Page 50 of Ruthless Royals
“A surprise orgy?” I questioned, looking around the room. “This is how you spend your nights?”
“Admit it, this is better than the diluted sex parties with the Blood Brothers. The castle’s ours now, no more hiding who you really are. You can be yourself here, with me, and your loyal subjects.”
The music carried me, the atmosphere heightening my desires. I spotted two nobles on the floor, tearing at each other’s clothing, their fangs sinking into the other's neck. A few more joined, in a ritualistic frenzy, licking at wounds and smearing their faces with blood. My gaze fixed on them as they peeled off the layers of their clothes, coming together in a mess of sweaty limbs.
Salenia’s fingers slid around the back of my neck as she stood at my side. “You’ve lost sight of what it means to be a vampire since that mortal came here. She’s nothing, a thing for us to use. Look at them.” She pointed at two mortals, exposing their necks in a venom high, anticipating the next bite as they slid their fingers between their legs. Salenia stepped in front of me, her chest heaving. “Tell me you haven’t missed this.”
She tilted her head, her curls sliding away from her breasts, dragging my attention to them. A year ago, I’d have killed to be this close to her. But now, all I could think about was everything I’d lost.
Elizabeth hated me. She didn’t want me, which I couldn’t blame her for. But the rejection stung, nonetheless. Then she was refusing to leave, and the unrequited feelings of it all sent something strange coiling in my chest. I despised feeling vulnerable. A mortal, of all the people in this world, had me feeling this way, and I hated her for it.
The blood brothers were gone, Salenia not even allowing me to have that for myself. Asland was preparing for a war against us. It was only me and Adrian, against a goddess. For a moment, hope slipped from me as she handed me a glass of liquor. “Drink,” she ordered. Closing my eyes, I brought the glass to my lips, breathing in the rich, sharp scent.
I sipped, then downed it in one gulp, enjoying the buzz coursing through me. I definitely shouldn’t be here, especially with her. This was an act, and I had to make her believe I was on her side, but as I looked around at the blood, the smell thick in the air, a primal need took over.
She walked me to three mortal women at the back of the room, their necks untouched by fangs. “I got them for you.”
Their skin glistened with sweat as the heat in the room increased.
Fuck.
She was watching me, but I was afraid if I started feeding, just to show my loyalty, I wouldn’t be able to stop. Her killing the Blood Brothers wasn’t just about power—she was cutting me off from anything that may keep me from her or the crown.
I wetted my lips, looking at the woman, a tangle of dark brown hair, tanned skin, all from Asland, I realized.
My fangs elongated from my gums, a shockwave of pleasure coursing into my throat as I brought my lips to one of the woman’s neck. Her silky, smooth skin brushed my lips and an unexpected groan left me when I bit her.
A shiver of pleasure danced down my spine, and I melted into the second woman’s embrace as I fed on her friend, losing myself in the sweet taste of her blood. Clamping my eyes shut, I sucked harder, moaning as one of the mortal woman’s fingers unbuttoned my pants. My hunger grew with each gulp, desire turning to lust. I wanted to devour her, all of them, to be consumed by the high until I felt none of the pain and despair I carried.
The room spun around me and I moved onto the second woman, sinking my fangs into her throat. The music grew louder, blood dripping out of the sides of my mouth. I glanced to my side, drawn toward guttural moans as someone reached their climax.
Two vampires were locked in a passionate embrace. One man groaned, his long black hair a mess as another man closed his mouth around the base of his dick, his head bobbing so fast, both their muscles quivering as cum erupted in his mouth, spilling down his lips and chin.
Next to them, a mortal man laid back, his eyes at the back of his head as a vampire woman I recognized from around the castle straddled him, lowering herself down onto his hard dick.
My erection sprung free and the woman at my side wrapped her hand around the base. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, throbs aching through my length. Salenia watched, allowing no one to touch her, her eyes beckoning me.
But it wasn’t her that consumed my thoughts and caressed the edges of my soul.
This wasn’t enough. “I need some air,” I said, standing to my feet, quickly redressing myself.
“Niall,” she warned.
“I’ll be back,” I snapped, then left before she could come after me. As soon as I was outside, I leaned against the wall, catching my breath.
Elizabeth didn’t want me, yet she stole every fucking thought, even when I was an orgy, surrounded by beautiful women. But it was only her I wanted, that my body desired.
Good fucking gods.
What was wrong with me?
TWENTY-THREE
Niall
BeforeIknewwhatI was doing, I was at Elizabeth’s door, pounding my fist against the wood. I’d moved her to a different room, not that it kept her any safer from Salenia.
Elizabeth answered, her breath catching when she saw my expression. “Niall…” Her heart rate picked up, pounding in my ears, syncing with mine. “I don’t want to see you.”