Bite Of Pain
The Ceremony Excerpt by Natasha Knight and A. Zavarelli
Available at Amazon
Willow’s hand tightens in mine reflexively, as if to protect me somehow, while we wait with a silence that feels suffocating. In the end, it’s not the man with the silver eyes who steps forward, but rather, the man with the golden eyes.
Azrael Delacroix, the eldest brother. Which means the other man can only be Emmanuel.
He watches impassively as Azrael begins at the end of the line, bypassing my sister Cordelia with barely a glance. She is too young to even be considered. And while he inspects Aurora, I find my gaze drifting back to Emmanuel, feeling his on mine.
He’s still studying me, and I can’t figure out why. He tilts his head to the side slightly as I curl my lips into a taunting smile. I don’t know why I do it. Only that I can’t seem to help myself.
The man may be beautiful. He may very well be descended from fallen angels if the lore surrounding his family is correct. But it doesn’t change the fact that the blood running through his veins is evil. He’s tainted merely for being a Delacroix, and I can hate him for that reason alone.
But it isn’t hate I feel when his lip tips up slightly at the corner in response to my defiance. I can’t tell if he’s mocking me or if there’s something else lurking in his dark thoughts as he examines me. I only hope he can’t recognize the quickening of my heartbeat or the flush creeping over my skin.
I straighten my spine, too distracted to realize it’s almost my turn.
It’s only when Azrael’s imposing frame stands before me, blocking his brother from view, that I’m able to draw a breath. I don’t meet the eldest brother’s gaze as he stares me down, lifting the sleeves of my robe silently to inspect my arms. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for there, he loosens the knot on my robe with a flick of his fingers, allowing the fabric to fall apart. His knuckle drags the hem of my chemise down, baring the upper swells of my breasts enough to satisfy him with the knowledge that I am not the one who bears the mark.
With this confirmation, he dismisses me without a glance and moves to Willow, where he will assuredly find the mark on her breast.
I want him to fail in this mundane task, to save her somehow, but I know I can’t. So, instead, I squeeze her hand and stare straight ahead, my eyes settling on the other evil lurking in this room.
Emmanuel is staring back at me with an icy expression that wasn’t there a moment ago. His jaw is clenched, spine rigid, and something terrifying lurks in his eyes. Something that looks as if he wants to possess me. And it takes me a moment to put it together. To understand what’s happening. But even as I think it, I don’t want to
believe it.
There’s no way he could actually be… jealous. But as his eyes flick to his brother’s back, and then to my nipples poking through the fabric of my chemise as my chest heaves, I realize that’s exactly what he is. And as determination settles into his features, I come to a horrifying realization.
Perhaps one Wildblood daughter isn’t enough. Because right now, it looks as though Emmanuel Delacroix wants to own me too.
Azrael Delacroix, the eldest brother. Which means the other man can only be Emmanuel.
He watches impassively as Azrael begins at the end of the line, bypassing my sister Cordelia with barely a glance. She is too young to even be considered. And while he inspects Aurora, I find my gaze drifting back to Emmanuel, feeling his on mine.
He’s still studying me, and I can’t figure out why. He tilts his head to the side slightly as I curl my lips into a taunting smile. I don’t know why I do it. Only that I can’t seem to help myself.
The man may be beautiful. He may very well be descended from fallen angels if the lore surrounding his family is correct. But it doesn’t change the fact that the blood running through his veins is evil. He’s tainted merely for being a Delacroix, and I can hate him for that reason alone.
But it isn’t hate I feel when his lip tips up slightly at the corner in response to my defiance. I can’t tell if he’s mocking me or if there’s something else lurking in his dark thoughts as he examines me. I only hope he can’t recognize the quickening of my heartbeat or the flush creeping over my skin.
I straighten my spine, too distracted to realize it’s almost my turn.
It’s only when Azrael’s imposing frame stands before me, blocking his brother from view, that I’m able to draw a breath. I don’t meet the eldest brother’s gaze as he stares me down, lifting the sleeves of my robe silently to inspect my arms. When he doesn’t find what he’s looking for there, he loosens the knot on my robe with a flick of his fingers, allowing the fabric to fall apart. His knuckle drags the hem of my chemise down, baring the upper swells of my breasts enough to satisfy him with the knowledge that I am not the one who bears the mark.
With this confirmation, he dismisses me without a glance and moves to Willow, where he will assuredly find the mark on her breast.
I want him to fail in this mundane task, to save her somehow, but I know I can’t. So, instead, I squeeze her hand and stare straight ahead, my eyes settling on the other evil lurking in this room.
Emmanuel is staring back at me with an icy expression that wasn’t there a moment ago. His jaw is clenched, spine rigid, and something terrifying lurks in his eyes. Something that looks as if he wants to possess me. And it takes me a moment to put it together. To understand what’s happening. But even as I think it, I don’t want to
believe it.
There’s no way he could actually be… jealous. But as his eyes flick to his brother’s back, and then to my nipples poking through the fabric of my chemise as my chest heaves, I realize that’s exactly what he is. And as determination settles into his features, I come to a horrifying realization.
Perhaps one Wildblood daughter isn’t enough. Because right now, it looks as though Emmanuel Delacroix wants to own me too.