Dark Secrets by Madeline Pryce Read Free Book Online

expected to dress up and play nice for a
group of vampires who wanted nothing more than to cut off my head and dethrone
me. A public venue was Julian’s solution to the rogue problem—a situation that
fell on my shoulders and made me responsible for more than fifty human deaths
in the last couple of months because I couldn’t step up and do what needed to
be done. Police the bloodsuckers.
    To save my life after Lizbeth had gutted me, I agreed to
play queen to his king. My sire had even had his lawyers draw up a contract. Karma
was punishing me for my evil deeds.
    “I’m not wearing that scrap of material you just referred to
as a dress.”
    Julian swept my body from head to toe with a slow, lingering
glance as if he were imagining me in the electric-blue silk. Through our
connection, his need for me came across loud and clear. There was something
else there, something shadowy and vague.
    A secret.
    I narrowed my eyes. “Wha—”
    “So you tried it on, then?” He cut me off before I could
speak.
    Unease gripped my stomach and I couldn’t tell if it was from
the ever-increasing physical distance between me and Micah or if Julian was
causing it.
    “I’m not going. Not without Micah.”
    “You agreed, min askling .” He pressed a bent finger
under my chin and lifted my head until our electric-blue gazes met.
    Julian never just touched me. No, that would’ve been too
simple. His every caress held the weight of memories past, the ones before he’d
broken my heart.
    “You may bring your wolves, but other than that, I refuse to
share you. You’re mine, little one.”
    He stepped close and pressed a hand so cold it was jarring
against my bruised ribs. I jerked. He slid his palm down the hurt and cupped my
hip. His touch, however unwelcome, made my body yearn for something more—made
me crave Micah’s hands on my skin. When I tried to pull away, Julian snaked
inside my mind and grabbed hold of my motor functions. Either I was getting
sloppy at blocking him, or my sire hadn’t really shown me what master vampires
could do.
    “Knock it off,” I managed to say through gritted teeth.
    Paralyzed, I could do little more than hope my glare would
incinerate him. He pulled me gently into him as if he were giving me a choice.
The soft silk fabric of his pants tickled my mostly bare legs and my brain
fuzzed out as Julian forced his attraction on me.
    His breath feathered across my parted lips. “I smell blood,
can taste your grief. I won’t stand aside and let anyone hurt you, not even
your mongrel.”
    “What about you? Who stops you from hurting me?”
    Julian stroked the side of my cheek. “What has your demon
done this time?”
    I shook my head, tried to take a step back. Julian tightened
his hold on me, both physically and mentally. His face, soft and sexual seconds
ago, hardened.
    “Tell me, Ella,” he demanded.
    His words settled into my brain and forced a reply, my mouth
opening, words spilling out without my command.
    “He didn’t hurt me.” I licked my lower lip. “I mean, he did—”
    Julian pressed a finger against my mouth, sealing it closed.
My heart sped in fury.
    “I don’t want your excuses. He should be protecting you and
he’s not. I know how hard things have been on you, the guilt you so desperately
try to hide. Don’t ever forget that I’m in your head. I’ll take care of it, all
of it, if only you’ll trust me.”
    I searched his gaze, our connection, and felt an odd sliver
of excitement on his end. He was planning something but I didn’t know how to
chase after his thoughts and discover the truth of his lies.
    “I’ll never trust you again. Let me go, Julian or so help me
god, I’ll cut off your balls and shove them up your ass.”
    He lifted the right side of his mouth in an amused smirk and
retreated from my head.
    The second I was free, I brought my knee up—my intention his
groin—only to have him sidestep the blow.
    “So violent. Now, how about I escort you to dinner so