11: A Jealous Vampire

SIERRA

After parting ways with Harper, I prepared myself for the evening’s events. I was due to meet my father and Kaven, and I had a feeling I’d be the one left waiting. The thought of facing Harper again, after everything we’d done, made my cheeks flush.

I could still feel the ghost of his touch, his teeth sinking into my neck and shoulder. The memory sent shivers down my spine, stirring a desire within me that I struggled to control. Harper had a way of affecting me that no one else ever had.

His whispered words as he claimed me, the way he made me feel desired, beautiful, and wanted—it was intoxicating. I found myself falling for him, even though I knew it was a dangerous game. We barely knew each other, and the situation was a ticking time bomb.

As if to remind me of my place, it was Kaven who I saw first. He was already in the study, his eyes burning with anger and the room heavy with tension. I stepped inside, immediately regretting it as his gaze fell on me.

He approached me, his stride predatory.

“Did you seduce Beta Harper? Did you share his bed last night?” His words were a harsh accusation, spat out inches from my face.

My heart pounded in my chest. Was he going to hit me? Punish me?

“I did what my father instructed,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. The door behind me opened, but I kept my eyes down. The slap came out of nowhere, stinging my cheek and snapping my head to the side.

“You let that beast use you? You enjoyed him filling you with his filth?” Kaven’s grip on my arm was bruising as he continued his tirade. Fear gripped me.

“Did you use protection, or did you let him try to impregnate you?” His words were harsher than anything he’d ever said to me before. I could feel the threat of his mind, his hand morphing into claws as if he was about to strike me.

I turned my head away, my nails digging into my palms until I felt blood. But before he could do anything else, he was pulled away. A thin ribbon of blood, sharp as a needle, was pointed at his throat.

“Kaven, control yourself. Or I will remind you of your place,” my father warned. Kaven’s eyes flicked to the blood ribbon, a unique ability my father and I shared. We could manipulate our own blood into weapons.

It was a costly power, but the thin ribbon didn’t require much. My father, Adis, pushed Kaven away from me.

“She did what I asked. She is my daughter, my property. I have not given you any claim over her. If you cannot handle that, you are dismissed as my second and her match,” he declared.

His words should have brought relief, but I knew if I had gone to Harper without his permission, he would have treated me just as Kaven had.

“You let that creature touch her, defile her,” Kaven argued, his anger simmering. “How do we know he didn’t harm her? I have a right to be upset that the woman I want to mate with was sent to a beast.”

“I have arranged for her to be examined. She did her duty as a woman. Beta Harper seems to have taken a liking to her, hasn’t he?” Adis asked, ignoring Kaven’s protests.

“Yes, he seems to have a soft spot for women,” I replied, my voice devoid of emotion. Their words had shattered the happiness I’d felt with Harper, replacing it with shame and guilt. I wanted to escape, but I didn’t know how.

“Good. You will not be present for the meeting. You have an appointment to be examined and cleaned. Any marks or scents will be removed. Then you will be checked for your readiness to mate or bear an heir. Is that clear?” Adis asked, picking up his ringing phone.

“Yes, Father,” I replied, my voice as emotionless as a statue. As Adis stepped away to take his call, Kaven moved closer. His whispered threat sent chills down my spine.

“I’ll make sure you regret spending the night in his room. If you want to be bred by animals, I’ll teach you a lesson. I’ll make sure you know pain and don’t do it again,” he hissed.

“I did what I was told. I didn’t go for enjoyment. You might want to show me pain, but so would my father if I had refused. I fear him more than you, Kaven,” I replied softly.

He paused, glancing at Adis before straightening up.

“Go to your appointment. Make sure there’s nothing left of him on you. Next time, tell me if he orders you to do something like this. There are other women who can take your place. One day, it will be me you’ll obey. Remember that,” Kaven warned.

I nodded, turning to leave. I needed to get out of that room. I already knew who my father had booked my appointment with. As I left the room, my body rigid, I checked my phone.

Stepping into the hallway, I didn’t even glance at my guard, Miguel. I was dressed in a pair of sleek black dress pants and a dark purple blouse with a high neck, cleverly hiding Harper’s mark. I was relieved I’d chosen this outfit.

My heart sank as I saw the appointment notification on my phone. As we approached the elevator, a couple of tears escaped, trickling down to the corner of my mouth. I hastily wiped them away.

“Lady Sierra, are you okay?” Miguel’s voice was soft, filled with concern.

I just stared ahead, barely holding back a sob.

“No, Miguel. I’m not okay. But it doesn’t matter. I’m a woman, and women are nothing here,” I confessed.

He remained silent as the elevator doors slid open. I was certain he’d heard some of the shouts.

“Maybe to them, you’re not. I’m sorry, Lady Sierra. If it means anything, I believe you’re a woman of worth. They don’t deserve you. Even if saying this risks getting me in trouble,” Miguel confessed.

I turned to look at him. “Thank you, Miguel. Your words do mean something. But I’d like to continue in silence, if you don’t mind,” I requested.

He nodded in understanding.

As we exited the elevator, he remained silent. We headed toward the secure entrance located in the parking garage, a common route for the vampire elites. The door was held open for me, and I stepped inside.

The only silver lining was that the appointment was close by, and it should be over quickly. Then I could return, wait for any potential orders from my father—hopefully none—go home, and lock myself in my room to cry.

I was at my breaking point. I couldn’t see a way out, and I feared the depression I was battling might finally claim victory if I didn’t find a way out of this life soon.