Dark Possession - Aja James Page 0,14

it her own with thoughtful touches like decorative pillows, throw blankets and her favorite paintings on the walls, it was rather simple.

This apartment, however, was extravagant. With its marble floors covered in strategic places with the thickest, lushest sheepskin rugs, hand-made solid wood, iron and stainless-steel furniture. A waterfall ten-foot white quartz kitchen island that also served as a dining area. And whimsical bubble-glass chandeliers dangling from almost invisible strings from the eighteen-foot ceiling.

Shelves filled with books, stacked from floor to ceiling, took an entire length of one wall. Beside it rested a rolling ladder that led to a small alcove ten feet up, situated right over the bedroom and en-suite bath.

Eveline climbed up to investigate.

The entire space was covered in some kind of fur. She couldn’t tell what kind, just that it was soft, plush and silky too. There was a large round table carved out of a solid slab of acacia in the middle of the area, surrounded by large floor pillows stitched out of the same fur. A built-in desk sat along one wall, and the other two walls were also lined with shelves, though these were mostly empty.

She leaned over the finely woven, almost nonexistent railing that overlooked the open apartment below.

The kitchen was fully stocked and fully equipped. The guard who showed her to her room (because Ramses left her to her own devices the moment they set foot in the Cove) demonstrated how she could use the panel by the door to order anything she wanted—food, things, people. There was a small lift with a rotating door that brought everything to her automatically.

She hadn’t checked her bedroom and bathroom closets yet, but she’d wager that they were fully stocked too. Probably even with clothes and shoes that fit her perfectly.

Vampires certainly knew how to live large.

The apartment used to belong to the traitorous ex-Keeper of the Chosen. Eveline was able to finagle this bit of information out of the stoic guard before he left her alone again. There were no reminders of the previous occupant, however. No personal effects. The décor was fashionably modern, elegant and neutral. It felt more like a gigantic hotel room than anyone’s home.

Good thing Eveline had no intention of staying long.

She went into the bedroom and lay across the wide, pristine expanse on top of the comforter with all of her clothes on, only kicking off her shoes. She hadn’t eaten in about forty-eight hours, though she’d had a few sips of water. She hadn’t showered in longer. But she was too exhausted to tend to either basic need. She’d deal with it all tomorrow.

Tonight, all she wanted to do was sleep.

*** *** *** ***

“Come.”

Ramses didn’t look up from the retractable, paper-thin video screen on his desk, though the entrance of the Commander of the Chosen, and his Mate and partner, into the throne room should have been more interesting than the image of a Pure female passed out diagonally across her bed.

“You’ve returned early,” he observed, his focus still on the screen.

In slumber, Eveline Marceau looked a lot less composed than when she was conscious.

Her clothes were rumpled, her auburn waves strewn about, her mouth slightly open, her limbs flung haphazardly in every direction.

He much preferred her in this state. Soft and warm. Malleable. Mussed up.

Unguarded.

“We came as soon as we could,” Maximus said, standing at attention just before Ramses’ enormous oak desk.

Ariel, in her black panther form, was just barely visible, sitting on her haunches at her Mate’s side.

In most cases when the two went on missions together, she preferred her animal form. Because it allowed her the utmost freedom and ability to harness the full extent of her powers. Because people often underestimated her as an animal. And because Maximus in his Dark One form and Ariel in her feline form complemented each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

But most of all, she just loved to get away with stuff—like not having to stand at attention with respect before the Dark King as protocol dictated.

Ramses clicked a button to slide the screen back into his desk and faced his second in command.

“The Pure Ones’ Seer is ensconced in Simone’s old apartment. She is physically weak, but mentally strong from the past couple days of ordeal. No harm has come to her beyond poor nourishment. She has already communicated with the Shield, so there will be no rescue squad coming to storm our castle. But I have yet to respond to the perpetrators of this abduction.”

All this Ramses said