out what the hunters are planning now that they know Atlas, Kade, and Lex are vampires.

  I wet my lips before saying, “So odds are the hunters have no idea who I am or my, um, association with you guys. That means there’s a chance I can still—”

  “Don’t bother finishing that sentence,” Atlas cuts in, snaring my gaze over the rim of his mug as he takes a drink of his tea. “You already know the answer.”

  I scowl. “In case you haven’t noticed, you three are on the run. You’re the vampires. The hunters have no reason to come after me.”

  “I’m sure they’ll find one the minute they put it together that you’re with us.” Lex’s jaw is set tight. If he grips that mug any tighter, it’s going to shatter in his hands.

  I reach over and pry it from his grip, setting it on the table in front of him. “We’re not there yet,” I point out. “Now’s the time to use me while they’re still in the dark. I can get in touch with Brighton and try to figure—”

  “Enough.”

  My eyes snap back to Atlas and narrow. “Fine,” I say through my teeth, “then what’s your plan that’s so clearly better than mine?”

  A muscle feathers along his jaw as he holds my gaze, setting his mug down without a sound. “I need to speak with my contacts in New York. I actually put rational thought into my actions and consider the consequences before doing something.”

  I exhale a harsh breath, anger igniting in my chest as my pulse kicks up. “Oh, get off your high horse, Atlas.” Defiance flares to life in me, and I continue, “You just don’t want me to help, because god forbid someone else is the answer instead of you.”

  Kade sighs, exchanging a glance with Lex. “Here we go.”

  Atlas offers a bitter, humorless laugh. “You don’t know a fucking thing.”

  I arch a brow, crossing my arms over my chest. “Please, enlighten me then.”

  “There are certain ways things need to be done,” he says in a forced level tone. “Until you’ve lived for a century and understand that, I’m not going to waste my breath with this conversation.”

  That raises my hackles, and I snap, “You are so fucking arrogant.”

  “Okay, okay,” Kade says, holding his hands up as if he’s physically trying to contain the tension that hangs thick in the air. “Arguing about this isn’t getting us any closer to a solution. Let’s stop now before the two of you either start brawling or fucking in the middle of this sad excuse for a living room.”

  A mix of darkness and hunger fills Atlas’s expression, making it harder to hold his gaze as my body betrays how I feel about Kade’s latter concern. Heat swirls low in my belly at the thought of Atlas—no. I’m not going there.
>
  I clear my throat, grabbing my empty mug off the coffee table and turning toward the kitchen. “I’ll find something for dinner,” I mutter, walking out of the room while I still have the will to fight the urge to take a swing at Atlas’s infuriatingly attractive face. Fucking stupid supernatural beauty.

  An hour later, we are sitting around a round dining table that is most definitely not big enough for four people. Lex and Kade are on either side of me and Atlas sits directly across from me. I managed to cook a beef teriyaki dish without burning the place down, so I’m calling it a win.

  Lex and Kade devour their dishes, while I pick at mine, and Atlas leaves his untouched. Asshole. It may not be Gabriel’s fancy cooking, but it’s at least edible.

  My expression must be more telling than I thought, because Atlas’s lips twitch as he reaches for the glass of water in front of him.

  “What?” I say through my teeth, gripping my fork so hard the metal bites into my fingers.

  Atlas shakes his head and pushes his full dish away. “It’s nothing personal. It actually smells quite good.”

  “But not good enough for you.” I let go of my fork, letting it clammer against the dish before falling onto the table. “Because nothing is.”

  His eyes narrow ever so slightly. “Because,” he says pointedly, “I need blood.”

  Oh. Oh.

  Shit. The others survive off blood and food because they’re turned vampires. Atlas can eat human food, but he gets no sustenance from it.

  I shake my head, frowning. “I… There wasn’t any in the fridge.”

  “I’m aware,” he says. “It’s fine.”

  I finish the water in my glass and am reaching for my knife before I even realize what I’m doing.

  Lex catches my wrist. “Calla—”

  “He needs blood,” I say, holding my hand palm up. “You all do,” I add, noticing Lex’s fangs are showing.

  “Do you know what you’re doing?” Kade asks.

  I spare him a short glance and nod. “I’m offering myself,” I say, “to all of you.” The words make me shiver, and my skin tingles where Lex’s fingers are still wrapped around my wrist.

  “Are you sure?” Lex asks.

  “Are you going to kill me?” I ask the three vampires all looking at me as if I’m equal parts crazy and the answer to their prayers.

  “Of course not,” Kade says.

  I nod again. “Then I’m sure. But maybe we shouldn’t do this at the kitchen table?”

  “Why not?” Atlas chimes in with a straight face. “You ate your dinner here.”

  I gape at him. I’m about to snap again, to revoke my offer to him specifically, when the unthinkable happens.

  Atlas laughs.

  What the fuck?

  “Ease up, Calla. I’m only kidding.”

  I blink at him, utterly speechless. “I… Since when?”

  The corner of his mouth tugs up, and he shrugs. “Perhaps you bring that out in me.”

  Heat fills my cheeks, and I want nothing more than to look away. Instead, I stand, setting the knife down. Lex follows my movement, keeping his gentle grip on my wrist, and we walk back into the living room, where I take a seat on the couch. Lex sits next to me on the right, and Kade drops onto the cushion on my left. Atlas walks into the room and stands behind the couch, leaning down and moving the hair away from my neck.

  My heart pounds in my chest, threatening to break free of my ribcage, but I don’t move. I take a deep breath and close my eyes as Kade and Lex each take one of my wrists while Atlas tilts my head back against the cushions. I press my lips together, whimpering softly when fangs sink into both of my wrists. Atlas’s fingers dance along my skin, tracing over my collarbone as his lips graze the shell of my ear, and he whispers, “Breathe, Calla.”

