A Shade of Vampire (A Shade of Vampire #1)(26)
Author: Bella Forrest

“I see you’ve done quite well for yourself, Claudia,” I commented, noting her designer outfits and the aura of extravagance surrounding her.

“It’s all thanks to you, isn’t it, my prince?” she smiled.

“Let’s not lose ourselves in small talk, shall we? Why did you want to see me?” I asked her, eager to get to business and get rid of her.

I momentarily eyed the young man standing behind her by the door, waiting on her. Blonde, gray eyes, well-built – very much the type Claudia enjoyed exploiting. My jaw tightened, remembering why I detested being around the vampire who was at least thirty years older than I was, though she was turned at the tender age of seventeen.

Claudia’s long lashes fluttered as she straightened on her seat. “Other than to pay my beloved prince homage, of course, I’m just really curious.”

“Curious about what?”

“Curious about whom, you mean. Well, I’ve been hearing so much about your beautiful, redheaded pet. I was curious to find out what kind of girl was able to get Derek Novak himself all up in a knot.”

I grimaced. Claudia’s interest in Sofia was not exactly something I had reason to rejoice over. Before I could even open my mouth to answer, however, I heard Sofia’s laughter coming from outside. She and the girls had gone out for a walk, escorted by Sam and Kyle. It seemed they had quite a good time – a feeling I didn’t really share considering how my gut clenched as I rose to my feet.

Claudia and Sofia meeting wasn’t something I found myself eagerly anticipating. It was too late, however, because Sofia just came through the front door, a smile on her face, her green eyes twinkling with delight.

Claudia stood up, turned and eyed Sofia from head to feet.

“So this is her.” She said, enviously.

As if that weren’t already bad enough, something else about the awkward situation began eating at me. Apart from the obvious disdain for Sofia that Claudia had in her eyes, I was bothered by the pure shock on Sofia’s face the moment she laid eyes on Claudia’s slave.

“Ben,” she gasped, tears moistening her eyes.

The same amount of shock was evident in the boy’s face upon seeing her. His face paled as fearful concern replaced his sallow and indifferent appearance only moments before. Sofia threw her arms around him and he returned her embrace. As he leaned his chin over the top of her head, he looked my way. I could almost hear the accusations and the threats he was throwing my way. It was obvious that he feared for Sofia, that he was concerned over what I could’ve already possibly done to her.

A snide smirk formed on Claudia’s face as she stared at the reunion between her slave and mine.

“Interesting. Very interesting indeed.”

I stood there, not knowing what to do. Or what to think. But I was sure that what I was seeing right there in front of me, was Sofia embracing her reason to leave the Blood Shade forever.

CHAPTER 23: SOFIA

Chills were running down my spine as I eased into Ben’s strong arms that wrapped tightly around me. There were so many questions running through my mind, so much anxiety over what he’d been through. I didn’t know whether to be happy or to be horrified that I would see him in a place like the Blood Shade.

“With all due respect, my beloved prince,” Derek’s guest purred in a tone that made me think of no other word than seduction, “I don’t like other girls touching what’s mine, and from the look on your face, I doubt you’re enjoying this sight either.”

I could feel Ben’s body tense the moment she spoke. It was sickening to think of the possibilities surrounding his presence at the Shade. I wanted to speak, to say something to him, ask him at least one of the questions swimming around in my head, but I knew that the moment I tried, I wouldn’t be able to hold back the sobs. I wanted to hold on to him, but we both knew that we had to let go. Holding on was nothing but trouble… for both of us, so we reluctantly let go of each other and stood still in front of the man and woman keeping us captive.

“Who is he, Sofia?” Derek asked.

I didn’t miss the tension in his voice. “A friend.”

His gorgeous blonde guest wrinkled her nose in question. “Just a friend?!”

“The best I’ve ever had,” I replied, my voice breaking in the process as a tear ran down my cheek.

“Grant me a request, will you, Claudia?” Derek spoke up, his eyes fixed on me.

I couldn’t make out the expression on his face. I wasn’t sure if I vexed him in any way. For some reason, my heart went out to him. I felt like I wanted to assure him that Ben being there changed nothing between us, but that was a lie. It changed everything. I remembered what I told him the night before – that he’d begun to feel like home. I can never forget the way he looked at me afterwards – like I meant the world to him. I was so moved by how this strong and powerful man could look at me that way. It was strange, because at that moment, I felt like I had the power and he was the one who was vulnerable and under my mercy.

As I stood beside Ben, fearing for him, I took another glance at the master I’d grown to deeply care about and began to wonder. Is it possible for me to break Derek?

I snapped out of my internal monologue when I realized how disgustedly Claudia was looking at me.

“Yes, your Majesty? What can I do for you?”

Derek made his way to her, his hand snaking along her waist from behind as he pulled her back against his body. She didn’t hide the delight in her face as she eyed me as if she’d somehow won something over me. My gut clenched. I had the strangest reaction to seeing Derek touch another woman the way he was touching her. It was quite similar to the way I felt when I saw Ben at the beach with Tanya, but this was different… more intense… more painful. I hated to admit it, but I was jealous. I wanted to give in to the irrational urge to slap Derek in the face and rip Claudia’s hair off, but that would only spell trouble so I looked away instead.

What Derek said next completely crushed all my resolve to ignore him for the rest of the day.

“As you already know, Claudia, the lovely Sofia has become very precious to me, and she seems to have quite a liking for your slave here. You’ve come to pay me homage, have you not?”

Claudia’s face tensed. “I have.”

“It will please me greatly if you give me the boy. My slave, Gwen, was recently murdered as you may have already heard… I need a new one.”

“Surely there are others…” Claudia tried to protest. “I know you well enough to know that you don’t have the penchant for young men the way others do.”