I turn to see Gregor leaning casually against the doorframe. I’m startled that I didn’t hear him. Stealthy much? Or maybe that should be: Stalkery much?
“No, thank you. I’ll manage,” I say, a mild flutter speeding up my heartbeat. I haven’t been alone with him since the last time he raped me.
He walks into the room and is at my back before I even realize he’s moved that far.
“Exquisite,” he murmurs, trailing an ice-cold hand down my back. I wince. I’m not afraid of him. I’m older and stronger now and wouldn’t go down without a bloody good fight this time, but the dread of having to do it naked, makes me uneasy.
“Perhaps now that you are older, wiser and more experienced, and have learned the nature of the Vampire, we can try again?” he whispers in my ear in Russian, now trailing his hand down my bare arm. “I have heard you are so very experienced now, my dear.”
Thankfully CK arrives just then, ever my savior, with Cole and Devon in tow. He strides into the room, his face furious.
“Step away from her now, Gregor,” he says softly, also in Russian, with venom dripping from every word.
Gregor places his creepy hands on my hips, trails them back and slowly zips up my dress. “I am just helping the lady,” he says mildly. “Although in the spirit of friendship, Constantine, you really should share,” he scolds and steps to my side.
CK growls, “Never!” I am sure he is going to try and rip Gregor’s head off. Thankful to at last have my hands free from holding up the dress, my fist clenches, itching for a dagger to stick into him. It wouldn’t kill him, but it would hurt, and it would make me feel better. Oh, and it would make a point. I like making a point.
In the next second, I hold a dagger in my left hand. CK’s eyes flick to it briefly, but I hide it in the folds of the voluminous skirt. CK said not to do anything to put him on the defensive, so I won’t. Much as I’d like to.
Ignoring CK’s murderous look, Gregor turns to me and says, “Well, my dear, you look stunning.” He continues to speak in Russian with the purpose of excluding Cole and Devon. “I shall see you
later at La Scala.”
“You’re going?” I ask rudely.
He looks surprised by my question. “Of course. It is the Kirov after all and in your honor. I was there you know, when Svetlana took her final bow in 1895.”
I gape at him, really not enjoying the fact that he saw me dance.
He carries on conversationally, “You were breathtaking. Never have I seen a dancer before or since with such grace and beauty. Your technique and precision are to this day, unmatched.”
I glare at him, not prepared to thank him for the praise. He raises an eyebrow at my rudeness and says in English now, presumably for the benefit of including Cole and Devon in what he has to say, “Think about what I said, my dear. We would be very good together.” He strolls out as casually as he entered.
“What did he say to you?” CK asks.
“I’m sure you can guess,” I say with a look of disgust.
All three of my boy’s growl in protest.
“Relax, he won’t make a move on me. He’s too clever for that. He knows I am unpredictable with this Power.” I pull my hand out from behind the folds of my dress and peer at the dagger. It looks familiar. A long blade with a red stone embedded in the hilt. “Do you know where I moved this from?” I ask, holding it out to CK. He moves forward, as does Cole to pull me into a tight hug.
“I hate that man,” he whispers.
“As do I,” I whisper back.
“It looks familiar,” CK says, peering at it. “Where do you think it came from?”
“No clue. All I wanted was to stab him in the guts and the next second it was in my hand,” I say viciously.
“I didn’t see any of the usual black swirl,” Devon says. “It was literally like it just popped into your hand.”
I frown at him as CK starts laughing then and I look at him strangely. “Oh, Lucretia,” he says not too fondly, “I remember this dagger as being the one you stabbed me in the guts with.”
“What?” I say incredulously and grab it from him, while Cole and Devon look shocked at that piece of information. “Holy fuck! I seem to recall being on the business end of this thing as well!” I laugh at the memory of Nagyvárad when Constantine came to find me.
“Oh, my love. You were such a vicious creature then,” he says sadly. “You should have heeded my warning.”
“Mm, indeed,” I murmur, wanting to change the subject. Cole still doesn’t know about my evil years and nor does he yet know about Lance, the eviler sibling.