  I let out a shaky breath, turning my cheek to expose my throat to him.

  I don’t expect him to hesitate. I don’t expect his lips to brush my neck, to kiss my skin. His hand slides against my cheek, cradling my head, and then his fangs finally sink into my neck. My whimper from before is replaced by a breathy moan. The sensation of blood being pulled from me in three different directions leaves me feeling light and warm, and has my core throbbing almost in time with my racing pulse.

  The vampires on either side of me slide their hands up my thighs, getting dangerously close to the heat between them, and I bite my lip against the pleasure flooding through me. Can I blame it on the venom coursing through my veins? Because I’m definitely going to.

  Kade and Lex pull back, sealing the wounds on my wrists as Atlas continues drinking. A moment later, he finishes, dragging his tongue along my neck slowly as his thumb glides back and forth over my skin. His hand against my cheek keeps my head from lolling to the side, and I fight to pry my eyes open despite wanting to keep them shut. To live in this haze of pleasure and warmth and forget about all the problems we’re facing outside of this safe house.

  “Calla.” Kade pats my knee. “Wakey, wakey. You need to eat something.”

  “No,” I groan, trying to wave him off, “I need to sleep.”

  “Open your eyes.” Atlas’s command latches onto me, and my eyes open in an instant. “Good. Now, Kade is going to go get your dinner and bring it in here, and you’re going to eat it.”

  “Hmm… I want grilled cheese.”

  Lex laughs. “I mean, it’s the least we can do. We did just have her for dinner.” He glances at Atlas. “Give the girl what she wants.”

  Atlas’s fingers slip away from my cheek, and he and Kade walk back to the kitchen while Lex pulls me into his lap, curling his arm around my waist. His fingers trail under my shirt, skimming the skin below my belly button, and my breath hitches. He chuckles softly but doesn’t move his fingers any lower, so I relax against him.

  After I’ve devoured two grilled cheese sandwiches, I’m feeling steady enough on my feet to put some distance between myself and any furniture—or vampires—to hold me up. I excuse myself and go in search of the washroom, which I find at the end of the hall. It’s nothing special, nothing like what I’d gotten used to at the guy’s place. In fact, it’s reminiscent of the bathroom in my apartment, and I find myself smiling at the memory. It’s strange how long ago that part of my life feels now, when really, it was only just over a month ago. So much has happened these past weeks, it’s hard to think of what my life was like before this. Before them.

  After a lukewarm shower—because this place evidently doesn’t have a very strong water heater—I dress in a T-shirt I found in one of the bedroom dressers and pop my head back into the living room to say goodnight.

  They don’t try to stop me or join me, and while part of me is a little disappointed by that, I’m mostly grateful for the space.

  The bedroom I pick has light yellow walls and a four-poster dark wood bed with white sheets. Pulling back the heavy comforter, the faint smell of fabric softener tickles my nose, and I crawl under the sheets, the mattress creaking under me. There’s a small table beside the bed with a lamp that’s probably older than I am, casting the small room in a soft golden glow.

  With a deep breath, I roll over and flick the light out before settling onto my back. I stare at the ceiling, my eyes fluttering shut to the sound of muffled conversation from the living room. Their presence brings me comfort enough to snuggle into this strange bed and pretend I’m somewhere else.

  In minutes, sleep drags me under, and I go willingly.

  When my eyes open, ice fills my veins, and I shoot upright, gasping for air that isn’t there. My eyes whip around the elegant space, and my stomach sinks. I can’t be back here. The room comes more into focus, and I shake my head. “No…” I scramble off the bed and rush toward the window, my head spinning when all I can see outside is darkness. I whirl around, walking past the blazing fireplace and toward the door, but just like last time, before I can reach for the handle, the door opens. I jump back, gritting my teeth as I wait for Selene to glide in and taunt me once again.
r />   Except, it isn’t Selene.

  I suck in a breath, hot tears pricking my eyes. “Gabriel?”

  He steps into the room, closing the door behind him, and smiles at me. “Hello, angel.”

  I have no idea what’s happening right now, but I throw my arms around his neck, clinging to him with every ounce of strength I have. Granted, that isn’t much right now.

  Gabriel circles his arms around my waist, holding me against him, and buries his face in the crook of my neck. “I don’t know how much time we have,” he murmurs.

  I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, melting into him. “What do you mean? Isn’t this a dream?”

  “Calla.” His voice isn’t unkind, but it has lost its dreamlike warmth.

  I pull back enough to look at his face, to run my fingers through his thick copper hair, to gaze into his soft, silver eyes. “What is it?” My brows knit in confusion. “Is… is this real?”

  He nods. “It’s a dream in the sense that you’re asleep wherever you are, but I am very much awake.”

  I shake my head. “I don’t understand.”

  Gabriel offers a small laugh. “I don’t either. Not fully. But we don’t have time to question it when we don’t know if or when it’ll end.”

  I pull in a sharp breath. “The hunters. Gabriel—”

  “I know, angel.” He frowns. “Selene made a deal with Scott. She traded the names of at least a dozen powerful vampires in the city in exchange for her own protection.”

  My mouth drops open. “Selene told the hunters where we live. They ambushed the house, and we had to run.”

  His jaw clenches as the color drains from his face. “Is—”

  “Everyone is fine,” I rush to tell him. “But, um… Kade. His sister is alive. She’s a vampire, and I think she’s working with the hunters like Selene is.”

  His eyes widen. “That’s not good. How is he?”

  Sighing, I say, “He’s putting on a strong face, but I don’t think he’s okay.” I can’t imagine how he could be.